Rarely does one meet a musical actor who is working simultaneously in three different productions, and "on the side" gives solo concerts and works on his first solo CD. The Swede Jesper Tydén is such a talent. In the summer he took part in the Bregenz Festival as Tony in "West Side Story" on the lake-side stage, performed as Chris with "Miss Saigon" in St. Gallen, and was already rehearsing as Crown Prince Rudolf for the new production of "Elisabeth" in Vienna. To the question of where he finds the strength to get through all of this, he answers: "I wanted this year to be calmer, which is why I finished doing "Elisabeth" in Essen. But when I got the offer for Chris in "Miss Saigon", I couldn't say "no" any more than I could with the commitment for "West Side Story" in Bregenz. Tony was always a dream role for me, and I have learned a lot in Bregenz as well. Maybe it really is too much, but to me, it's just incredibly fun to do these different roles on the stage. I take the strength directly from the music. It is quite hard to play these parts so often on the stage, but I try to keep myself fit with training, and that helps a lot."
After his musical education in Stockholm and Gothenburg, the likeable tenor moved to Berlin to play Captain Phoebus in Disney's "Hunchback of Notre Dame". In 2001, he created the role of Crown Prince Rudolf in the German premiere of "Elisabeth" in Essen, a musical which has grown on him very much: "'Elisabeth' has an attraction which is really unusual. It is a German piece which was written for a German-speaking audience. Therefore, it feels authentic, and measures up to the international standard of quality. "Elisabeth" is really something special!
This is also one of the reasons why, after only a few months of "Elisabeth" abstinence, since October he is again playing Rudolf on stage. This time, however, in the history-laden Theater an der Wien. "I find it wonderful, to be in the anniversary cast especially. Every day is like a gala performance! It is incredible how the audience reacts! "Elisabeth" in the Theater an der Wien is quite special. I don't regret at all that I accepted this engagement. Rudolf is a role which I already know and doesn't take a lot of energy. Besides, I don't do all seven shows in the week, but four or five at most. This leaves a little more time for me. Plus, I had never worked in Vienna before. The musical life is very different here, it's not taken lightly, to be in this dedicated family. In the meantime, I feel really good in Vienna; it is a charming town!
The fact that the 28-year-old loves music more than anything else is noticed immediately. He sacrifices almost every free minute for it, without pause. If he's not performing on a musical stage somewhere, he's busy polishing his first solo CD in his own recording studio, or putting together the programme for his solo concerts. He is aware that this lifestyle is not only hard, but also has its darker sides. "It's been five years since I was home in Stockholm. None of the cities where I've worked in the theatre have been a real home for me. This is something that I really might have to change. Ten years on the road without a true home, moving from time to time. Constant moving is one of the biggest disadvantages to my job; and if you've got a relationship or family it becomes even more difficult."
The young Swede doesn't know the meaning of "everyday life". "The nicest time of day for me is breakfast. Luckily I sleep well almost every night, and can re-charge my batteries with a nice big breakfast. Thhen I usually go to my computer, where I can put together and compose the songs for my CD. Other days I have to get up at six o'clock and fly to St. Gallen, to play two shows of "Miss Saigon" and come back to Vienna the next afternoon to prepare for the evening show of Elisabeth".
The popular star doesn't have any real dream role. Besides "Martin Guerre", the multi-year work of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg - the team behind "Les Misérables" and "Miss Saigon" - he is also intrigued by "Jekyll & Hyde" and "Chess". "I like dramatic pieces, that tell a real story, where the focus of the music is centered on the plot."
The next year is already fully booked until September with appointments and engagements: "Until April I'll be at the Theater an der Wien, and then I'll have a few weeks of vacation where I'll fly to Asia to rest properly. I really need this vacation, because in the middle-to-end of May, rehearsals begin again for "West Side Story" in Bregenz. And I will also perform "Miss Saigon" in St. Gallen again next year. What happens in the fall, I don't know yet. I would be very happy to do some more creative work, and write my own songs. However, maybe there will be a new, exciting offer that I can't say "no" to, in a big ensemble production. To be honest though, it's very difficult for me to live without the tension and energy you need for stage work."
The man does not seem to be happy without stress! All that's left is to hope that his wishes for the new year are fulfilled, and he can achieve his goals of rest and strength, and a CD with his own songs.