Swedish Jesper Tydén plays the lead male role in Schönberg and Boublil's musical "Miss Saigon", which has its first Swiss performance at the theatre in St.Gallen. The premiere is Saturday.

Picture: © Katja Nideröst

In the snow-covered St. Gallen, Jesper Tydén feels almost as much at home as in his hometown of Stockholm. As we meet Jesper Tydén, snow falls densely over the city. "I feel like I'm at home," say the young Swede laughing, "except for the fact that there it's even darker and colder in the winter." He was born and raised in Stockholm, studied singing at the Royal Music Conservatory and completed his musical training at the Theatre and Opera University Göteborg. He got his first jobs in his homeland, and all this he tells us in perfect German. It was on his first foreign job in Berlin that he learned the language, where he played the captain Phoebus in the "Hunchback of Notre Dame", and afterwards he was in Essen in the musical "Elisabeth" as the Crown Prince Rudolf and Death.

Since the beginning of December, he has been rehearsing at the theatre in St. Gallen. "We have a marvelous, internationally assembled team and the atmosphere is very good", he says. Jesper Tydén plays the lead male role, the GI Chris, for the first time. He has also never seen another production of the musical. "That is an advantage, because I go openly and uninfluenced into the work."

"Miss Saigon" has the same tragic story as "Madame Butterfly", but set during the Vietnam War. Chris falls in love with the 17-year-old Kim, and as he leaves Vietnam with the last helicopter, leaves her with child. "This is very much a stretching, conflict-rich role, a big acting challenge", says Jesper Tydén. The 27-year-old was recruited in Sweden, but was released from the military service as a student. "It's actually unfortunate, for my role now it would be good experience, but honestly, I don't think I missed much."

Indiscrete question: Has he ever brought a woman into such a awkward situation like the GI has with Kim? "No", he says with his sympathetic laugh. "But naturally I have some experience, and can understand the agonies of this couple."

35 performances are planned in St. Gallen, therefore the Swede will live here for nearly one year. Occasionally, however, he also has time for solo appearances with a programme of Swedish songs and musical excerpts. Beyond that, Jesper Tydén hopes to be able to work on his first solo CD project. The classically trained singer writes and sings pop songs and fancies a career in this industry. In addition, he wants to travel more frequently to Sweden. "I miss my family and my friends", he says. All the more it must please him that he is already familiar with his co-star, the Philipine Ruby Rosales, from earlier projects, and that they work well together.

Any stage fright before the premiere? "Yes, there is always some, but I'll give it my best." At any rate, east Switzerland is anxious for the musical "Miss Saigon", some performances are already sold out.

Original German text at http://www.anzeiger-online.ch. Article posted here with the authors' permission.