Music Commons^™

Jussi And Me, William C. Clayton

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

"I cannot ever remember when singing was not a part of my life. In my earliest years, I was chiefly influenced by my mother's clear, sweet soprano; by radio concerts with the likes of John Charles Thomas, Nelson Eddy, James Melton, Robert Merrill, Mario Lanza, and Dorothy Kirsten; by the San Antonio opera from 1945 until 1955; by the Met broadcasts; by two years of singing lessons during which I became a serviceable second tenor (lots of heart, minimal instrument); by singing in the chorus when the Met visited San Antonio; and by collecting recordings, especially those of Jussi Bjorling.

Important Conference Note

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

We expect to begin sending out conference registration materials during the first two weeks in March. If you don't receive a packet of materials by the end of March, please contact Mickey Dove immediately.

A Message To Members Of The Jussi Bjorling Society- Usa, Dan Shea

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Thanks to wonderfully supportive help from our Advisory Board and the Embassy of Sweden, a conference to celebrate the life and art of Jussi Bjorling has been organized for June 1999. We can already tell you about our basic plans in enough detail so that you will know you can't miss this event!

Welcome! From The Editor's Desk, Mickey Dove

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

As you have likely noticed, a VERY special name has been added to our list of Honorary Advisors! JBS-USA is delighted to announce that Anna Lisa Bjorling-Barkman has agreed to lend her name to the Society. This is indeed a great honor for JBS-USA, and we are most appreciative of Mrs. Bjorling-Barkman's support and sponsorship. We are grateful to Anders Bjorling and Harald Henrysson who initiated our discussions with Mrs. Bjorling-Barkman.

Side Bar

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

No abstract provided.

Front Matter

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

No abstract provided.

Looking Ahead

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

1. Bill Clayton's in-depth review of EMI's 4CD set "Jussi Bjorling Edition".

2. JBS-USA Conference retrospective.

3. Additional translations from En Minnesbok

4. Review of the 1949 Met Manon Lescaut

5. A Visit to the JB Museum.

6. Ideas from you! Your suggestions and ideas are always welcome.

Jb Video

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Many of you have requested a list of known film/ video recordings with Jussi Bjorling (including from his funeral}. The following list is provided through the courtesy of the JB Museum. Much of this video and film is only available for viewing at the Museum- certainly an excellent reason to put Borlange on the itinerary for your next trip abroad.

Become A Member Of Jbs-Usa

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Subscribe to the Jussi Bjorling Society -USA, Inc. Membership in JBS-USA offers a variety of benefits that we think you will enjoy:

Ask The Experts!, Dan Shea

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Your questions are solicited. Our experts are waiting and eager to help!

Test Your Knowledge, Tom Hines

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

"Test Your Knowledge," is a regular feature of the Journal. Tom will challenge you regarding your knowledge of Jussicology- general items and obscure trivia that will provide some good fun and definitely test your erudition. You provide the answers- if you can!

Stenungson And Other Memories, Bjorn Forsell

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

How shall I be able to convey, with mundane words, something of all we experienced together, or describe our various moods, from "Himmelshoch jauchzend - zum Tode betrubt"? The first time I met Jussi he was sixteen years old - a short, unprepossessing, sulky-looking, rather provincial figure, with guileless blue eyes and a marvellous lack of nervousness. And how he sang - even then! He sang perhaps even more beautifully, more naturally, more lyrically than he did later, when he had studied technique with all its pluses and minuses.

Jussi - Fellow Conservatory Student And Friend Of My Youth, Gosta Kjellertz

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

In autumn 1928 I met the then head of the Stockholm Conservatory, Professor Bror Beckman, in a corridor. The auditions for entrance to the solo singing class were in progress, and he urged me to listen to a young tenor by the name of Jussi Bjorling. I sought out the young man, who was a year older than I, and for one of his audition pieces he sang the Act 3 aria from Tosca to my piano accompaniment. I was immediately captivated by the singer's incredible brilliance in all registers, but, as I was young and believed myself to be …

Jussi Bjorling Saga: Told By Those Who Knew Him

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Johannes Norrby

"Jussi in our hearts" - it is a good heading. It is in the heart one has him still and it was one's heart he captured and which he still captures. His voice is with us still, through the wonders of technology.

Karl Schmitt-Walter, Karl Schmitt-Walter

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

The baritone Karl Schmitt-Walter relates the following story in " Das Musikalische Selbstportrat" (pages 147-148):

Recollections: Jussi Bjorling's London Recitals, Lois Mewett

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Gail Campain: It would probably be safe to say that a large percentage of Jussi Bjorling 's present-day admirers never heard him in performance and consequently know him only from his recordings. Falling into that category my self, I am always keen to find out from those who were lucky enough to be able to attend a Bjorling recital or op era performance what the experience meant to them . Some years ago, I had the plea sure of corresponding with Mrs. Lois Mewett, an Englishwoman who now lives in Brisbane, Australia , and, at my request, she provided me …

Jb And 26 Years Of "E Lucevan Le Stelle", William C. Clayton

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Pick your tenor; any number can play. Is it Tagliavini, Wunderlich, del Monaco, Domingo? How about your favorite tenor doing a signature aria? Caruso/Vesti la giubba; Pavorotti/ the 9 high Cs from Daughter of the Regiment; DiSefano/ The Tomb Aria from Lucia; Schipa/Una furtiva lagrima. Next, you might choose your favorite aria and suggest ten superlative tenor versions. Oh, the parlor games we opera buffs can play. And for what it is worth, here is mine- one sterling tenor and one representative aria -BUT-over 26 years. Specifically, Jussi Bjorling from 1933 until 1959 singing "E lucevan le stelle" …

In The Spotlight: David Rossell, David Rossell

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

When the British magazine "International Opera Collector" published a highly controversial article about Jussi Bjorling by Tully Potter in its Summer 1997 issue, many outraged Bjorling admirers were quick to put pen to paper in defense of the tenor's reputation. Only a few of these letter writers had the satisfaction of seeing their letters published in the magazine. David Rossell, from New South Wales, Australia, was one of the lucky few, though his satisfaction was tempered by surprise at finding that what appeared in the magazine was not the letter he had sent to the Editor, but, rather, a highly …

Counting Down To June 4th: News Of Our Washington Conference, Dan Shea

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

A remarkable event is about to happen: A conference in honor of the life and art of a great singer, complete with expert analysis and affectionate discussion by his family, his countrymen, opera mavens, and (we hope) YOU.

Important Jbs-Usa Conference Information!

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Jenny Lind Concert: If you plan to attend the Jenny Lind Concert and have ordered your tickets on your conference registration form, please be aware that instead of issuing actual tickets, the Corcoran Gallery of Art will have your name on a master list indicating that you have prepaid. On the evening of the concert, a Corcoran Gallery employee ·will check your name against the list, and you will be admitted. You will NOT receive actual tickets in the mail nor will they be available for you at the Plaza.

Welcome! From The Editor's Desk, Mickey Dove

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

JBS-USA is pleased to introduce the n west member of its Advisory Board, Barbro Ehnbom of New York City. Ms. Ehnbom heads her own investment advisory company, DuHaan Groupe, Inc., as a consultant for large Swedish corporations having major US markets. She also has taught business law and ethics at the Stockholm School of Economics, and she is an active board member of the Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce.

Side Bar

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

No abstract provided.

Front Matter

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

No abstract provided.

Newspaper Clipping

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

No abstract provided.

Here And There

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Med Bagaget I Strupen, JB's 1945 Autobiography, Available in English for the First Time

Other Books Available

Videotapes of June 1999 JBS Conference To Be Available.

Receiving Classical Radio Programming Using the Internet

Test Your Knowledge, Tom Hines

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Trivia questions for Jussiphiles

Three Decades Of Work And Pleasure, Nils Grevillius

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

"Jussi appeared respectful towards Nils Grevillius, but of course it was the latter who helped him at the beginning of his career many years ago.

'He once taught me the difference between demisemiquavers and quavers,' said Jussi, 'and I have respected them since then."'

Jussi From A Conductor's Perspective, Herbert Sandberg

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

To write as a conductor about Jussi Bjorling is to speak of the best that a music director can experience from the other side of the footlights - one of the noblest instruments to have dominated those down in the pit, used, not by a willful soloist indulging his whims and unmusical fancies, but by an artist who was himself music through and through; a man who had not 'learnt" his profession but for whom music was the language through which he expressed himself; a man who subordinated himself to the intentions of the composer and who therefore participated in …

The Pupil Who Was A Master, Ragnar Hylten-Cavallius

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

It sounds like a fairy-tale and it was one - a fairy-tale about an innocent little dalmas [an inhabitant of Dalama] who, hand in hand with his two small brothers, traveled around Sweden and sang his way into the public's heart, arousing admiration and astonishment with his beautiful treble voice and his fine musicality.

A Visit To The Bjorling Museum, Enrique P. Gilardoni Lester

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Before approaching the subject, I would like to say that it was more than forty years ago that I heard a voice which captivated me. Ever since then I have had an unconditional admiration for the art of the great tenor Jussi Bjorling.