Critically acclaimed production of the Swedish musical sensation

For the first time in Danish

January - March 2018

Tivoli Concert Hall

The Concert Hall of Aarhus

ODEON

Vejle Music Theatre

Holstebro Music Theater

The temperamental American world chess champion Frederick Trumper is in Merano to defend his title against Russian chess champion Anatoly Sergievsky. It is however not only the title as the world’s best chess player that matters. A grand political game of nerves between the Cold War-era superpowers is unfolding behind the scenes and on the chessboard. Meanwhile, Frederick’s second Florence Vassy falls in love with Anatoly, and the love triangle is complicated even further when Anatoly’s wife Svetlana arrives. CHESS a love drama told with passion and great musical moments. CHESS a love drama told with passion and great musical moments.

REVIEWS

“THE NEW PRODUCTION OF THE MUSICAL CHESS IS ABSOLUTELY MAGNIFICENT. THERE IS PIERCING SINGING AND DANCING, AS WELL AS PERMANENT PASSION ON THE MENU AND AT TIMES YOU FORGET BOTH TIME AND PLACE - IF YOU ARE NOT IN THE MIDDLE OF SHEDDING A TEAR WHILE GETTING THE CHILLS, AS IF YOU WERE IN PARADISE. IT IS NOTHING LESS THAN A FABULOUS PRODUCTION, WHERE ESPECIALLY XENIA LACH-NIELSEN AND STIG ROSSEN GET THE CHANCE TO DEMONSTRATE AN AWE-INSPRIRING ARTISTIC LEVEL. ”
Politiken
“CHESS IN TIVOLI IS A TRIUMPH AND A MIRACLE. A WONDERFUL PRODUCTION OF CHESS, WHICH GIVES THE PROBLEMATIC MUSICAL A NERVE AND A PRESCENCE ONE WOULDN’T BELIEVE POSSIBLE. WITH A SUPERIOR XENIA LACH-NIELSEN AS ITS UNQUESTIONABLE CENTRE PIECE. A GREAT TRANSLATION, WHICH CONTRIBUTES TO REMOVING THE FILTER AND RAISING THE IRON CURTAIN BETWEEN THE SINGERS AND THE AUDIENCE. XENIA LACH-NIELSEN GIVES THE FEMALE LEAD AN EMOTIONAL GLOW, MAKING EVERY TONE A HIGHLIGHT. IT IS MORE THAN WELL DONE. IT IS A TRIUMPH AND NOTHING LESS OF A MIRACLE. ”
Berlingske
“XENIA’S BIG TRIUMPH. EXCELLENT DANISH VERSION OF CHESS. THERE YOU GO, THIS IS HOW IT’S DONE. THE NEW, DANISH VERSION OF THE OLD COLD WAR DRAMA CHESS BRINGS IT HOME IN TIVOLI’S LARGE-SCALE, VISUALLY APPEALING AND VOCALLY SUPREME VERSION. BOTH VISUALLY – A BEAUTIFUL CHECKERED SET DESIGN AND A PARTICULARLY WELL CHOREOGRAPHED ENSEMBLE – AND ESPECIALLY VOCALLY, THIS PRODUCTION IS AT THE TOP END. AND ABOVE ALL ELSE, XENIA LACH-NIELSEN IS SHINING AND THRILLS AND EXCELLS AS FLORENCE. ”
B.T.
“.THE EXECUTION IS IRRESISTIBLE WHEN THE BIG MUSICAL CLASSIC OF THE YEAR, CHESS BRINGS ITS MAGIC WITH INTOXICATING TONES AND FASCINATING SET DESIGN. WITH A SWARM OF DELICIOUS ARRANGEMENTS AND TALENTED SINGERS, MUSICIANS AND SOUND TECHNICIANS THE MUSIC HAS NEVER SOUNDED BETTER IN TIVOLI’S CONCERT HALL. AS A WHOLE, THE TEAM BEHIND THIS 2018 VERSION OF CHESS HITS THE BULL’S EYE AGAIN AND AGAIN WITHOUT HESITATION. WITH VARIATION, AMBITION AND ARTISTIC CREATIVITY, RØNNOW HAS SIMPLY MASTERED THE ART OF MUSICAL THEATRE SEDUCTION ”
Kulturtid
“REFRESHINGLY DIFFERENT. ALL SCEPTICISTS ARE PUT IN THEIR PLACE – INCLUDING YOURS TRULY. WHICH IS MOSTLY DUE TO THE EFFORTS OF THE KING OF MUSICAL, STIG ROSSEN AND THE NEW SHINING QUEEN, XENIA LACH-NIELSEN. ROSSEN IS SO SUPERIOR AND TEASING IN HIS MASTERING OF THE PART OF ANATOLY THAT HE, IN THE DUET “MOUNTAIN DUET”, IS ALMOST YODELING. AND HE FINISHES OFF THE FIRST ACT WITH A VERITABLE DEMONSTRATION OF POWER IN "ANTHEM". ”
Folketidende
“IS THIS THE BEST EVER DANISH PRODUCTION OF CHESS? YES, THERE CAN BARELY BE ANY DOUBT ABOUT THAT. NOT LEAST VOCALLY THE MUSICAL BECOMES A TRIUMPH IN THE TIVOLI CONCERT HALL. XENIA LACH-NIELSEN MAKES HER A MODERN WOMAN, WHO DOESN’T TAKE ANYTHING FROM THE MEN. VOCALLY SHE IS ALSO DELIVERING WAY ABOVE WHAT WE HAVE PREVIOUSLY WITNESSED – ESPECIALLY IN THE CLOSING SCENE. CHESS HAS FINALLY GOTTEN THE DANISH PRODUCTION IT, DESPITE IT ALL, DESERVES. ”
CPH Culture
“IT IS AN EXTRAORDINARY STRONG AND WELL FUNCTIONING TEAM BOTH ON AND OFF STAGE, WHO DOES MORE THAN JUST DELIVER. THE PRODUCTION IS COLOURED WITH AN IMPRESSIVE FLOW. IN THE CENTRE OF THIS PRODUCTION STANDS XENIA LACH-NIELSEN WITH HER INTERPRETATION OF FLORENCE. WITH AN ENORMOUS VOCAL EXCESS OF ENERGY AND A WONDERFUL TAKE ON THE ACTING. THE 16 SINGERS AND DANCERS IN THE ENSEMBLE DELIVER ABSOLUTE TOP CLASS PERFORMANCES – AND TREATS ARE THROWN ABUNDANTLY AT US FROM THE ORCHESTRA PIT”
Fyens Stiftstidende
“IT IS THE NIGHT OF THE STARS IN CHESS. WE GET STIG ROSSEN AS A STOIC CHESS GENIUS WITH A WORLD CLASS VOICE. XENIA LACH-NIELSEN WHO OUTSHINES THEM ALL WHEN SHE BELTS IN A WAY THAT TOUCHES THE ENTIRE NERVOUS SYSTEM. GREAT MUSIC AND SUPERIOR LOVE DRAMA – AND WOW, IT WORKS WELL IN TIVOLI’S PRODUCTION. A UNIQUE MUSICAL EXPERIENCE OF 2018. ”
Iscene

MEDIA

Play Video
Behind the scenes
Play Video
Interview with Leif Davidsen
Play Video
Trailer

GALLERY

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CAST

Stig Rossen
Anatoly Sergievsky
Xenia Lach-Nielsen
Florence Vassy
Bjarne Langhoff
Frederick Trumper
Jakob Zethner
Molokov
Pernille Petersson
Svetlana
Kristian Vetter
The Arbiter
Martin Loft
Walter

ENSEMBLE

Anna Vaupel
Frederikke Vedel
Karin Nordly-Holst
Katrine Schmidt Nørgaard
Linda Fabricius Hultemark
Linnea Stenbeck
Nynne Holmen
Regina Lundsgaard
Anders Gjesing
Jeff Schjerlund
Jesper Paasch
Jonas Holst
Jonathan Heegaard
Mikkel Hoé Knudsen
Oliver Lundqvist
Ulrik Aabye-Hansen

EXTRAS

Florence as a girl (Copenhagen)Elisabeth Slejborg Blauenfeldt / Emilia Isabel Wischmann
Florence as a girl (tour)Ida Marie Brandt / Sofie Hellstern-Krogh
Anatoly's son (Copenhagen)Mathias Boemann Rasmussen / Victor Lucas-Sennenwaldt
Anatoly's son (tour)Mads Kristian Anderskou / Noah Peter Flynne Clemmensen
Leonid ViigandAnders Teigen

SONGS

ACT ONE

Historien om skak (The Story of Chess)
Arbiter, Ensemble, Anatoly, Florence's father
Merano
Citizens of Merano, the mayor, Frederick
Kommunistiske aviser (Commie Newspapers)
Florence & Frederick
Pressekonference (Press Conference)
Florence & reporters
Anatoly & Molokov
Anatoly & Molokov
Der hvor jeg vil være (Where I Want to Be)
Anatoly
Diplomater (Diplomats)
Walter, Molokov, American & Russian diplomats
The Arbiter
The Arbiter
Hymne til skak (Hymn to chess)
Ensemble
Merchandisers
Ensemble
Første skakspil (Chess #1)
Orchestra
Kvartet (Quartet)
Molokov, Florence, Arbiter, Anatoly
Florence & Molokov
Florence, Molokov, Walter, Frederick
1956 – Budapest i oprør (1956 - Budapest is rising)
Frederick & Florence
Alles kamp mod alle (Nobody's Side)
Florence
Der Kleine Franz
Citizens of Merano
Duetten på bjerget (Mountain Duet)
Anatoly, Florence, Frederick
Andet skakspil (Chess #2)
Orchestra
Florence siger op (Florence Quits)
Frederick & Florence
Stakkels det barn (Pity the Child)
Frederick
Ambassadens klagesang (Embassy Lament)
Russian diplomats
Anatoly og pressen (Anatoly and the Press)
Anatoly & reporters
Mit hjertes land (Anthem)
Anatoly

ACT TWO

Golden Bangkok
Orchestra
One Night in Bangkok
Frederick
Endnu en modstander (One More Opponent)
Anatoly & Florence
Hjertet viser vej (Heaven Help my Heart)
Florence
Den russiske robot (The Soviet Machine)
Molokov & Russian diplomats
Interview
Walter, Frederick & Anatoly
En anden piges historie (Someone Else's Story)
Svetlana
Aftalen (The Deal)
All main characters
Nu ser jeg ham klart (I Know Him So Well)
Florence & Svetlana
Skak-snak (Talking Chess)
Anatoly & Frederick
Slutspil (End Game)
Company
Du og jeg (You & I)
Anatoly & Florence
Finale
Florence & Walter

ORCHESTRA

Copenhagen

Flute / PiccoloKarolina Leedo
Oboe / Cor AnglaisElizabeth Gibbs
Clarinet / bass clarinet / baritone saxChristopher Wilkes
BassoonNiels Anders Vedsten Larsen
HornPhilip Sandholt Andersen
TrumpetBo Fuglsang
TromboneAndré Jensen
Keyboard IJakob Lindbirk
Keyboard IIJohan Bergman
Keyboard IIIMads Granum
GuitarsJens Kokholm
Bass / Double bassJesper Thorn
DrumsPeter Fältskog
PercussionDavid Hildebrandt
Violin I (Concertmaster)Andrea Gyarfas Brahe
Violin IIIngegerd Deckert
CelloMihai Fagarasan

Aarhus, Odense, Vejle & Holstebro

Flute / PiccoloLonnie Svilling
Oboe / Cor AnglaisVeronica Isabelle Stubberud
Clarinet / bass clarinet / baritone saxFlorián Navarro
BassoonAnnemette Juul Pedersen
HornSusanne Skov
TrumpetJan Lynggaard Sørensen
TromboneHenrik Resen
Keyboard IAllan Dahl Hansen
Keyboard IIKeld Haaning Ibsen
Keyboard IIIChristian Berg
GuitarsJens Kokholm
Bass / Double bassKim Mikkelsen
DrumsTony Lamb
PercussionMikkel Ib
Violin I (Concertmaster)Yuri Kalnits
Violin IIViolina Petrova
CelloJon Anderskou

CREATIVE TEAM

Music
Benny Andersson & Björn Ulvaeus
Lyrics
Tim Rice & Björn Ulvaeus
Book
Tim Rice
Orchestrations
Anders Eljas
Translation
Jesper Malmose
Additional translations
Xenia Lach-Nielsen, Stig Rossen and the cast
Director
Mark Clements
Set and costume design
Peter McKintosh
Choreographer
Nick Winston
Musical director
Mikkel Rønnow
Lighting design
Tim Mitchell
Sound design
Casper Ravn & Anders Dalmose
Hair & makeup design
Henrik Torp
Projection design
Morten Just
Photo
Rumle Skafte
Produced by
Mikkel Rønnow Musicals
in collaboration with
TOCA Records

SHOP

Music

Chess 2018 Danish Cast Highlights

16 songs in Danish from the 2018 production
150,00 kr.
75,00 kr.
Merchandise

Chess 2018 Souvenir Program

The original programme from the 2018 Danish production.
70,00 kr.
35,00 kr.
Merchandise

Chess Pin

Beautiful and stylish pin
10,00 kr.
5,00 kr.
OPTIONS
Merchandise

Chess Tote Bag

Black tote bag with white logo
60,00 kr.
30,00 kr.

DELIVERY COSTS