Music Commons^™

Discovery Of The Jussi Björling Copenhagen Tape, John H. Haley

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

As Society members know by now, a new Society-sponsored CD is due out in the coming weeks that presents a recently discovered Jussi Björling live concert in Copenhagen on October 15, 1959, less than a year before Björling passed away from escalating heart trouble. I discovered this tape, which I own, and working together with Society members and expert audio restoration engineer Seth B. Winner, we put this project together, which is being released by JSP Records in London.

An Homage To Enrique Gilardoni (Celebrating His 80th Birthday), Bertil Bengtsson

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

For many years I’ve had a firm belief that one sure sign of Jussi Björling’s greatness as a performing artist is the ability to join together people from all walks of life, irrespective of ethnicity, political affiliation, religion or country. Over the more than 30 years that I’ve studied, researched and lectured about Jussi I’ve had the great pleasure of making friends with fellow “Jussicologists”, both in Sweden and abroad. Many of them have become very close friends. One of the most highly treasured friendships is the one I’ve established with the foremost Jussicologist in South America, Enrique Gilardoni, whom …

The History Of An Autographed Photo, Enrique Gilardoni

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

On that cold morning of February 23, Otniel Sobek woke with a strong idea in his mind. He had collected autographed photos of the main singers who appeared in the Vienna State Opera, but lacked the one of that young Swedish tenor that had already been presented there the year before singing Il trovatore, Aida and La bohème. Such was his success (despite he sang his roles in Swedish while the rest of the cast did it in German), that in 1937 he was again hired to sing nothing less than eight operas: La bohème, Il trovatore, Madama Butterfl y, …

Greetings From Your New President, Terry L. Williams

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

I wish you a very happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year! By the time you read this we will be nearly two months into 2016.

Editor’S Comments, Walter B. Rudolph

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

This Journal is the culmination of my two terms as President of JBS-USA. While I’m only beginning to become acquainted with you, I’m grateful for the chance and rewards of working with a dedicated Board of Directors, and immersing myself in the chronicle of Jussi Björling.

Front Matter

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

No abstract provided.

Jenna Beremand, Soprano, Senior Voice Recital, Jenna N. Beremand

Junior and Senior Recitals

No abstract provided.

What Do We Mean By 'Music?:' Moving Beyond Problematic Hierarchies Of Musical Value And Toward An Inclusive Curriculum, Elissa Harbert, Eric Schmidt

President Lori S. White Inauguration Symposium

If we are to live up to our name as a School of Music, rather than a "School of Western Art Music and Jazz," we must be explicitly inclusive of all musical cultures as rich traditions worthy of study rather than considering Western art music as the main course and other diverse musics as optional side dishes and desserts. Additionally, we must prioritize not only musical excellence, but also teaching our students how to be a force for good in a diverse, multicultural world, and how to stand up against the racism, sexism and abuse that are rampant in the …

Wind Symphony, September 30, 2021, T.J. Mack Conductor, Lauren Bobarsky Guest Conductor, F. Mack Wood Conductor, Marisa Miko Guest Conductor, John Gonzalez Guest Conductor

School of Music Programs

Center for the Performing Arts

September 30, 2021

Thursday Evening

8:00 p.m.

Roberta Peters, 86, Sparkling Soprano Whose Fairytale Met Debut Led To A Five-Decade Career, Has Died, Ira Siff

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Roberta Peter’s overnight ascent to Met stardom at twenty combined with her uncommonly attractive face and form to suggest a sort of fairy-tale figure. But Peters’s early years were spent absorbed in arduous study, devoid of many of the diversions taken for granted by the average teenager. Although in later life the soprano spoke about tears shed under the pressure of trying to live up to the expectations of those who believed in her, she maintained that young people should be urged to fulfill their potential. It was, in fact, this seriousness of purpose and artistic integrity that carried Peters …

Jussi Björling’S Penultimate New York Recital, Ed Walter

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

I was at the March 7th Hunter College recital, as I was at every Björling New York recital from October 31, 1953 to his last. Th e highlight of that first recital was his singing of Lamento di Federico. His rendition of that aria stands out as one of the best I have ever heard from him or anyone else. Th e high note soared to the stratosphere. Th e live performance was even better than his recorded versions of that aria.

Ben Heppner In Utah, Walter B. Rudolph

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Not to become either a travelogue or a serialized column, but there is more to report about my 2016 experiences with our JBS Advisory Board Member, Ben Heppner. When last we talked . . . (July Newsletter 2016) I had met him in New York City. What I didn’t report was that he had indicated he was coming to Salt Lake City in July to visit his daughter and his new grandchild by that date. And, that he would call me.

In Jussi’S ”Sound Tracks”, Rodger Alderstrand

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

My first contact with Jussi Björling was as an 8-year-old, when my family visited my maternal grandmother on Sweden’s West coast. She had an EP recording of “O holy night,” and when it was playing, nobody was permitted to talk: “Quiet, Jussi is singing!” It wasn’t unusual for my grandmother to listen to him. I clearly couldn’t understand his singing’s quality to the fullest, but my grandmother’s admiration made a mark on me.

David Björling Becomes A Singer: Usa, Sweden And Vienna 1899-1908, Harald Henrysson

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

In all of its generations the singing Björling family has had close connections with the U.S. It was here it began —when David Björling got the education without which he might not have become a singer and thus Jussi, if he had been born, would have had quite a different future. Very little has been known about David’s first period in America, but this article, based on my presentation at the JBS-USA Salt Lake City conference, is an attempt to fill in that gap, as far as sources permit, and add something about his further education.

A Jussi Björling Phonograpy By Harald Henrysson: A Critical Tool, Terry Williams, Sue Flaster

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

The number of questions which pop up on the Yahoo site and elsewhere on a regular basis indicate that a short reminder of what this book is and how it works is overdue. The latest paper edition of the book (3rd) does not have all of the indices, but they are available through the site of the Scandinavian JB Society, http://www.jussibjorlingsallskapet. com/

Andrew Farkas, James A. Drake Ph.D.

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

In any list of debts owed to the founders and members of the prestigious international Jussi Björling Society, the name Andrew Farkas would surely be high upon that list. As almost all members are aware, he is a founding member and advisor of the Jussi Björling Society-USA, Inc., and is a contributing editor of its Journal. Having had the privilege of knowing him as a personal friend and university colleague (both of us are happily retired from the State of Florida higher-education system), and having benefitted (undeservedly on my part) from his wide-ranging expertise as a writer, editor, and …

The President’S Pen, Terry Williams

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

When Wally Rudolph suggested including a “Top Ten” survey in the November Newsletter I thought it an interesting idea but did not give it much thought - then. In fact, it was not until Wally reminded me of it by reporting toward the end of December that he had received a member’s entry that I began to give it more thought. Pick my five favorite songs and arias, in order, and my three favorite operas, in order. Piece of cake, right? I mean, how much time could that take? Well, let me tell you, a lot. But it was great …

Front Matter

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

No abstract provided.

Music Factory, September 29, 2021, Illinois State University School Of Music

School of Music Programs

Kemp Recital Hall

September 29, 2021

Wednesday Evening

7:30 p.m.

Performance Features Of Variations On A Theme By Paganini, Op. 35 (First Book) By I. Brahms, Nikita Stetsenko

Eurasian music science journal

The article examines the unambiguous of the iconic works of romantic music Variations on the theme of Paganini by I. Brahms from the point of view of performance characteristics. This is one of the most difficult pieces in all piano literature. "Variations on a Theme of Paganini" is also called the "encyclopedia" of Brahms' pianism. It is a powerful cycle of diverse content, in which dynamic and frantic pieces alternate with elegiac, scherzo and waltz-like episodes. In the well-known theme of Paganini, Brahms discovered new sides and discovered unexpected subtexts. This cycle presents the most difficult artistic and technical tasks …