Issue 5, February 11, 2004:

Norwegian Diva With
Broadway Dreams

With the classic look of a diva and the determination to succeed in showbiz, Norwegian violinist and singer Gro Elisabet Sille has left Norway to pursue her career in New York.

By ESPEN TJERSLAND
Plaza Hotel, New York

Gro Elisabet, who goes under the artist name Gesille, has performed with artists like Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo and Shirley Bassey. Now the Norwegian artist aims for success on Broadway.

Pavarotti’s Doctor
It’s an unusual cold day in New York. Taxis and tourists are lined up in front of the Plaza Hotel – the old, exclusive landmark on the corner of 5th Avenue and Central Park.
Gesille is sitting inside the hotel restaurant, sipping green tea with honey.

"Honey is good for the voice," she says. The voice, after all, is her most precious instrument. Two weeks ago she got an infection in her throat and completely lost her voice. "Too much practice and hardly no sleep," she explains. To get back in shape, she visited Pavarotti’s voice doctor in New York.

"I had my voice cords filmed, which was interesting. But I got some medicine and had to relax my voice for more than a week. It was really frustrating. I could not speak a single word, and had to communicate with pen and paper," she says.

Gesille grew up in Oslo, where she started playing violin and piano at Steinerskolen at the age of 8. "I’m quite the opposite of everyone else. When other pupils began to drop out from music lessons, I was determined to continue," Gesille says.

Female Quartet
Her interest in music brought her to Barratt Dues Musikkinstitutt in Oslo, and Østlandets Musikkonserva-torium, where she also took private violin lessons with Professor Leif Jørgensen.

"I have always loved to sing and perform," she says.
She has played with the Norwegian Opera Company, the National Theatre as well as the Norwegian Broadcasting Orchestra. But her career shot forward when she established the female quartet "Strings Unlimited" in collaboration with Bjørn Jørgensen in 1988.

"I just love beautiful clothes and old costumes," Gesille says about the quartet. "Strings Unlimited" enjoyed great popularity and performed at social gatherings, royal galas and the 94’ Lillehammer Olympics. But then, in 1998 the female quartet ran into trouble.

Sweet Music with Røkke
"It was a mess. There was envy among the members; the quartet became shattered and we went our separate ways," Gesille says. However, after the conflict the original quartet changed its name to "Sophisticated Strings", which today is a highly sought after musical group in Norway.

By 1998, Gesille had established herself as an accomplished singer and violin player. But it was when she first met the Norwegian billionaire Kjell Inge Røkke that she was propelled into the spotlight.

"We met at a private party," Gesille says. The couple spent nearly a year together, often traveling to London, Italy and Hafjell, where Røkke owns a spacious winter cabin.
"We had a good time together, and we still remain friends," she says. The relationship ended in 1999.

"Are you still single?"

"I am not sure if I want to answer that question," she says with a laugh.

Inspired by Liv Ullman
Gesille was 14 years-old when she first visited New York. She travelled together with her good friend Linn Ullman (the now critically acclaimed Norwegian author) to visit Linn’s mother – the famous actress and producer Liv Ullman.

"Liv Ulmann has been a great inspiration for me," Gesille admits. Since her first encounter with the Big Apple, she says, "I have always had half of my heart in New York. I knew I would be back one day."

She got her chance about three years ago, when the Norwegian singer Solveig Kringelborn was supposed to perform at the United Nation’s Trade Awards. Kringelborn had to pull out from the show due to illness, and Gesille was offered the challenge.

"It was a great show, and I had the pleasure to work with Richard Danley," Gesille says. The pianists Richard Danley is a musical director and lecturer at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) in New York. The two artists then formed a successful duo, which is now popular among affluent Manhattanites.

"We work a lot together," Gesille says, "We play mostly at private functions, but it would be fun to perform for a broader audience, maybe get a record deal."

Collaboration with Marni Nixon
Gesille has also struck up a close friendship with the American Soprano, Marni Nixon, the singing voice behind the stars of "West Side Story", "The King and I", and "My Fair Lady".

"She is a close friend, and a good mentor for me," Gesille says.

After some consideration, Gesille decided to apply for the renowned performing arts conservatory at Broadway – The American Musical and Dramatic Academy. In competition with more than 2000 promising artists, only 162 were selected. Gesille made it through the needle eye.

"I’m proud of that. But everything happened so fast. It was like a snowball that just took off," Gesille says.

"I had to leave all my projects in Norway and move to New York in a matter of weeks," she says. Gesille has currently taken a break from the female quartet "Sophisticated Strings".

"It was a bit sad to leave the quartet, but I still perform with them when I’m back in Norway," she says.
Gesille moved to New York in July 2003, setting up house on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, close to Central Park.
"I love the park, and when I go for a run in the mornings I usually recite verses and dialogues out loud," she says with a laugh. "Nobody cares, this is New York."

She wants to get more experience in performing arts and acting. "I’d love to do a Broadway show some day, or a film in Hollywood. But right now I am looking for a good agent," she says.

Gesille is working "crazy hours" and devotes most of her time and energy to rehearse famous musicals, plays, and dialogues. In addition, she takes lessons in jazz-dance, ballet and tap dancing. It is no wonder that "42nd Street" is one of her favorite Broadway shows.

"I’ve seen the show several times," she says with a smile. "Tap dancing is great fun."

"New York," she sighs, "I feel home here, and I believe I would like to stay here for many years."

Despite her hectic schedule, she has now awarded herself a week of holiday in Norway. "I can’t wait to get some sleep, and go skiing at Hafjell," she says.

Previous Stories:

• Issue 5, February 4, 2004
Norway's New Princess Named

• Issue 4, January 28, 2004
Helga's Historic Walk
Across America

• Issue 3, January 21, 2004
Arne Næss Jr. Dies
Climbing in South Africa

• Issue 2, January 14, 2004
Norway's Kurt Ready
To Conquer the World

• Issue 1, January 7, 2004
Dragsten Honors Sons of
Norway's Founding Fathers

• Main Stories 2003