Music Commons^™

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

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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.

Jussi's ''Manon," Licia Albanese Turns 100

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

One of the world's favorite sopranos, Licia Albanese, was partner to Jussi Bjorling's commercial recording of Puccini's Manon Lescaut (1954). Each of Jussi's Met broadcasts was legendary. But few if any performances wear legendary like the 1956 broadcast of the same opera with the same Manon and Des Grieux, conducted by Dimitri Mitropoulos. Father Owen Lee refers to it as "the most thrilling of all Met broadcasts."

The Festival Of Britain In 1951 London And Jussi Bjorling- Almost!, Richard Copeman

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

In 1951 there was a centennial celebration in London of the first Great Exhibition at Crystal Palace in 1851. People usually just think of the exhibition and buildings when looking back at this great show, which was such a morale booster after the dark years of WW2. But there was also the London Season of the Arts, and the centerpiece of this centennial was the opening of the Royal Festival Hall, which was to act as replacement for the Queens Hall (where Jussi made his recital debut in 1937) but which had been destroyed by bombs in 1941.

Photo Reveals Jussi Interview In The Usa, Harald Henrysson

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

The photo here was recently found among material owned by the Bjorling family. We can see Jussi being interviewed, together with Aμna-Lisa, by the radio station WOL. This is not from one of his four previously known USA radio interviews, which are all preserved in recordings.

President's Notes, Walter B. Rudolph

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Greetings to Jussiphiles everywhere,

Fall is fleeing Winter's blustery arrival. The Board of Directors of JBS-USA sends you our very best greetings for Thanksgiving and the Holiday Season.

Full Issue

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

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Available Now: Cds And Dvd Of Jussi Bjorling (And A Cd Of Gosta B.)

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Your new copy of the JBS Newsletter features Stephen Hastings's definitive review of Bluebell's final CD issue, the 2-disk set Jussi Bjorling: Concerts in Finland and the USA (1940-1957).

Fundamentally important points made in that review are that "the Bjorling we hear here is at his very best," with his singing of five Sibelius songs "unmatched in its beauty" and in sound that is "restored to exceptionally vivid effect by Seth Winner."

We Note The Passing Of Adolph "Bud" Herseth, Dan Shea

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

long time principal trumpet of the Chicago Symphony, whose trumpet virtuosity he credited, in part, to Jussi Bjorling.

James Melton: The Tenor Of His Times By Margo Melton Nutt, William C. Clayton

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Those of us who love James Melton's singing have been waiting a very long time for this informative and revealing biography/memoir. The author, hi s daughter and only child, attests that she spent "twenty plus" years writing it, and the book has been well worth the wait. Drawing on family letters and newspapers (thanks mainly to her mother's voluminous scrap books), she has interwoven her father's dynamic life with her own participation and memories in a volume redolent of triumph and later troubles.

Serenade, A Love Story, Dan Shea

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Carol Jean Delmar has written a personal memoir of her parents that gives glimpses of the musical milieu that they belonged to in 1930s Central Europe. Her father Franz Jung was a young bass-baritone graduate of the Neues Wiener Konservatorium, chosen in 1936 for a promising career by a prestigious opera agent.

Cd Review, Stephen Hastings

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

This review was published in the Italian magazine "Musica" in June 2013. I hope the contents will be of some interest even though they were conceived for music-lovers less well-informed about Jussi's recordings than the average reader of this Journal.-s.h.

Jussi Bjorling And His Accompanist Bertil Bokstedt's Memories Of His Greatest Soloist., Carl Friedner

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Bertil Bokstedt was born in the south of Sweden, Skane, in 1919 and joined the Stockholm Opera House (Kungliga Operan, in those days called Kungliga Teatern) in 1942 where his first task was to coach the singers. Later he began to conduct. Between 1969 and 1980 he was intendent (general and artistic manager) of the 18th century theater of Drottningholm about 7 miles west of Stockholm, a job that partly coincided with his assignment as general manager of the Stockholm Opera House 1971-77.

The Bjorling Sound Unanimously Praised, Harald Henrysson

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

It is no exaggeration to claim that Stephen Hastings' book has been met with overwhelming, well-deserved praise, as shown by the opinions on different aspects of the book presented below.