Laine Mesikäpp
| Laine Mesikäpp | |
|---|---|
| Born |
27 February 1917 Adila, Rapla County, Estonia |
| Died | 5 May 2012 (aged 95) Iru, Harju County, Estonia |
| Nationality | Estonian |
| Other names | Laine Koppel |
| Occupation | Actress, singer, folk song collector |
| Years active | 1938-1994 |
| Spouse(s) | Karl Koppel |
Laine Mesikäpp (27 February 1917 - 5 May 2012) was an Estonian film, radio and stage actress, singer and prolific collector and cataloguer of Estonian folk music.
Laine Mesikäpp was born in the small village of Adila in Kohila Parish, Rapla County, to Hans Mesikäpp Jr. and Ann Mesikäpp (née 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. 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.
Beginning in 1932, she studied at Tallinn 1st Girls' Gymnasium, graduating in 1936.
In 1942, Laine Mesikäpp was invited to join the Endla Theatre in Pärnu 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.
...
Wikipedia