Ola Isene was a Norwegian opera

Opera

Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...

 singer (baritone) and actor.

Isene studied at the Musikkonservatoriet in Kristiania

Oslo

Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...

, and made his debut at the Mayol-teatret in 1923. His operatic roles were varied, among them Beckmesser in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg

Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg

Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg is an opera in three acts, written and composed by Richard Wagner. It is among the longest operas still commonly performed today, usually taking around four and a half hours. It was first performed at the Königliches Hof- und National-Theater in Munich, on June 21,...

, Scarpia in Tosca

Tosca

Tosca is an opera in three acts by Giacomo Puccini to an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa. It premiered at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome on 14 January 1900...

and Amonasro in Aïda

Aida

Aida sometimes spelled Aïda, is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni, based on a scenario written by French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette...

– most of them at the Nationaltheatret

Nationaltheatret

The National Theatre in Oslo is one of Norway's largest and most prominent venues for performance of dramatic arts.The theatre had its first performance on 1 September 1899 but can trace its origins to Christiania Theatre, which was founded in 1829...

, which at the time had opera on its programme. He took part in many tours, and also appeared in operettas, including as Schubert in Jomfruburet. In the middle of the 1930s, he moved to theatre and film as an actor.

Isene also played the title role in the three criminal radio plays Inspektør Scott på farten by John P. Wynn, which were broadcast by Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation radio in 1960 and 1961.

He was married to the teacher Haldis Isene.

Filmography

• Knut Formos siste jakt (1973)
• Balladen om mestertyven Ole Høiland (1970)
• Olsenbanden og Dynamitt-Harry (1970)
• Skjær i sjøen
• Alle tiders kupp
  Alle tiders kupp
  Alle tiders kupp is a 1964 Norwegian comedy film directed by Øyvind Vennerød, starring Rolf Just Nilsen, Arne Bang-Hansen, Henki Kolstad and Inger Marie Andersen. Three men rob an outlet of the government owned alcoholic beverage retailer Vinmonopolet...
  
  
• Nydelige nelliker (1964)
• Vildanden (1963)
• Hans Nielsen Hauge (1961)
• Veien tilbake (1960)
• Venner
  Venner
  Venner is a surname, and may refer to:* Charlie Venner* Thomas Venner* Stephen Venner, a bishop of the Church of England* Venner, a 1960 Norwegian film-See also:* Bamses Venner, Danish musical group*Venner...
  
  (1960)
• Høysommer (1958)
• Ut av mørket
  Ut av mørket
  Ut av mørket is a 1958 Norwegian film directed by Arild Brinchmann. It was entered into the 8th Berlin International Film Festival.-Cast:* Urda Arneberg - Kari Holm* Pål Skjønberg - Per Holm, architect...
  
  (1958)
• Peter van Heeren
• Blodveien (1955)
• Andrine og Kjell
  Andrine og Kjell
  Andrine og Kjell is a 1952 Norwegian drama film directed by Kåre Bergstrøm, starring Inger Marie Andersen and Toralv Maurstad. Andrine is attending a private secondary school, and rents a room with the family of her classmate Kjell...
  
  (1952)
• Den hemmelighetsfulle leiligheten
  Den hemmelighetsfulle leiligheten
  Den hemmelighetsfulle leiligheten is a 1948 Norwegian drama film directed by Tancred Ibsen, starring Ola Isene and Sonja Wigert. The film is based on a short story by Kristian Elster d.y.. A bachelor in his forties buys an apartment owned by an artist who died a sudden death...
  
  (1948)
• Trollfossen (1948)
• Englandsfarere (1946)
• Så møtes vi imorgen (1946)
• Vi vil leve (1946)
• Trysil-Knut (1942)
• Tørres Snørtevold
  Tørres Snørtevold
  Tørres Snørtevold is a 1940 Norwegian comedy film directed by Tancred Ibsen. It starred Alfred Maurstad, Folkman Schaanning and Anton Jessen and was based on the novel Jacob by Alexander Kielland....
  
  (1940)
• Söderkåkar (Swedish) (1932)
• Kärlek och landstorm (Swedish) (1931)

Sources

• Hoemsnes, Tone, Ola Isene, Store Norsk Lekskicon (in Norwegian)

External links