Jussi Björling
Johann Jonatan Björling was born in Stora Tuna, Sweden, on February 5, 1911. His father, David Björling, was also a tenor. He, his father, and two brothers (Johann Olof [1909-1965]; and Karl Gustav [1912-1957] made tours beginning in 1916 as the Björling Male Quartet. The three boys went by the nicknames "Jussi, Olle, and Gösta." All three brothers, and even their younger brother Karl David ("Kalle," [1917-1875]) had singing careers. The Björling Male Quartet toured the United States from 1919 to 1921, and then returned to Sweden, remaining active until 1926. His voice remained strong and clear when it made the transition to tenor, suggesting intelligent coaching and training in technique from his father.
Björling began studies at the Stockholm Conservatory in 1928. His teachers were Joseph Hislop and John Forsell. His first operatic appearance at the Royal Swedish Opera was on July 21, 1930 in the brief part of the Lamplighter in Puccini's Manon Lescaut. This was intended as a warmup, for he had already been engaged to make his official debut there as Don Ottavio in Mozart's Don Giovanni (August 20, 1930), and soon went on to sing Arnold in Rossini's Guillaume Tell and Jonathan in Nielsen's Saul og David (Saul and David). He was a member of the repertory cast of the Stockholm Opera until 1938, and never broke his ties with that company.
Meanwhile, his international fame grew, and he gave a number of performances in the leading operatic venues of Europe. In 1937 he made his New York debut in a Carnegie Hall recital, an event that was broadcast live from the stage. That year he also appeared at the Metropolitan Opera for the first time, singing one of his signature roles, that of Rodolfo in Puccini's La Bohème. During the prewar years he appeared in the opera houses of San Francisco, Chicago, Covent Garden, and others. In 1935 he married Anna-Lisa Berg. New York and the rest of the world had to do without him during World War II, which he spent in neutral Sweden (1941-1945).
After the war he returned to the major world stages, appearing at the Metropolitan Opera every year but two from 1945 to 1959. His repertoire centered on Italian opera, in which he succeeded especially well in New York, but not so notably in Italy. His career in this respect resembles that of Martinelli, another tenor with a pure, strong voice and ringing top notes, who did without the vocal histrionics (such as sobbing catches in the voice) that are preferred in Italy. His major roles, in addition to Rodolfo, were other Puccini heroes, (Cavaradossi in Tosca, and Des Grieux in Manon Lescaut; Gounod's Faust, Verdi's Don Carlos, and the Duke of Mantua (Rigoletto). He possessed great tonal consistency throughout his register, a very smooth voice, exceptionally beautiful tone, and outstanding musicianship. His voice retained its purity and lack of strain throughout his career.
On March 15, 1960, he suffered a heart attack while in rehearsals for a performance as Rodolfo at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London. Despite the discomfort, he persevered and sang the part. His final appearance was on August 20, 1960. He died in Stockholm on September 9, 1960, at the age of forty-nine.
Björling's legacy of recordings was substantial. His portrayal of Rodolfo was immortalized in a classic recording conducted by Sir Thomas Beecham. His Turandot, with Renata Tebaldi and his countrywoman Birgit Nilsson in the female roles and conducted by Erich Leinsdorf, is a classic credited with having sparked the delayed public acceptance of this last Puccini work. Some of his Swedish broadcast concerts, with a light-hearted and informal air, have been released as well.
© Joseph Stevenson /TiVo
Artistas semelhantes
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The Jussi Björling Series: Jussi at Gröna Lund
Jussi Björling, Bertil Bokstedt, Harry Ebert
Vocal Music (Secular and Sacred) - Lançado por Bluebell em 01/04/2012
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The Three Tenors | The Best Opera Arias | Björling, Lanza & Gigli
Mario Lanza, Beniamino Gigli, Jussi Björling
Pop - Lançado por In Vinyl We Trust em 14/10/2022
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Great Tenor Arias ((Remastered))
Classical - Lançado por RCA Red Seal em 18/11/2012
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Essential Classical Masters (1930-1959)
World - Lançado por Classic Music International em 21/09/2010
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Jussi Björling - Opera Arias
Classical - Lançado por Warner Classics em 13/06/1988
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The Jussi Björling Series: Fram för framgång
Vocal Music (Secular and Sacred) - Lançado por Bluebell em 01/04/2012
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Duos d'amour à l'opéra (Mono Version)
Renata Tebaldi, Suzanne Danco, Mario del Monaco, Jussi Björling
Classical - Lançado por BNF Collection em 01/01/1962
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Puccini: La bohème
Victoria de los Angeles, Jussi Björling, RCA Victor Orchestra, Thomas Beecham
Classical - Lançado por Warner Classics em 01/01/1956
Qualidade de CD de 16 bits 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jussi Björling Sings at Carnegie Hall (Live)
Classical - Lançado por RCA Red Seal em 09/09/2003
Qualidade de CD de 16 bits 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Björling sings at Carnegie Hall
Classical - Lançado por RCA Red Seal em 09/09/2003
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La Bohème
Jussi Björling, Victoria de los Angeles, The RCA Victor Orchestra
Opera - Lançado por Past Classics em 01/01/1956
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"O Paradiso" (Great Opera Arias)
Classical - Lançado por RCA Gold Seal em 20/05/1996
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Puccini: Madama Butterfly (Stereo Version)
Orchestra del Teatro dell'Opera di Roma, Gabriele Santini, Jussi Björling, Victoria de los Angeles
Classical - Lançado por BNF Collection em 01/01/1959
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Airs d'opéras (Mono Version)
Jussi Björling, Nils Grevillius, Nils Grevillius Orchestra
Classical - Lançado por BNF Collection em 01/01/1960
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
BJORLING, Jussi: Bjorling Collection, Vol. 1: Opera and Operetta Recordings (1930-1938)
Classical - Lançado por Naxos em 01/11/2002
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Puccini: Tosca (Mono Version)
Zinka Milanov, Jussi Björling, Erich Leinsdorf, Orchestra del Teatro dell'Opera di Roma
Classical - Lançado por BNF Collection em 01/01/2013
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Björling Sings At Carnegie Hall (Live, Mono Version)
Jussi Björling, Frederick Schauwecker
Miscellaneous - Lançado por BNF Collection em 01/01/1961
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Verdi: Il Trovatore
Vittorio Gui, Jussi Björling, Gina Cigna
Opera - Lançado por Urania em 30/11/1999
Qualidade de CD de 16 bits 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Verdi: Il Trovatore
Ferruccio Calusio, Jussi Björling
Opera - Lançado por Urania em 09/08/2003
Qualidade de CD de 16 bits 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jussi Björling: Swedish Radio Concerts (1945-1958)
Vocal Music (Secular and Sacred) - Lançado por Bluebell em 01/01/1990
Qualidade de CD de 16 bits 44.1 kHz - Stereo