March 28, 2011

R.I.P. Wenche Foss (5 December 1917 – 28 March 2011)


Biography

Wenche Foss was born to engineer Christian August Steenfeldt Foss and Alfhild Røren. She made her stage debut as Ingrid in Vilhelm Dybwad's operetta Taterblod at Søilen teater. She was subsequently engaged on the ensemble at Carl Johan Teater from 1936 to 1939, and then became a central figure in Centralteatret. She received public and critical acclaim in a number of leading roles. Her breakthrough part is considered her appearance in Carl Erik Soya's To tråder (To traade in Danish, "Two threads" in English).
Foss is also an accomplished vocalist (mezzo-soprano) who received classical training with M. Hviid and K. B. Børresen. Her performances in Emmerich Kálmán's operetta Die BajadereEduard Künneke's Der Vetter aus DingsdaFranz Lehár's operettas Der Graf von Luxemburgand The Merry Widow, where she played the title role and is credited, along with Poul Reichardt and then Knut Wigert as Count Danilo Danilovitsch for.
She also pioneered newer parts, among them leading musical roles in Kiss Me KateCabaret, and Hello, Dolly.
Starting in the 1940s, Foss played leading dramatic roles in the ensembles of Nationaltheatret and Oslo Nye Teater. Though her first performance as Rebekka West in Ibsen'sRosmersholm was judged melodramatic, subsequent performance in leading roles in Hedda GablerJohn Gabriel BorkmanPeer Gynt, and others.
Foss was made a Commander of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1972. In 1988 she was promoted to Commander with Star in the same order. She is one of few Norwegian civilians to hold such a high rank in the King's order of chivalry. She has also been awarded the Red Cross Badge of Honour and appointed a Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog.
In 2007 Queen Sonja of Norway unveiled Per Ung's statue of Foss outside Norway's National Theater.
On December 2, 2010, Wenche Foss stated that she was seriously ill and did not expect to live past New Year. She died on March 28, 2011 at Frøen in Oslo.


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