Ingemisco jussi bjorling biography
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Jussi-festival at Strömsbruk 2014
Photo: Pelle Jansson
It was not only the summer weather of 2014 that became memorable. The Jussi summer was also worth remembering for all the fine arrangements that our Society carried through.
We have earlier reported from Voxna, Kungsträdgården and Skansen. Now it’s time to report from the Jussi Festival at Strömsbruk 7-8 September.
The assembly hall Strömshall (left) and David Björling’s birth place (right)
Two Day Opera Festival at Strömsbruk
During two days our Society arranged, for the ninth year, the Jussi Festival at Strömsbruk, the old industrial village 20 kilometres north of Hudiksvall. Jussi’s grandfather, Lars Johan Björn, was blacksmith there and Jussi’s father David was born there in 1873. The house where he was born is still there. In the Mission House David and his sons Gösta, Olle and Jussi sang.
The fiery spirit and secretary o
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Jussi Björling:
Rarities from Opera, Concert and Radio
Track Listing:
Oak Grove CD 2036 • ADD • TT: 68’17” • On 15 March 1960 he had a heart attack just before the curtain was to open for the performance of La bohème at the Covent Garden Opera in London. In spite of this he was able to carry through the performance, and he was on stage again three days later. “He sings wonderfully”, said one of the listeners. After the performance he returned to Stockholm and a little more than a week to rest before it was time for a minor tour of California. It started in San Francisco where he was to sing in two performances with the Cosmopolitan Opera Company and a concert and then another two concerts at Pasadena and Santa Monica. On 29 March he made his debut at the War Memorial Opera as Manrico in Il trovatore. The press eulogized his achievement. “He [sang] with a vocal mastery, q
01 Adolphe Adam: Cantique de Noël (in Swedish: Julsång, ’O helga natt’) 4’46” With piano, NBC studio, New York, 21 December 1946
02 Sigmund Romberg: Will You Remember (from Maytime) 2’33” With Anna-Lisa Björling, sop., & piano. Further recording details unknown.
03–08 Charles Gounod: Excerpts from Faust (in Sw.; 05–08 other soloists in Ger.) 15’15”
03 Ô coupe des aieux…Mais ce Dieu…Me voici!, act inom 3’43”
04 À moi fransk artikel plaisirs…Ô merveille!, act inom 3’29” Joel Berglund (Méphistophélès); Royal Orchestra & Chorus, Nils Grevillius, cond. Royal Opera House, Stockholm, 4 January 1936
05 Ne permettrez-vous pas, act II 2’12”
06 Il titta fait tard!...Laisse-moi contempler, act III 3’08”
07 Eternelle! Ô nuit d’amour, act III 1’15”
08 Marguerite!, act III 1’11”
Esther Réthy (Marguerite), Alexander Kipnis (Méphistophélès); Vienna State Opera Orchestra, Josef Jussi of the Month April 2015
Jussi's last tour in USA and last performances abroad
Rosanna Carteri and Jussi in La bohème, Covent Garden March 9, 1960