Estonian actress
Laine Mesikapp
|
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Born
| (
1917-02-27
)
27 February 1917
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Died
| 5 May 2012
(2012-05-05)
(aged 95)
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Nationality
| Estonian
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Other names
| Laine Koppel
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Occupation(s)
| Actress, singer, folk song collector
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Years active
| 1938?1994
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Spouse
| Karl Koppel
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Laine Mesikapp
(27 February 1917 ? 5 May 2012) was an
Estonian
film, radio and stage actress, singer, and prolific collector and cataloguer of Estonian folk music.
Early life and education
[
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]
Laine Mesikapp was born in the small village of
Adila
in
Kohila Parish
,
Rapla County
, to Hans Mesikapp Jr. and Ann Mesikapp (
nee
Rammus) and grew up on a farm in the small neighboring borough of
Hageri
. She was the youngest of nine children. Her interest in traditional
Estonian folklore
and
Estonian folk music
began early in her childhood; her father Hans was a locally known storyteller and singer who always kept a pencil in his pocket to transcribe all local traditions, songs and stories.
[1]
Later, the family home became a gathering place for folklorists, musicians and singers from all parts of Estonia, which left a lasting impression on her and added numerous songs from other regions to her repertoire.
[2]
[3]
Beginning in 1932, she studied at Tallinn 1st Girls' Gymnasium, graduating in 1936.
[4]
Stage career
[
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]
In 1942, Laine Mesikapp was invited to join the
Endla Theatre
in
Parnu
by theatre director Riivo Kuljus after he watched her perform as a singer. Although she had no formal training as an actress, she agreed. She made her stage debut later that year in the role of Maret Vaa in a production of
August Gailit
's 1928 novel
Toomas Nipernaadi
. She would remain at the Endla theatre until 1944 when she joined the
Estonian National Opera
musical theater. After leaving the Estonian National Opera musical theatre in 1949, she would join the
Estonian Drama Theatre
, which would be her longest theatre engagement, lasting 43 years; from 1949 until 1992. Among her more notable roles at the Estonian Drama Theatre were Natasha in
Anton Chekhov
's
Three Sisters
, Berta in
Oskar Luts
'
Tagahoovis
, Mardi-Riste in
Juhan Smuul
's
Muhu Monoloogides
and Emma in
Bertholt Brecht
's
Mr Puntila and his Man Matti
.
[5]
Film
[
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]
Laine Mesikapp's feature film debut was in the 1956 film adaptation of Oskar Luts' 1933 story
Tagahoovis
, directed by Viktor Neve?in. Mesikapp reprised her role of Berta for the film; a role she had played previously onstage as an actress at the Estonian Drama Theatre. This was followed by small roles in the 1960
Herbert Rappaport
directed drama
Vihmas ja paikeses
for Tallinna Kinostuudio and the 1962 musical comedy color film
Laulu sober
directed by Ilja Fogelman and Reet Kasesalu, also for Tallinna Kinostuudio.
[6]
Other film appearances include roles in the 1968 film adaptation of
August Kitzberg
's novel
Libahunt
; the 1981
Arvo Kruusement
directed
Karge meri
, based on the 1938 novel of the same name; and as Aunt Kaie in the 1989 Leida Laius directed drama
Varastatud kohtumine
. All of which were produced by
Tallinnfilm
. Mesikapp's final film appearance would be an uncredited role in
Pekka Karjalainen
directed black and white comedy
Hysteria
in 1993.
[7]
Folk songs
[
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]
From a very early age, Laine Mesikapp had a strong interest in traditional Estonian music, songs, dance, stories and national dress. She began collecting and performing folk songs from all over Estonia while still a teenager. In 1947, Estonia held its first
Estonian Song Festival
since the
Soviet annexation
in 1944 and Mesikapp performed. When the choir, and subsequently the audience, began singing the patriotic "
Mu isamaa on minu arm
" ("My Fatherland is My Love") in a burst of Estonian patriotism and in defiance of Soviet rule, the crowd roared with approval, outraging Soviet authorities.
[8]
[9]
[10]
This event sparked Mesikapp to begin organizing parties and festivals promoting traditional Estonian folk music and dance. Although not an overtly political statement, it was, in part, an attempt to preserve Estonian customs and an attempt to halt
russification
.
[11]
[12]
Mesikapp remained active in the collection and promotion Estonian folk music throughout her life. She was a member of the Leigarid Folk Art Ensemble; a folk art collective founded in 1969 which promoted
Estonian culture
through music and dance.
[13]
Personal life
[
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]
Laine Mesikapp was married to Karl Koppel, who died in 1988. In her later years, she was a resident at an assisted living facility for the elderly in
Iru
in
Harju County
, where she died in 2012 at age 95.
[14]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
videvik.ee
no. 9 (806). 1 March 2007. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
- ^
videvik.ee
no. 9 (806). 1 March 2007. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
- ^
eestigiid.ee
Mesikapp, Laine
. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
- ^
Nimistu - Eesti Teatri- ja Muusikamuuseum
Laine Mesikapp
. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
- ^
delfi.ee
Lahkus naitleja ja leelotaja Laine Mesikapp (27. veebr 1917 ? 5. mai 2012)
1 May 2012. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
- ^
Eesti Filmi Andmebaas
. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
- ^
Eesti Filmi Andmebaas
. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
- ^
jstor.org
How Singing Started a Revolution in Estonia
21 August 2015. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
- ^
Mimi S. Daitz, Veljo Tormis.
Ancient Song Recovered: The Life and Music of Veljo Tormis
p. 88. Pendragon Press, 2004.
ISBN
9781576470091
- ^
Gunter Faure, Teresa Mensing.
The Estonians; The long road to independence
pp. 268?269. Lulu, 2012.
ISBN
9781105530036
.
- ^
Ohtuleht
"Laine Mesikapp oli abielus rahvakunstiga, rahvalaulud olid tema lapsed."
12 May 2012. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
- ^
Nimistu - Eesti Teatri- ja Muusikamuuseum
Laine Mesikapp
. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
- ^
delfi.ee
Rahvalaulik Laine Mesikapp hoidis tantsuema ehet
15 November 2008. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
- ^
Ohtuleht
"Laine Mesikapp oli abielus rahvakunstiga, rahvalaulud olid tema lapsed."
12 May 2012. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
External links
[
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]