Music Commons^™

Missing Bjorling Broadcasts: A Challenge, Don Goldberg

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

In the decades following the death of Swedish tenor Jussi Bjorling, certain missing radio and television broadcasts have been said to exist in one collection or another. Most are still missing.

Your Vocal Problem: Advice From Jussi Bjorling, Jussi Bjorling

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

In a rather unusual article which appeared in 1950, Jussi responded to questions on vocal problems; unfortunately, we do not have the name of the magazine in which the article originally appeared.

Coming From Bertil Bengtsson Later This Year

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

As noted in our last letter, Bertil Bengtsson- a member of the JBS-USA Advisory Board- is currently translating into English an article about Jussi's phenomenal 1934-1935 season. This translation will be available in late November/December 1998 and will be published in a future edition of the JBS-USA newsletter. Many thanks to Bertil for this effort!

Vai New Orleans' Un Ballo Released

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Video Arts International is distributing the April 1950 New Orleans Un Ballo in Maschera (2 CD set). This performance includes Suzy Morris as Amelia, Marko Rothmuller as Renato, Martha Larrimore as Ulrica, Audrey Schuh as Oscar, and Norman Treigle as Samuel. Walter Herbert conducts.

Jussi Inspired Marriage Proposal, Terry Zapotocky

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

From reader Terry Zapotocky of Tucson, Arizona.... "Jussi has been my favorite opera singer since 1960 when I first heard a recording of him and fell in love simultaneously with opera and his voice. I also might not be in existence if it weren't for him, as my dad proposed marriage to my mother at a Jussi Bjorling concert!"

In The Spotlight: Walter Rudolph, Walter Rudolph

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

This month we are pleased to tum our spotlight on Walter Rudolph, a member of the Advisory Board of JBS-USA and the general manager of KBYU-FM at Brigham Young University. Mr. Rudolph is well known as a producer of classical music programming for public radio.

"Jussi In America" Cantor Don Goldberg At The Jb Museum, Mickey Dove

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Kidos to Cantor Don Goldberg for an excellent lecture on August 20th at the Jussi Bjorling Museum in Borlange, Sweden! Your editor was privileged to be among the audience of almost 30 people, mostly Swedes some of whom came from as far away as Stockholm. This was an excellent tum out considering that the lecture was in English. Don focused on Jussi's career, both as a young boy and as an adult, in America. A lively 30 minute question and answer period followed the lecture. As previously noted, a summary of "Jussi In America" will appear in our next issue.

Giorgio Tozzi Joins Jbs-Usa As An Honorary Advisor!

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

As we hope you have already noticed, we have some exciting news! JBS - USA is honored to announce that Mr. Giorgio Tozzi has kindly accepted our invitation to be an Honorary Advisor. We are grateful to Walter Rudolph who initiated our discussions with Professor Tozzi.

Welcome Fellow Jussiphiles!, Mickey Dove

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

During our recent vacation in Sweden, my husband and I were able to spend five days in Borlange. I can tell you unequivocally that the Jussi Bjorling Museum is heaven for the dedicated Jussicologist! Unfortunately, space in this issue doesn't permit a comprehensive story on the Museum and the marvelous treasures it contains or a review of Don Goldberg's August 20th lecture there on "Jussi In America", but look for both articles in our next issue.

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.

Purchasing Cds Directly From The Jb Museum (For Us Members Only)

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

M any of you have inquired where you might obtain JB CDs that are difficult to find in the US . You can purchase many items directly from the JB Museum. However, since the exchange rate between Sweden and the US fluctuates, the prices and shipping costs listed below are only approximate, You must contact the Museum to obtain actual prices and shipping costs, Note also that prices are for cash sales only in US dollars .

Looking Ahead

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

1. En Minnesbok! Part 2.

2. Jussi Bjorling's Saga,.

3. Review of the 1949 Met Manon Lescaut.

4. A Visit to the JB Museum.

5. 1999 Convention update

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

7. CD/recording news

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!

Welcome To The Website Of Jbs-Usa Thank You, John Gee!

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

JBS-USA is very pleased to announce that our website was launched on February 5th (JB's birthday)! By the time that you receive this issue of the Journal, we hope that the technical bugs will have been exterminated, and that the site will be available for viewing by everyone.

The Discovery, Martin Ohman

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

One day, during one of my guest appearances at the Stockholm Opera, the telephone rang in my hotel room and a voice with a strong Dalecarlian accent asked. shyly if an audition would be possible. I told the caller he would be welcome to come and see me.

Jussi Bjorling, Bo Setterlind

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

It is sad to leaf through yellowed programmes, posters and newspaper cuttings from the Bjorling Male Quartet's American tour. They are forty years old now and are amongst the earliest items in print about Jussi Bjorling, his father and his brothers.

Foreword, Bertil Hagman

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

This book is just what its title indicates: a memorial book. It is not an exhaustive biography, nor is it an attempt to provide a proper analysis of the artist as such, even though it offers both biographical information about Jussi Bjorling and valuable opinions of his art and of him as a man. The intention is only that the book provide testimony about a famous man, by a few people - and for the many others - who came in contact with him, as colleagues, as friends and as admirers of his artistry.

Part 1: That's What My Father Did And So Do I

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Robert Merrill, singer, Metropolitan Opera

"I consider his voice, quality-wise, one of the most beautiful I've ever heard in my life. I don't think Jussi Bjorling could utter a bad tone. I've heard him, I've sung with him when he thought he was in bad voice, but the beauty, the quality, the ease, his technique were so magnificent that anything he did on the stage sounded beautiful."

From A French Thriller To The Thrilling Swede, Gail Campain

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Editor's Note: Gail and I began to correspond last fall, thanks to Harald Henrysson who provided her address in Australia and shared with me information regarding her translations of JB ' s Saga and En Minnesbok. Happily, Gail has Email which greatly expedited our conversations and the process of bringing her translations to you. As an introduction to her wonderful translations, Gail's personal "JB story" follows.

Reader Comments And Observations, Stuart Kaufman, Myrna Landau

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

From member Stuart Kaufman: "In the late 1960's, while listening to an all-night classical radio station in New York, an announcer (I think his name was Watson) programmed a night of Sibelius and Bjorling. Sometime during the night, I heard an inspiring and incomparably sung melody that has remained with me for thirty years, but I was unable to find out the identity of the song or composer during this entire period. Last month, while listening to a wonderful CD of Scandinavian songs and ballads sung by Bjorling, I finally heard the melody again ("Land, du valsignade" by Ragnor Althen). …

1947 Trovatore

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Harald Henrysson also reports that the larger portion of Jussi's 1947 Trovatore (December 27th broadcast recording with Stella Roman, Margaret Harshaw, and Leonard Warren, conducted by Emil Cooper) has been found in good sound by a Mr. Robert Fazio of the USA. Mr. Fazio believes that he has traced a good recording of the remaining parts, too. It may be that we shall finally have a complete version of this recording. We'll keep you informed as we receive more information.

Prophone

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Swedish Prophone Records will reissue, as a multimedia CD-ROM under the title "Till Havs", the famous Swedish Songs (originally issued by the Swedish Society Discofil) possibly in 1Q99. This CD-ROM will include scenes from Jussi's life and many of the items on display in the JB Museum. The sound is reported to be good, there is a significant amount of information(in both English and Swedish) contained on the disk, and the pictures include many previously unpublished ones of the recording session. Genealogical information is also included.

"Jussi Sings Puccini" From Bluebell

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

JBS-USA is indebted to Harald Henrysson, who authored the notes for the CD, for the information that follows.

Available From The Metropolitan

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

The Metropolitan Opera has released a deluxe edition of the December 10, 1949, Manon Lescaut (Saturday matinee, Texaco-Metropolitan Opera House) with JB and Dorothy Kirsten as Manon. The cast includes Thomas Hayward as Edmondo and Giuseppe Valdengo as Lescaut; Giuseppe Antonicelli conducted. The set contains photographs from the rehearsal that have not been widely published previously if at all.

The Perfect Gift For Chocoholic Opera Lovers!

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Thanks to the Swedish chocolate company Marabou, it's now possible for lovers of chocolate and lovers of opera to satisfy both cravings at once! The company has released a box of chocolates (Fortuna Ouvertyr) with an enclosed classical CD that features Jussi as well as other famous artists such as Birgit Nilsson, Gosta Winberg, Elisabeth Soderstrom, Anne Sophie von Otter, and Sylvia Linderstrand. Jussi sings "Cielo e mar" (1959 Decca recording) and "Amor ti vieta" (also a 1959 Decca recording) and is pictured on the cover of the chocolate box. Truly a delicious idea! (Editor's Note: We're in the process …

Swedish Postage Stamp To Honor Jussi

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

During March, 1999, the Swedish government will release a most attractive postage stamp (one only) featuring Jussi and the once very popular jazz singer Alice Babs, who appeared with JB in the film "Resan till dej?" and whose recordings are still available on CD. The single stamp will be included in the second part of a series of stamps illustrating life in Sweden during the 20th century. The photograph of Jussi used on the stamp is apparently the same as the one used as a model for Jussi's statue in Borlange.

Update On The Original Three Tenors Documentary

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

In the last issue of the Journal, we reported on the documentary film "The Original Three Tenors" OB, Caruso, and Gigli) directed by Mr. Richard Fawkes, a freelance writer for "Opera Now." To bring our new members up to date, the documentary was privately financed by a JB fan who wishes to remain anonymous. The presenter in the film is Nigel Douglas, the well-known tenor and author.