Actor and singer Helgi Sallo, who published a new book this year, told “Vikerhommikus” that when the idea for the book was proposed to him, he thought he would not survive the fifth book and would emigrate. Luckily, things didn’t go that way and next year the actor will talk about his work as stage manager at the Estonian Theatre, where he has worked for 60 years.
Sallo is currently rehearsing and preparing for the premiere, but luckily the production team is also on vacation, so he can rest during the holidays. “Since I no longer sing, I don’t have concerts during the holidays. But in Russian times it was still quite sad, because often an operetta was performed on Christmas Eve, because it was known that the hall would be full,” Sallo told “Vikerhommiku”.
A new book about Sallo was also published this year, examining the actor’s different roles. “I told Sirje Endri, when he proposed it to me, that if it comes out, I will emigrate anyway. I can’t live with it anymore, that there will already be a fifth book. Well, there were two versions of the book “Helgib ja helseb” /.. ./, but I really can’t stop wondering what else there is to write about me. I’ve talked about myself a lot. I’ve even slowed down, so he doesn’t remember exactly what I said,” Sallo said.
At the end of the book you can also find an overview of all Sallo’s roles, which shows that Sallo has collaborated with 13 theatres. But the relationship with one of them was particularly long. “On December 14 next year I will turn 60 years in Estonia’s employ. /…/ It’s a double-edged sword. You think you are already a legacy and no one dares to terminate the contract with you. On the other hand , I am immensely grateful to this theater and the various managements who still found the opportunity to have me delivered to this house and that I have colleagues at home who need me at their side, who trust my eyes and ears and also call me to ask Helgi, we can give it a try. These are my lucky days,” Sallo said.
During his long career, Sallo was offered a job as a teacher, but the actor did not dare to accept it. “I remember when I also went to the music school auditions and they told me that the melody was there, but there was no material. Now I also thought that maybe I can’t see or hear in a young person whether he has the substance or no. That’s why I didn’t dare that it’s a crazy responsibility,” Sallo explained.
In his work as a director, Sallo sometimes feels tempted to give new directors the same advice he received from his own directors while directing the same shows. “I still learned to control myself so much that I listen with open ears to what the director says and try to understand why he says something. /…/ And then you start thinking about how to get there. If I have any good qualities, over the years I learned not only to listen, but also to feel,” Sallo acknowledged.
While Sallo says the favorite role is generally the one played last, the roles where Sallo has reached the next level have stayed with the actor for a longer time. “My first opera was Mozart’s Don Giovanni. It was a big surprise for me that I was offered a role in the opera. After all, I have never studied at the conservatory or a music school. I am an amateur, but I had a very good instructor. /…/ Then came Neeme From Järvi’s statements, she was even successful,” Sallo said.
“Then Endrik Kerge came and took me to play the first wife of the “Savoy Ball”. Until then I was still such a tomboy, such a lively, let’s say showgirl, and suddenly I was promoted to the next level. Then I she wasn’t accepted. But that’s all”, recalls Sallo and adds that only with subsequent roles did it become clear that Sallo could also play leading ladies.
Sallo also listens to music in the spoken word shows he watches or participates in. “I’m a little crazy because when I sit and watch plays, I still hear the music. I’m lucky that the director of the Old Baskin Theatre, Eero Spriit, who offered me roles that were a good challenge and when I read them, I don’t know why, but I keep hearing where there’s a pause, where I need to speed up, now the main theme comes in. For me everything is music,” Sallo explained.
The transition from singing roles to spoken word productions was very painless for Sallo. “I didn’t feel any anguish or agony. The whole time I had a nagging feeling in the back of my head that I wasn’t falling asleep at the right time and that I wasn’t left vegetating on stage. I don’t know how it matured so that when “Hello, Dolly” came on stage, the click went off, now it’s time. /…/ I didn’t stay at home. I had some work to do in the theater and then these spoken word productions started arriving,” Sallo explained and He also added that so far he hasn’t felt like starting to sing again.
2023-12-27 08:18:00
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