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Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Extraordinary people, both members and non-members rallied to support the Salt Lake City Conference of The Jussi Bjorling Society- USA. We extend our deep appreciation for their commitment and generosity.

Norman Treigle Remembers His Faust Appearance With Jussi On April 1st 1960, Jussi's Final Operatic Performance In The Us., Tom Hines

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

From the biography, Strange Child of Chaos: Norman Treigle, by Brian Morgan, JBS-USA member Greg Fitzmaurice has excerpted for our readers two quotes about the final collaboration between Jussi and the great bass-baritone whose career was tragically cut short by his death at 47 years of age.

Jbs- Usa Salt Lake City Conference: We Attend A Rousing Concert, Sue Flaster

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

One of the joys of all of the JBS conferences and other meetings has been the chance to attend musical events with friends with whom one shares some very particular and very deeply felt convictions. In New York and Washington, we shared trips to the opera; at the other conferences, there were concerts with performers and music of special interest to our members. That tradition was upheld in splendid manner at the recent gathering in Salt Lake City. President Walter Rudolph arranged for our June 13 special evening to be slotted into the Temple Square Performances series, a tradition based …

Jussi In Utah -Leaving His Mark, Walter B. Rudolph

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Immediately after arriving by boat in New York City, Jussi and Anna-Lisa Bjorling flew to Provo, Utah where he gave his first American performance for the 1939-40 season on November 20th, 1939 in the Provo Tabernacle.

President's Notes, Walter B. Rudolph

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

I hope it is not too soon to review the Salt Lake City Conference.

At the Board Meeting held the morning of June 14th, Terry L. Williams from Kansas City (our persuasive auctioneer after the conference dinner) was elected to the Board of Directors. Terry has been our General Counsel for many years, and now joins us for some serious fun. Welcome, Terry!

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Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

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Book And Cd Order Form-November 2014 Jussi Bjorling Society-Usa

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Our latest Books and CDs-perfect for gifts for Bjorling-appreciative friends (or yourself).

Jussi Bjorling Society-Usa 2015 Membership Form

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

To join JBS-USA or renew your membership now for 2015, please use this form, or a copy.

Jussi Bjorling: In Concert, Finland & The U.S., Henry Fogel

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

There are many Jussi Bjorling recital discs available, and given the unique beauty of his singing it would be foolish to recommend one (or, in this case, two) as the one to have. I will say, however, that this is a treasure, and is certainly one of the best collections available. Some of the songs and arias appear more than once over the 54 tracks. But it is even interesting to hear the differences in interpretation over the 17-year span of his career represented here.

Anita Cerquetti And Jussi Bjorling In Chicago, Dan Shea

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Famed Italian soprano Anita Cerquetti died on October 11, 2014 with much media discussion of her brilliant ca reer and its puzzling end. Born in April 1931, she made a debut as Aida at age 20 in Spoleto, with reviews praising her "limpid tone and powerful voice:' A yea r later she appeared twice in Il trovatore at Milan's Teatro Nuovo, and in a series of concerts with Beniamino Gigli. In summer 1953 she sang Aida at the Verona Arena, following Callas's appearances there in the same role; her reviews were complimentary, but the major theaters continued to ignore her-she …

Fred Maroth, The Hungarian Mixmaster Champion, Walter Rudolph, Dan Shea

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

The loss of Fred Maroth on November 11th, 2013 was hardly noted by the American musical press. But those who have followed important recorded performances by contemporary composers or major artists of the past knew that Fred Maroth was the energized genius behind the Music & Arts label, which stretched back into the LP era for its beginnings.

Remembering Licia Albanese, Allan Buchalter

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Licia Albanese did not merely sing the role of Cio-Cio-San_ in Madama Butterfly-she lived the role through he1 performance. Even every non-musical sound, be it a breath, sigh, laugh/giggle, crying, etc. sounded not as if it was acted or planned, but as if it was happening in re al life, at that moment. Although she was a lyric soprano with a relatively small voice, I remember, that she was able to make her voice soar. The best example that I can think of is when I first saw her Butterfly at the "old " Met (more about that later). …

Twenty Years For The Jussi Bjorling Museum

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

The Jussi Bjorling Museum in Borlange opened on October 22, 1994 and thus celebrates its 20th anniversary this autumn. In 2004, the I 0th anniversary was embellished by the Jussi Bjorling Congress, arranged by all three Bjorling societies in Stockholm and Borlange. This brought many foreign members to the museum and one of the speakers, the prominent British voice expert John Steane, called it "the best of all singer museums''.

President's Notes, Walter B. Rudolph

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Once again the holidays are upon us, and the Society has outstanding book and CD offerings you may choose as gifts.

Full Issue

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

No abstract provided.

Cds Order Form Jussi Bjorling Society

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Our latest Bjorling CDs available now and perfect for gifts your Bjorling-Appreciative friends (or yourself):

Jussi Bjorling Society-Usa 2014 Membership Form

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

To join JBS-USA or renew your membership now for 2014, please use this form, or a copy,

A High School Rivalry

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

JBS-USA member, Charlie Layrison recently shared this memory of a high school rivalry. He attended Warren Easton High School in New Orleans from 1942-46 where: There were two factions-the Bjorling side and the Gigli side. We on the Jussi side always drove the Gigli guys crazy by telling them that we were leaving them to go home to have a 'Bjorling adoration hour.'

Ben Heppner, Society Honorary Advisor, Retires From Singing

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Ben Heppner, the leading Wagnerian tenor of his generation, announced April 24, 2014 that he is retiring from singing. "After much consideration, I've decided the time has come for a new era in my life;' Mr. Heppner, 58, said in a statement. "I'm setting aside my career as an opera and concert singer:"

Singer-Sized?, Walter B. Rudolph

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

No doubt many of you saw and followed the recent brouhaha about a particular singer's shape-a subject that has surfaced several times in recent years. From The New York Times (May 24, 2014) article entitled What Matters: Singer's Shape, or her Sound? there was an interesting conversation between Anthony Tommasini, Corinna da Fonseca-Wollheim, and Michael Cooper, about a recent review of Glyndebourne's new Der Rosenkavalier. Mr. Tommasini included the following as part of his comments:

"Voice Of Firestone" Kinescope Unaccounted For After Death Of Shirley Tinder Firestone, Kendall Svengalis

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

0 ne of the most coveted, yet elusive, audio-visual documents ofJussi Bjorling's vocal artistry has disappeared following the death of Mrs. Shirley Firestone, wife of the late Russell Firestone Jr. (December 19, 2013, in Lexington, KY). Unlike the other three kinescopes of Jussi's Voice of Firestone appearances (March 6, 1950; November 20, 1950; November 19, 1951), which have been transferred to DVD and appear on YouTube, the March 10, 1952 program never made it to the New England Conservatory's Idabelle Firestone Library following the program's cancellation in 1963. Thus, it was unavailable to Video Artists International and Kultur for commercial …

A Jussi-Inspired Poem, Francis Webb, Toby Davidson

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Francis Charles Webb-Wagg (1925-1973) was an Australian poet who published under the name Francis Webb. Diagnosed as suffering from schizophrenia, he spent most of his adult life in and out of psychiatric hospitals. His output was prolific and his work has often been published in anthologies.

What Caruso Would Have Thought, Lee Alperin

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

It is not likely interest in the voice of Jussi Bjorling will ever draw to a close. One reason is there will always be another generation on the horizon to discover him after the previous one has had its turn. Those in the latter group include many who had actually heard the tenor in person. The new generation, of course, will not have had the opportunity. With this in mind, one other group should be included among those never having had the chance to hear him. Its time ended prior to Jussi's emergence on the opera stage.

The Bjorling Wedding Anders Bjorling And Judie Ziemke Marry

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

In the impressive surroundings of Christ Chapel on the campus of Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota, the wedding of Anders Bjorling and Judie Ziemke took place on May 17th, 2014. They were surrounded by family and some close friends, including Lars Bjorling and Stig Westman, who traveled from Sweden for the occasion. Mr. Westman and Anders have known each other since they were ten years old.

President's Notes, Walter B. Rudolph

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Dear Colleagues,

Have you seen our Facebook page recently? If not, read on ...

The Facebook page for the Jussi Bjorling Society-USA is our greatest potential tool to spread the word about our tenor. Please look at it anew:

Full Issue

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

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Recalling Longtime Member Robert Tweed, And His Memories Of Jussi, Dan Shea

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

We learned recently of the death last year of Robert Tweed, and recalled an article about him written by Mickey Dove in 2000 for issue # 10 of this Newsletter. As an English teacher at West Leyden High School in Northlake IL and at nearby Elmhurst College, he was once asked to provide a model memoir of someone important to him. Here are some excerpts from that memoir, which expresses ideas that many of us will find eloquent and personally meaningful.

Jussi And The Verdi Bicentennial

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Immortal Performances' new restoration of the Met's 1940 Un hallo in maschera includes Milton Cross commentary, curtain calls and program notes by Stephen Hastings, author of The Bjorling Sound. This 2 CD album includes a 40 page booklet with rare photographs provided by the Bjorling Museum in Sweden, a highly detailed, track-related synopsis, and biographies about the singers. Bonus recording is a premiere on disc excerpt (Act I, final scene) from La boheme, San Francisco Opera, 1949 with Bjorling and Albanese.

Who Is Stefan Olmars? A Conversation With Harald Henrysson, Stefan Olmars, Harald Henrysson

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Harald: Stefan, I still remember how surprised I was when I saw you for the first time in New York in 2002. I have been on the board of the Scandinavian JB Society since it was founded and thought I knew the people active there, but here came a Swede to attend the Jussi conference - the only one besides me - and I had never seen him! Now you have been Secretary of our Society for ten years and your dedication, contacts and organizational skill have been invaluable. You started and are still successfully running a "Northern Branch" of …

Jacob Forsell Remembers Jussi, Jacob Forsell

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

In my childhood home in the Stockholm suburb Lidingo Jussi Bjorling was quite often a dear guest. Sometimes with his family, sometimes without. My father, who was the eldest son of the Stockholm Royal Opera director John Forsell, knew Jussi from the 1920s. He was also Jussi's family doctor over the years, so it was not surprising that they spent a lot of time together.