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Corrections To Our Last Issue

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Apologies to our readers for the following typographical errors: "Marveille" should have been "Merveille;" Thomas is not "Haywood" but "Hayward;" And of course Chile, the country, ends with an 'e' not an 'i."

Can You Help

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

At the June 1999 Conference in Washington, DC, several audio tapes by George Jellinek were on display at the registration table. It appears that someone inadvertently picked up several of the tapes which we need to have returned so that we might share them with everyone. If you accidentally picked up a tape, please return it Florence Dove, 109 Melrose Road, Broad Brook, CT 06016. Your cooperation is appreciated!

Shall We Show Them?, Howard Taubman

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Jussi Bjoerling, when at the top of his form, could pour out tones that compared favorably with any of the strong-voiced tenors I have ever heard whether Giocomo Lauri-Volpi, Giovanni Martinelli, Mario Del Monaco or even, I sometimes thought, Caruso. Bjoerling was a guest once at the Dutch Treat Oub and noticed that in the gathering were Richard Crooks, Charles Kullman and Frederick Jagel, all tenor colleagues at the Met. As he rose to sing, he whispered mischievously, "Shall we show them?" Whereupon he sang Che gelida manina and ended with a high C of such beauty and power that …

Some Thoughts About Jussi Bjoerling: Notes To The Lp Rococo No. 5304 "Jussi Bjoerling Volume V", Helen E. Hatton

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

six of the great singers of this century had a common factor aside from their voices. Caruso, Galli-Curci, Gluck, McCormack, Tauber and Bjoerling were loved by scores of people who were never inside an opera house. Gigli too had this quality but on a more nationalistic basis. The popularity of the first four is understandable in relation to their era. Entertainment was largely homemade, or supplied by phonographs, and a yearly concert by the personification of a recorded voice was a memorable event. Tauber had the advantage of film and radio exposure. That Jussi Bjoerling's many concerts were crowded by …

Recent Fund Drive A Success!

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

As you may recall, we members of the Board of Directors of JBS sent out a request for contributions to support some of your Society's most pressing needs at this time. We were very much heartened by the warm response. As a result of your generosity, $2425 is now available to support our scholarship fund ($1250), upgrade our web site $625), and advertise our Society to increase membership ($550). The success of our Society will always depend upon you, our members; thank you for this demonstration of your support.

Test Your Knowledge, Tom Hines

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

1. In the 1937 film, "Fram for Framgang," Jussi sang (in Swedish) a famous Rossini folksong that got him into serious trouble with the Stockholm police: he slipped into the radio station and illegally broadcast this number to the nation! Which Rossini song did Jussi sing at the beginning of this film? For extra credit, what Verdi aria did Jussi sing (also in Swedish) while standing in his sailboat later in the film?

On A Desert Island With Jussi, William C. Clayton

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

The bad news is that you and your million-dollar yacht have foundered somewhere in the South Seas. The good news is that, as you groggily come to on a stretch of sandy beach, you see beside you a precious waterproof package. No, it is not potable water, nor is it food or clothing or matches. It is something far more precious- your Walkman, a goodly supply of AA batteries, and, yes, your tape of Ten Indispensable Items by the Beloved Bjorling. Now you know that you will survive, for no vagaries of wind, weather, or lack of wherewithal can overcome …

"Please Mr. Bjorling, May I Use Your Christian Name?'', Elisabeth Soderstrom

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

One December day in 1959 in New York I was interviewed for the radio by an American reporter. He asked me, among other things: ''Miss Soederstroem, what do you consider to be the goal of your career?" I had made my debut at the Metropolitan Opera a few months earlier, and my reply came completely spontaneously: 'Well, I reached that goal the day before yesterday. I sang Marguerite in Faust at the Metropolitan with Jussi Bjorling in the title role, and that is something which I couldn't, even in my wildest dreams, have dared to hope I would achieve."

The King In The Realm Of Song, Birgit Nilsson

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Unfortunately I can't number myself among the lucky ones who got to sing often with him. We had, for the most part, such different repertoires, and more often than not we were singing in different parts of the world. On a few occasions, however, I was his Floria Tosca and his Aida, and I can assure you that these were significant moments in my life.

It Became Cold ..., Kerstin Meyer

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

It became cold in the room the morning I received the message that Jussi had left us - cold and empty. He was, in his discreet way, so tremendously alive. It was not only his voice which enchanted opera-goers and his colleagues on the stage, even if it is, first of all, the silenced voice which the whole world is mourning. No, it was also that there emanated such security from him - security and power and strength. It was infectious when one had the good fortune of being able to sing with him. The majority of us at the …

Wonderful Memories, Ruth Broadly, Gerry Broadly

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Our world of opera was very limited until the day we heard the BBC Radio 3 programme, "Vintage Years," that happened to be devoted to Jussi Bjorling and presented by David Mellor.

The Naxos Bjorling, William C. Clayton

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Another CD collection of Jussi's HMV 78s has appeared, this time on Naxos 8.110701- Jussi Bjorling: Opera Arias. These twenty-three selections, dating from 1936 through 1948, amount to a hit parade of favorite tenor arias from Jussi's HMV 78s made during those years, all the best known standard takes, and all recorded in Stockholm with Nils Grevillius conducting "his" orchestra. Thus they are certainly contained on the EMI four-disc Jussi Bjorling Edition: Studio Recordings 1930-1959 (7243 5 66306 2 8 Mono), reviewed in our 3Q99 issue. The best news is the vastly improved sound of the transfers here (even …

Jussi In The News: Media Notes Of Interest To Our Members From Our Members., Dan Shea

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

•Thanks to Email from Toby and Karl Hekler, Yoel Arbeitman, and others, we heard of Fr. Owen Lee's eloquent tribute to Jussi on an intermission feature during the February 5th Metropolitan broadcast of La Traviata. Luckily, we had a tape going during that broadcast, anticipating some sort of "happening" on Jussi's birthday. Thus we can provide for you the precise transcript of Fr. Lee's statement. He pointed out that he had been asked to discuss his favorite singers for that broadcast, but that some of his personal choices, like Zinka Milanov, had already been chosen by others. He continues with …

A Charmless Jussi?, Cantor Don Goldberg

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

For a Jussiphile to admit that he doesn't like his favorite singer's rendition of an aria or song might be considered tantamount to heresy. But I have to admit to being disappointed by Jussi's performance of that most beautiful of arias "Una furtiva lagrima" from Donizetti's L'Elisir D'amore. Now, I can just hear your heated exclamations of "Mio Dio," "Mon Dieu," "Gott mitt der welt," and even "Dem dere's fightin' words, Cantor!" Well, so be it, and I'll just explain why.

Jussi And "Amor Ti Vieta", William C. Clayton

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

"Amor ti vieta" was a popular encore with Jussi's fans. In fact, on the Atlanta Recital CD (Bluebell 020), he says that he will sing the aria in response to a specific request. I think that his approach to this aria is special, and one version, in particular, is peerless. I first heard my favorite in 1957, sung by JB as part of a recital on the fourth side of Cavalleria Rusticana, and it virtually spoiled all other versions for me (RCA LP LM 6059, September 1-7, 1957, conducted by Alberto Erede). Harald Henrysson lists four other renditions: a …

The Life And Art Of Jussi Bjorling, Enrique Gilardoni

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

In November 1999, the Embassy of Sweden in Santiago, Chile, organized several cultural events under the title of "Dias de Suecia" (Sweden Days), which included theater plays, painting exhibitions, a gastronomic festival with Swedish food, and other activities

I Dub Thee, Cantor Don Goldberg

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

"I Dub Thee" may be a strange title for an article in the Journal of JBS, but with a little patience you'll see how this title applies to Jussi's consistency both in and out of the recording studio.

In The Spotlight: Leigh Metcalf: My Memories Of Jussi, Leigh Metcalf

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Like many others of my generation, opera for me began with The Great Caruso, to which my parents took me shortly after its release. I particularly liked the trio that ended Act I of Il Trovatore, so I went to the library to check out my first opera recording, the one by RCA Victor. I liked Milanov's voice, and I loved Warren's, but Bjorling's was something altogether different. Every time his voice entered, the hair on the back of my neck stood up, a lump formed in my throat, and tears came to my eyes. It had nothing to do …

"The Researcher's Lot Is Not An' Appy One'", Andrew Farkas

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Wonderful people that they are, Karl and Toby Hekler no doubt have been called by nicer names or described in more flattering terms in the past. For the purpose of this report, however, let's just called them catalysts.

We Welcome A New Member Of Our Advisory Committee: Robert Tuggle

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

We are very pleased to announce that Robert Tuggle, the Director of Archives for the Metropolitan Opera, has agreed to join our Advisory Committee.

Save This Date! Our August 20, 2000, Mini-Conference In Nyc Is On!, Dan Shea

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

How can our Jussi Bjorling Society NOT meet on August 20th to celebrate the simultaneous 70th anniversary of Jussi's debut in his first major operatic role, Don Ottavio, and the 40th anniversary of his last public concert? We've decided that we must go ahead with a one-day conference in Manhattan.

An Excursion To Sweden In June 2000 For Jbs Members

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

As explained in the previous issue of this Journal, several of us are going to Sweden in June, and we welcome other members to join us in this "lightly-structured" tour of Stockholm and Borlange. The idea is that you can join us when you wish and travel separately when you prefer. Rail passes may make this independence especially easy. (Some examples are given below.)

From The Editor's Desk, Mickey Dove

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

It is with great pleasure that we dedicate this issue of the Journal to Anna-Lisa Bjorling-Barkman upon the occasion of her 90th birthday on March 15th. On behalf of the Directors, Advisors, and membership of JBS, we extend to Mrs. Bjorling-Barkman our heartfelt wishes for a most Happy Birthday shared with family and dear friends.

Side Bar

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

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Front Matter

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

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Newspaper Clippings

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

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Here And There

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

When I was asked to write a memoir, I immediately began to think of loved ones, my remarkable mother, my exceptional wife, or a close friend, as subjects. All of these people are most important to me, but I have chosen someone else. He is now deceased, but in his lifetime he was a world famous man. I never met him personally, but I feel that I know him well: I have his visage clearly in mind. More importantly, I am able to hear his voice every day from among the many recordings I own.

Pbs, Jb, Ec, Bg: A Question Of Media Politics, Dan Shea

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

If you guessed that PBS means "Public Broadcasting System," you're almost right. And yes, we know who JB is. From that you might guess that Enrico Caruso and Beniamino Gigli are in this picture, too. The question here is will 'The Original Three Tenors" be on our TV screens anytime soon?

The Original Three Tenors, Dan Shea

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

The Original Three Tenors" - a fascinating British documentary about Caruso, Gigli and Bjorling which was shown at JBS-USA's June 1999 conference in Washington, DC and which was scheduled for Swedish TV on March 4, 2000- will not be shown in Britain at all nor in the US in the near term. According to Eric Wimbles, our JBAS colleague: "It is with

considerable dismay to have to report that according to an article written by the esteemed critic, John Steane, in the current issue of 'The Gramophone', the BBC is not interested in showing the film produced by John Owen …

Test Your Knowledge, Tom Hines

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

1. In the celebrated Don Carlo Metropolitan- performance which opened the season in 1950, Jussi sang the title role and his close friend, Robert Merrill, sang Rodrigo. However, it was also a singular evening for four newcomers, all of whom were making their debuts in this performance. Each of these artists went on to have outstanding careers. Can you name them? Hint: they sang the following roles: Philip II (bass), Elizabeth of Valois (soprano), Princess Eboli (mezzo-soprano), and the Angelic Voice (soprano). For super credit, can you name the bass who was scheduled originally to sing the role of Philip …