The Very Best of Jussi Björling

Björling, like Gigli and Caruso before him, was idolised in his time as the operatic tenor par excellence in the Italian repertoire. He was a superb artist, with a voice of lyric sweetness that could also ring out heroically when needed. Johan 'Jussi' Jonaton Björling was born in Stora Tuna, Sweden, on 5 February 1911. From 1928 Björling studied singing at the Stockholm Conservatory, and on 20 August 1930 he made his operatic debut in a leading role as Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni at the Royal Swedish Opera, Stockholm. He quickly established his career and his international reputation was enhanced through the recordings he made for EMI, initially for the local Swedish branch (sung in Swedish) and later for the international market. He first sang at La Scala, Milan, in 1946 in Rigoletto, and returned five years later for Un ballo in maschera. But it was at the Met in New York that he had his greatest successes from 1938 to the time of his death. Björling's Covent Garden debut took place on 12 May 1939 (Manrico in // trovatore), but he did not return there until March 1960, when, despite suffering from heart trouble, he triumphed as Rodolfo in La bohème. His health continued to deteriorate, and he sang for the last time at a concert in Stockholm on 20 August 1960. Following a severe heart attack, he died on 9 September 1960. Although Björling was not much of an actor on stage, he nevertheless created convincing ` characters through the medium of his voice, over which he had absolute control. Nor was he adept at languages, which partly explains why he failed to receive the recognition he deserved in Italy. But as a tenor he was supreme: the rare ability to add dramatic power to his lyrical voice at will enabled him to sing almost any tenor role in the French and Italian repertoire, in much the same way as Caruso had done before him. This programme includes examples of Björling in his most famous operatic roles and also includes a number of popular songs and operetta arias, all of which were best-sellers when they were first released in the days of 78s and have remained firm favourites ever since.

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Verdi, Giuseppe : Rigoletto :: Questa o quella

Performer: Jussi Björling (Tenor)
Conductor: Nils Grevillius
Notes: Small Auditorium of the Stockholm Concert Hall (03/27/1944-03/30/1944)
Running Time: 2 min. 11 sec.
Period Time: Romantic
Form: Opera/Operetta
Written: 1851

Verdi, Giuseppe : Rigoletto :: La donna è mobile

Performer: Jussi Björling (Tenor)
Conductor: Nils Grevillius
Running Time: 2 min. 11 sec.
Period Time: Romantic
Form: Opera/Operetta
Written: 1851

Verdi, Giuseppe : Il trovatore :: Ah sì, ben mio

Performer: Jussi Björling (Tenor)
Conductor: Nils Grevillius
Running Time: 3 min. 17 sec.
Period Time: Romantic
Form: Opera/Operetta
Written: 1853

Verdi, Giuseppe : Il trovatore :: Di quella pira

Performer: Jussi Björling (Tenor)
Conductor: Nils Grevillius
Running Time: 1 min. 39 sec.
Period Time: Romantic
Form: Opera/Operetta
Written: 1853

Verdi, Giuseppe : Un ballo in maschera :: Di' tu se fedele

Performer: Jussi Björling (Tenor)
Conductor: Nils Grevillius
Notes: Small Auditorium of the Stockholm Concert Hall (03/27/1944-03/30/1944)
Running Time: 3 min. 17 sec.
Period Time: Romantic
Form: Opera/Operetta
Written: 1859

Verdi, Giuseppe : Aida, opera :: Se quel guerrier io fossi!... Celeste

Performer: Jussi Björling (Tenor)
Conductor: Nils Grevillius
Notes: Composition written: 1871.
Running Time: 4 min. 24 sec.
Period Time: Romantic
Form: Opera/Operetta
Written: 1871

Verdi, Giuseppe : Requiem Mass :: Ingemisco

Performer: Jussi Björling (Tenor)
Conductor: Nils Grevillius
Running Time: 4 min. 6 sec.
Period Time: Romantic
Written: 1874

Rossini, Gioachino : Stabat Mater :: Cujus animam

Performer: Jussi Björling (Tenor)
Conductor: Nils Grevillius
Running Time: 4 min. 12 sec.
Period Time: Romantic
Written: 1841

Donizetti, Gaetano : L' elisir d'amore, opera :: Una furtiva lagrima

Performer: Jussi Björling (Tenor)
Conductor: Nils Grevillius
Running Time: 4 min. 9 sec.
Period Time: Romantic
Written: 1832

Ponchielli, Amilcare : La Gioconda :: Cielo e mar!

Performer: Jussi Björling (Tenor)
Conductor: Nils Grevillius
Running Time: 4 min. 15 sec.
Period Time: Romantic
Form: Opera/Operetta
Written: 1876

Giordano, Umberto : Andrea Chénier :: Come un bel dì di maggio

Performer: Jussi Björling (Tenor)
Conductor: Nils Grevillius
Notes: Small Auditorium of the Stockholm Concert Hall (03/27/1944-03/30/1944)
Running Time: 3 min. 14 sec.
Period Time: Post Romantic
Form: Opera/Operetta
Written: 1896

Giordano, Umberto : Fedora :: Amor ti vieta

Performer: Jussi Björling (Tenor)
Conductor: Nils Grevillius
Notes: Small Auditorium of the Stockholm Concert Hall (03/27/1944-03/30/1944)
Running Time: 2 min. 6 sec.
Period Time: Post Romantic
Form: Opera/Operetta
Written: 1898

Francesco Cilèa (1866 - 1950) : L'arlesiana :: E la solita storia

Performer: Jussi Björling (Tenor)
Conductor: Nils Grevillius
Running Time: 4 min. 1 sec.
Period Time: Post Romantic
Form: Opera/Operetta
Written: 1897

Puccini, Giacomo : Manon Lescaut :: Donna non vidi mai

Performer: Jussi Björling (Tenor)
Conductor: Nils Grevillius
Notes: Composition written: 1893.
Running Time: 2 min. 24 sec.
Period Time: Post Romantic
Form: Opera/Operetta
Written: 1893

Puccini, Giacomo : La bohème :: Che gelida manina

Performer: Jussi Björling (Tenor)
Conductor: Thomas Beecham
Notes: RCA Victor Studio, Manhattan Center, New York (1956-03-16_1956-03-17&1956-)
Running Time: 5 min. 10 sec.
Period Time: Post Romantic
Form: Opera/Operetta
Written: 1896

Puccini, Giacomo : La bohème :: In un coupé?... O Mimì, tu piú torni

Performers: Jussi Björling (Tenor); Robert Merrill
Conductor: Thomas Beecham
Notes: RCA Victor Studio, Manhattan Center, New York (1956-03-16_1956-03-17&1956-)
Running Time: 4 min. 28 sec.
Period Time: Post Romantic
Form: Opera/Operetta
Written: 1896

Puccini, Giacomo : Tosca :: Recondita armonia

Performer: Jussi Björling (Tenor)
Conductor: Nils Grevillius
Running Time: 2 min. 50 sec.
Period Time: Post Romantic
Form: Opera/Operetta
Written: 1900

Puccini, Giacomo : Tosca :: E lucevan le stelle

Performer: Jussi Björling (Tenor)
Conductor: Nils Grevillius
Running Time: 3 min. 8 sec.
Period Time: Post Romantic
Form: Opera/Operetta
Written: 1900

Puccini, Giacomo : Turandot :: Nessun dorma

Performer: Jussi Björling (Tenor)
Conductor: Nils Grevillius
Notes: Small Auditorium of the Stockholm Concert Hall (03/27/1944-03/30/1944)
Running Time: 3 min. 26 sec.
Period Time: Post Romantic
Form: Opera/Operetta
Written: 1926

Mascagni, Pietro : Cavalleria rusticana, opera (melodramma) in 1 act :: Mamma! quel vino è generoso

Performer: Jussi Björling (Tenor)
Conductor: Nils Grevillius
Notes: Small Auditorium of the Stockholm Concert Hall (03/27/1944-03/30/1944)
Running Time: 3 min. 50 sec.
Period Time: Post Romantic

Leoncavallo, Ruggero : Pagliacci :: Recitar!... Vesti la giubba

Performer: Jussi Björling (Tenor)
Conductor: Renato Cellini
Notes: RCA Victor Studio, Manhattan Center, New York (1953-01-10_1953-01-11&1953-)
Running Time: 3 min. 57 sec.
Period Time: Post Romantic
Written: 1892

Leoncavallo, Ruggero : Pagliacci :: No, o non son

Performers: Robert Merrill; Victoria de los Angeles (Soprano); Jussi Björling (Tenor); Paul Franke (Tenor); Leonard Warren (Baritone)
Conductor: Renato Cellini
Notes: RCA Victor Studio, Manhattan Center, New York (1953-01-10_1953-01-11&1953-)
Running Time: 5 min. 53 sec.
Period Time: Post Romantic
Written: 1892

Meyerbeer, Giacomo : L'Africaine :: Mi batte il cor... O paradiso

Performer: Jussi Björling (Tenor)
Conductor: Nils Grevillius
Notes: Composition written: 1864.
Running Time: 3 min. 18 sec.
Period Time: Romantic
Written: 1864

Gounod, Charles : Faust :: Salut! demeure chaste et pure

Performer: Jussi Björling (Tenor)
Conductor: Nils Grevillius
Running Time: 4 min. 44 sec.
Period Time: Romantic
Form: Opera/Operetta
Written: 1856-1859

Gounod, Charles : Roméo et Juliette :: Ange adorable

Performers: Anna-Lisa Björling (Voice); Jussi Björling (Tenor)
Conductor: Nils Grevillius
Notes: Composition written: 1865-71.
Running Time: 4 min. 25 sec.
Period Time: Romantic
Form: Opera/Operetta
Written: 1865-1871

Gounod, Charles : Roméo et Juliette :: Ah! lève-toi, soleil!

Performer: Jussi Björling (Tenor)
Conductor: Nils Grevillius
Notes: Composition written: 1865-71.
Running Time: 3 min. 28 sec.
Period Time: Romantic
Form: Opera/Operetta
Written: 1865-1871

Massenet, Jules : Manon :: Instant charmant... En fermant les yeux

Performer: Jussi Björling (Tenor)
Conductor: Nils Grevillius
Running Time: 3 min. 50 sec.
Period Time: Post Romantic
Form: Opera/Operetta
Written: 1882-1883

Massenet, Jules : Manon :: Je suis seul!... Ah, fuyez, douce image

Performer: Jussi Björling (Tenor)
Conductor: Nils Grevillius
Running Time: 4 min. 40 sec.
Period Time: Post Romantic
Form: Opera/Operetta
Written: 1882-1883

Bizet, Georges : Carmen, opera :: La fleur que tu m'avais jetée (Flower Song)

Performer: Jussi Björling (Tenor)
Conductor: Nils Grevillius
Running Time: 4 min. sec.
Period Time: Romantic
Written: 1873-1874

Bizet, Georges : The Pearl Fishers, opera :: Je crois entendre encore

Performer: Jussi Björling (Tenor)
Conductor: Nils Grevillius
Running Time: 3 min. 37 sec.
Period Time: Romantic
Form: Opera/Operetta
Written: 1863

Beethoven, Ludwig van : Adelaide, song Op. 46

Performers: Jussi Björling (Tenor); Harry Ebert (Piano)
Running Time: 6 min. 50 sec.
Period Time: Classical
Written: 1794-1795

Strauss, Richard : Lieder (4), Op. 27

Performers: Jussi Björling (Tenor); Harry Ebert (Piano)
Running Time: 3 min. 22 sec.
Period Time: Post Romantic
Written: 1894

Strauss, Richard : Cäcilie

Performers: Harry Ebert (Piano); Jussi Björling (Tenor)
Running Time: 1 min. 58 sec.
Period Time: Post Romantic
Written: 1894

Rachmaninov, Sergei : Songs (6), Op. 4

Performer: Jussi Björling (Tenor)
Conductor: Nils Grevillius
Running Time: 2 min. 58 sec.
Period Time: Post Romantic
Written: 1890-1893

Rachmaninov, Sergei : Songs (12), Op. 21

Performer: Jussi Björling (Tenor)
Conductor: Nils Grevillius
Running Time: 2 min. 13 sec.
Period Time: Post Romantic
Written: 1902

Tosti, Francesco Paolo : Ideale, for voice & piano (or orchestra)

Performer: Jussi Björling (Tenor)
Conductor: Nils Grevillius
Running Time: 3 min. 23 sec.
Period Time: Romantic
Written: circa 1870-1915

Capua, Eduardo di : O sole mio

Performer: Jussi Björling (Tenor)
Conductor: Nils Grevillius
Running Time: 3 min. 15 sec.
Period Time: Post Romantic
Form: Vocal
Written: circa 1900

Leoncavallo, Ruggero : Mattinata

Performer: Jussi Björling (Tenor)
Conductor: Nils Grevillius
Notes: Small Auditorium of the Stockholm Concert Hall (03/27/1944-03/30/1944)
Running Time: 2 min. 17 sec.
Period Time: Post Romantic
Form: Vocal
Written: 1904

d'Hardelot, Guy : Parce que (Because), for voice & piano (or orchestra)

Performer: Jussi Björling (Tenor)
Conductor: Nils Grevillius
Running Time: 2 min. 7 sec.
Period Time: Modern
Form: Vocal
Written: 1902

Friml, Rudolf [Composer] : The Vagabond King :: Only a Rose

Performer: Jussi Björling (Tenor)
Conductor: Nils Grevillius
Running Time: 2 min. 52 sec.
Period Time: Modern
Form: Opera/Operetta
Written: 1925

Geehl, Henry Ernest : For you alone

Performer: Jussi Björling (Tenor)
Conductor: Nils Grevillius
Running Time: 2 min. 3 sec.
Period Time: Modern
Written: 1909

Offenbach, Jacques : La Belle Hélène :: Uti en skog på berget Ida (Au mont Ida trois déesses)

Performer: Jussi Björling (Tenor)
Conductor: Nils Grevillius
Notes: Composition written: 1864.
Running Time: 3 min. 27 sec.
Period Time: Romantic
Form: Opera/Operetta
Written: 1864

Carl Millöcker (Composer) (1842 - 1899) : Der Bettelstudent :: Nu år jag pank och fågelfri (Ich hab' kein Geld)

Performer: Jussi Björling (Tenor)
Conductor: Nils Grevillius
Notes: Composition written: 1882.
Running Time: 1 min. 46 sec.
Period Time: Modern
Form: Opera/Operetta
Written: 1882

Adam, Adolphe : Cantique de Noël for voice & orchestra ("Minuit, Chrétiens," "O Holy Night")

Performer: Jussi Björling (Tenor)
Conductor: Nils Grevillius
Running Time: 5 min. 4 sec.
Period Time: Romantic
Form: Vocal
Written: 1851

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