He was the first Crown Prince Rudolf in the Essen production of "Elisabeth", and understudied the lead role of Death from Uwe Kröger's shadow. Since then, Swedish tenor Jesper Tydén's career has been on the fast track. He earned acclaim as Chris in "Miss Saigon" (St. Gallen/Switzerland), was on stage as Tony in "West Side Story" with the Bregenz festival (Austria), and was seen in the Austrian revival of "Elisabeth" at Theater an der Wien as the Crown Prince Rudolf.

On the 15th, 22nd and 29th of November, Jesper Tydén will slip into a completely new role for him: with the concert performances of "Jesus Chris Superstar" in Hamburg, Essen and Berlin, the young Swede will lend his voice to Jesus. Beside him, under the direction of Bernd Steixner (Les Misérables) will be among the rest Alex Melcher (Judas), Ann Christin Elverum (Mary), Alex Lycke (Pilate) and Tom Tucker (Caiphas).

Just three weeks before the first concert in Hamburg, Jesper Tydén opened himself to the questions from thatsmusical.de.

tm: Jesper, you play Jesus in three concert performances of "Jesus Christ Superstar". Can you tell us a little bit more about the appearance of the shows?
Jesper Tydén: It is a concert performance. The main focus will therefore lie quite intentionally on the music. We are renouncing big theatre for the sake of "overloaded scenery" or special effects. The musical work should be most important.

tm: "Jesus Christ Superstar" is nearly 30 years old. Why do you think this show is still so popular?
Jesper Tydén: It is probably the story itself. Jesus and the Bible are always a topical subject. On a human level as well as at a political level. The story of Jesus has meaning for every situation, really. Apart from the fact that the music is simply great, in my opinion it's the best that Andrew Lloyd Webber has written.

tm: Your "comrade-in-arms" come from the whole of Europe and beyond. The cast list includes internationally known names. Does that give these concert performances something special?
Jesper Tydén: Absolutely! These concerts are unique in themselves, because all the singers have incredibly good, distinctive voices. To hear all this in a concert, I think, is something special. It also involves dear colleagues that I haven't worked with in a long time. So naturally I'm looking forward to it.

tm: These are only a few weeks before the first concert in Hamburg. How well do you know the script?
Jesper Tydén: I know the hits of course, but I have to work on some of the not so known titles, so that they are 100% inside me. It is not just a matter of learning a text by heart. This is only the first step. Every passage must be also properly intonated and you have to feel the song, before the sound comes out of you. So I've still got a lot of work ahead of me...

tm: Your "Jesus Christ Superstar" project contains only three concert dates. Can you therefore be a little more relaxed in your preparation than you would be with a role in a long-running musical?
Jesper Tydén: Of course I handle a concert differently - in comparison with a real production where you really have the time to get into your role. But on the other hand, it is rather more difficult, because we have three concerts at three different places. So everything has to be right immediately, more or less, without practices together with colleagues or orchestra...

tm: Is it more difficult to create a role without any costumes and backdrops to supplement the performance?
Jesper Tydén: Yes, the people who get involved in a concert performance have completely different requirements and a heightened sensitivity concerning the singers. There are no stage effects to cover up a poorly sung passage.

tm: How have you prepared generally for the role? Actually, you "only" need to sing with the concert performance.
Jesper Tydén: As already mentioned, you must get involved in the individual songs. To be completely inside of it is the challenge.

tm: You are at the moment in Sweden, your project manager Bernd Steixner is a musical director in Berlin with "Les Misérables", Alex Lycke is in Gothenburg with " "Miss Saigon" - how do you rehearse, actually?
Jesper Tydén: Bernd has a lot of pressure on him at the moment. He does his job with "Les Misérables", does the casting for "Die drei Musketiere" and then, besides, he manages the organization of the "Jesus Christ Superstar" concerts. In his little free time he rehearses with the individual artists in Berlin, or sometimes flies to us. This is quite hectic. I was in Berlin in the middle of October to work with him on the songs. The amount of work that Bernd is doing at the moment is really excessive, but it will be worthwhile!

tm: Jesus Christ Superstar is often called rock opera. But you are, actually, a classically trained singer. How is this compatible?
Jesper Tydén: I don't have any problems with that, since I sing a lot of rock music and pop music and compose on my own. There's no worry about that.

tm: Jesus is a figure that everyone has a certain image of. Does that make it easier or more difficult to portray? Usually an actor tries to identify with the role he plays on stage. Is that more difficult with a person like Jesus?
Jesper Tydén: Neither. You can never hold yourself responsible for the actions or events which concern the person whom you play. But you must try to understand the person, to see with their eyes, only then can you authentically being it to life.

tm: Is it then a challenge for you to take on the part of the Jesus?
Jesper Tydén: Every role is a challenge. This is a good thing too, because, otherwise, it would become boring very fast in my occupation. But this concert is and remains a concert! Thus one cannot expect a whole role interpretation, but should focus on the moving music.

tm: In "Jesus Christ Superstar", Jesus recommends to his disciples to live in the moment and to pay no mind to the future! How do you see this?
Jesper Tydén: In certain things, people should think of their future. But one should also never forget to live in the present and to enjoy his time! "Carpe Diem".

tm: You often sing "Gethsemane" in your solo concerts. Does this song have a special importance for you?
Jesper Tydén: It is a song full of emotions and is to very difficult to interpret. It states so much about desperation and hope, it's a really affecting song.

tm: With your last roles, you have either died on stage or had to endure a great loss. Jesus is crucified. Is it not a strange feeling, at 29 years old, to have to deal constantly with death and dying?
Jesper Tydén: I have already got used to playing tragic roles. There is no more funny feeling and as long as I wake up every morning again, everything is good. (winks) I also think that theatre should deal with such subjects, because we people must go through all of it.

tm: You perform in Hamburg, Essen and Berlin. Is there a performance place about which you are particularly happy?
Jesper Tydén: All three cities are great and have memories for me. But I was the longest time in Essen, have experienced a lot there and have got to know many nice people.

tm: What do you do besides the preparations for Jesus Christ Superstar?
Jesper Tydén: I am in Sweden and enjoy my free time. Visiting friends and my family whom I have been without very often in the last few years. Otherwise I do music and compose.

tm: Many thanks for the interview and a big "toi, toi, toi" for three concert performances of "Jesus Christ Superstar".