Mele finished his first day of rehearsals on Sunday afternoon. She has a good gut feeling, she says to news. – I think it went very well for being the first tests. We’re quite happy, and I think it’s going to be great, says Mele. The Eurovision hopeful hasn’t felt much on her nerves yet, but says she thinks she’ll get more nervous as the semi-finals approach. – What remains to be practiced now? – It’s the technique, the small details. All the basics are there. So it’s just a matter of improving the details. What I’m looking forward to is the energy that comes from the audience and the hall and everyone around us on the important day, she says. Alessandra Mele during the first trial in Liverpool. Photo: Corinne Cumming / EBU The Norwegian delegation in Liverpool consists of 16 people who work with everything from press management, costumes, technique and all the practical things needed to make Europe aware of the Norwegian contribution. At the same time, Mele is waiting for her parents, siblings, friends, uncle and aunt, cousins and boyfriend, who will come to support her in the semi-finals. While she waits, the atmosphere is good among the other finalists, she says. – I haven’t met that many people yet, but the ones I have met have a great atmosphere. I have met Ireland and Malta, so it was nice, she says. Alessandra Mele during the first trial in Liverpool. Photo: Corinne Cumming / EBU – Good position to be in Delegation leader Stig Karlsen talks about a “delicious international community” in Liverpool: – Much of what we spend our time on is creating the greatest possible involvement among the other countries that will vote for us. – We are lucky to be in the position of being among the top favourites. Then the media show more interest in us, and we don’t have to sell ourselves so hard. It’s a good position to be in, he says. Stig Karlsen is the leader of the Norwegian delegation in Eurovision. Photo: Kjetil Solhøi / news The costume that Mele wore in Melodi Grand Prix was a redesigned 80s dress. But the fabric was so fragile and old that it could easily tear. – We didn’t dare to bet that the fabric would hold up during all the rehearsals for Eurovision, as the costume has to be taken on and off a lot, says costume manager for the Norwegian delegation, Susanne Hoftun. Together with the tailors at the sewing room at news, they have made a brand new and lavish suit. The costume is an upgrade from the previous one, with a sharper expression. Alessandra Mele in the old costume, which she will still wear during the performances in Liverpool before the actual Eurovision. Photo: Rodrigo Freitas / NTB – We wanted to keep the green and continue the gold theme. The costume is inspired by Queen Elizabeth I and the 17th century, only with a modern twist, she explains. – It is a very complicated pattern and material – and it has been particularly demanding with all the gold elements, she adds. Susanne Hoftun together with seamstress Katarzyna Blonska. Photo: Kjetil Solhøi / news Mele has not participated in the design of her own costume. The star herself has had little involvement in the design process, and has trusted completely in the costume team. – Alessandra has been very easy to work with in this process, and has had full confidence in us who designed and made the costume, boasts Hoftun. The gold fabric, which gives a metallic expression, was brought from Poland. The suit itself is sewn by Katarzyna Blonska, while the cape is sewn by Sunniva Haldorsen. – It was a demanding and detailed process to get the corset right, says Blonska. Photo: Kjetil Solhøi / news The jewelery has been redesigned especially for the occasion, and is also a new element in the costume. Both the song and the costume make references to power and the queen’s title, which is why it is extra fun that Prince Charles will be crowned king of Great Britain in the same week as Eurovision. – It will be a royal week, and in connection with the coronation, our own queen will also be on stage. So we think it’s a little extra fun that this happens in the same period. This is the new “crown on the cake”. But if the lighting on stage allows it, they will use an identical crown that they have made without the velvet fabric. – We have to make sure that the krone looks right, says Susanne Hoftun. Photo: Kjetil Solhøi / news In a competition like Eurovision, the costumes play an important role in the expression of the show. Because it’s not just Mele who gets new “armor” – so do the dancers. – The few minutes on stage are about storytelling, and how to balance all the visuals. – That is why we see it as extra important to have a complete costume that will hopefully be noticed through the TV screen, says Hoftun.
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Eurovision-ready in a new costume – inspired by Queen Elizabeth I – news Culture and entertainment
