Music Commons^™

Strömsbruk Jussi-Fest, 2019, Janel Lundgren

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

When Stefan Olmårs became Secretary of the Jussi Björling Society(Sällskapet), he was contacted by a man who told him that Jussi’s father David had been born in Strömsbruk and had worked there as a blacksmith. Stefan became intrigued, and made contact with local historian Gustav Ekengren who took Stefan to the very small Mission Church in Strömsbruk (which had been set up almost like a theater). Gustav related that David Björling had come there with Jussi who was then so young that he was not yet speaking clearly and had to be stood on a table to sing. Gustav showed …

David Björling And His Sons In America — A Musical Family Saga Begins By Harald Henrysson

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

This long-awaited account of David Björling’s two trips to the US has finally arrived! Alone and then with his three oldest sons, David’s adventures in America are remarkable for their organization, daring and musical importance in the lives of his sons. Harald Henrysson’s book is a hefty and well-illustrated hardcover, rich in newly-discovered information. It is being issued during the centenary of the last major Björling milestone. Initial critical response has been very positive, as you will read below. Order your copy now from JBS-USA (see order form or the web site, jussibjorlingsocietyusa.org).

Full Issue

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

No abstract provided.

Join Jbs In Washington D.C. This November!

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

The Board of Directors of the Jussi Björling Society - USA will be having a board meeting in Washington D.C. the weekend of November 15 and 16, 2019. On FRIDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 15, we plan to attend the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center, a concert performance of Act II of Tristan und Isolde, featuring Stephen Gould and Christine Goerke, conducted by Gianandrea Noseda. We will be gathering together for dinner at a convenient restaurant around 5:30 pm; the concert begins at 8 pm.

Congratulations!

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

We are thrilled to report that Bengt Krantz, chairman of the Jussi Björling Sällskapet and director of the Malmö Opera, has received the 2019 Litteris et Artibus (Letters and Arts) award.

Jussi Bjorling In Finland, Göran Forsling

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Jussi was proud of being of Finnish descent and he visited Finland on numerous occasions. During the war he sang at charity concerts several times and in 1951 he was happy to meet Sibelius at his home in Ainola, outside Helsinki. After all the long tours for many years, not least across the North American continent, he was at times rather tired of travelling, but to Finland he always travelled with pleasure, as he told a Finnish journalist. In January 1955 he had an opportunity to return to “the land of the thousand lakes,” but before that he was booked …

Interpreting Björling’S Grave As A Symbol Of Swedish Patriotism, Marc Nicholson

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

In August 2017 I undertook a guided tour of the Baltic States, but thereafter I spent a week on my own in Sweden for the primary purpose of visiting the Jussi Björling Museum in Borlänge and placing flowers on Björling’s grave. I owe him a great deal, because he introduced me to opera as a 12-year-old boy in 1962 through his recording with Victoria de Los Angeles of Madama Butterfly, and still more because his beautiful and plaintive voice has accompanied and moved me over my ensuing 57 years. Björling is NOT entertainment. He is existential to us. So …

Remembering Phyllis Josell, Dan Shea

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Our longtime member Phyllis liked to speak of being introduced to classical music and live concerts by her husband Harold “Hal” Josell, who deeply loved the singing of Jussi Björling. They accumulated a collection of LPs together while bringing up their kids, working and enjoying friends, in New Jersey.

Jussi Björling’S Des Grieux In New Cd Editions, Kristian Krogholm

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

One of the two operas that Björling learned and performed on stage after he left the Stockholm Opera to join the Metropolitan was Puccini’s Manon Lescaut. He seemed to have just the perfect vocal gears for this opera, encapsulating both lyric brilliance and dramatic intensity in that unique musical instrument for the role of the lovesick Des Grieux. He sang the role between 1949 and 1959 and there are four complete recordings of him as Des Grieux, including the 1954 studio take in Rome.

Centenary Of The Björling Boys Celebrated In New Book, Sue Flaster

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Much of the story of David Björling in America, as well as his later misadventures with the Swedish Royal Opera, has been based on legend rather than actual history. In some cases, personal failings of a professional sort were replaced by failings of a more personal sort, with the goal of soothing wounded pride, it appears. Although David Björling seems to have been respected and admired as a singer, we have no recordings of his voice, and up to now, very few professional reviews of his singing.

Full Issue

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

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Commemorative Poster

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

A new JBS-USA 20th Anniversary Commemorative Poster is now available for purchase. In full color, this 8 ½” x 14” poster is offered at the special member’s price of $15 postpaid.

Mr. [David] Björling’S Concert, Eric Westberg

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Though DB’s concert belongs to a form of art which does not deserve public mention, I am grateful to give my opinion about it due to the pretentious way in which Mr. Björling’s family appears.

Memories Of Jussi In Performance, Robert B. Ardis

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

If memory serves, I was privileged to see and hear Jussi Björling in person five times at the old Met: once in Manon Lescaut, twice in Tosca, once in Faust, and one last time in Cavalleria rusticana. I also saw and heard him twice in recital at Carnegie Hall and several times in recital at the Hunter College Auditorium. I think there was also an appearance at a Swedish Seaman’s benefit at Carnegie Hall.

Mama, Sing With Papa, Herbert Kupferberg

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

The Bjoerling youngsters knew what they liked: a vocal duet by their famous father and their lovely mother. Today, concertgoers are discovering that they like it, too.

Jbs-Usa Caps Its 20th Anniversary Year In Sweden, Janel Lundgren

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

The Jussi Björling Society - USA began its 20th anniversary year last November with a successful conference in Washington, D.C. at the beautiful Swedish Embassy. To conclude this banner year, from August 30 to September 5, 2018, twenty-three members of the Society took our celebrations to Sweden itself for six days of music, travel, and friendship.

From The President, Janel E. Lundgren

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

We twenty-three who are back from our recent journey to Sweden can report that we enjoyed our travels together, especially the music and the friendship--despite the rather hectic travel schedule, which turned out to be more strenuous than I realized!

Full Issue

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

No abstract provided.

University Of Richmond Wind Ensemble, Department Of Music, University Of Richmond

Music Department Concert Programs

No abstract provided.

Fall Piano Studio Recital, Andrews University

Concerts and Event Programs 2021-2022

Performances by students from the Piano Studio.

2021-2022 Philharmonia No. 2, Lynn University Conservatory Of Music, Guillermo Figueroa, Aaron Small, Yance Zheng, Katherine Riley, Yue Yang

Philharmonia

Philharmonia No. 2

• November 20, 2021 at 7:30 PM and November 21, 2021 at 4:00 PM
• Guillermo Figueroa, music directory and conductor ; Aaron Small, trombone ; Yance Zheng, piano ; Katherine Riley, flute ; Yue Yang, violin
• Concerto for Trombone and Orchestra / Henri Tomasi -- Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major, op. 73 / Ludwig van Beethoven -- Concertino for Flute and Orchestra / Cécile Chaminade -- Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor, op. 77 (99) / Dmitri Shostakovich

Auso Thanksgiving Concert, Andrews University

Concerts and Event Programs 2021-2022

The largest composition on this program is jazz legend Duke Ellington’s orchestral masterpiece The River, which he completed in collaboration with orchestrator Ron Collier. The full composition was commissioned by the American Ballet Theater, and so tonight’s program features the standard “Suite” of musical selections extracted from that ballet. Beginning as a delicate Spring, this Suite includes seven watery miniatures such as Meander, Giggling Rapids, Lake, and Vortex. The contrasts in energy and color are striking! Ellington’s ballet originally debuted in 1970 at Lincoln Center in New York City. Alongside Ellington’s geographical and stylistic journey, the AUSO will present two …

Jbs-Usa 20th Anniversary Trip To Sweden Sign-Up Deadline: July 31, 2018

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Members and friends of JBS-USA will soon be enjoying the camaraderie of each others’ company, AND the sights and sounds of a musical trip to Sweden, with visits to Stockholm, Strömsbruk, and Borlänge, August 30 to September 5, 2018. The Registration deadline is July 31st, but note that costs of train tickets may go up as the summer progresses.

The Jussi Björling Recording Survey — “Complete Opera”, Walter B. Rudolph

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

How many of you who submitted your list of favorite opera recordings with Jussi Björling have heard his recording of Verdi’s La traviata? The recording is from August 29, 1939 (Stockholm). Here’s an interesting note. This is the only opera which received no votes, yet today it is the most performed opera in the world. Yes, that’s a comparison of no particular consequence for a variety of reasons. (1) It wasn’t common repertoire for Jussi Björling; (2) the recording is not easily available in the United States, and (3) it was not the most popular opera during Björling’s lifetime. …

Jussi Björling At Lyric Opera Of Chicago, Peter C. Hammond, Dan Shea

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Lyric Opera of Chicago was an important venue for Jussi Björling in the last half-decade of his career. Between 1955 and 1958 he sang 31 performances there in nine of his most famous roles. Of these, Il trovatore was the most frequent. He appeared in this opera nine times over three of his four Chicago seasons.

Remembering Kjerstin Dellert 1925 – 2018, Calle Friedner, Harald Henrysson, Bengt Krantz

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Kjerstin Dellert was born in Stockholm in 1925. Her career as a vocalist began when she won an Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts contest in 1948 with “Someone To Watch Over Me”. Dellert made her opera debut at Stora Teatern in Gothenburg in the 1950s.

Full Issue

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

No abstract provided.

Jbs-Usa Web Site

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Please visit our new, ever-so-improved, attractive and updated web site at jussibjorlingsociety.org. Our own Janel Lundgren put in countless and productive hours working with web designer Amory King to give us something we can both use and be proud of. Note that for the first time, both the PHONOGRAPHY and the performance Chronology can be accessed from our site. Many thanks to all those members who helped to defray the cost of this huge and welcome project.

The Jussi Björling Recording Survey – “Song” Results, Walter B. Rudolph

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

In our home, not a day passes without a telephone call survey. Any purchase, chat, or other inquiry one makes on the Internet is followed by a survey. Going to the Post Office or any fast food joint always invites a survey on the receipt. Truly we could call our world today “The Survey World.”

Te Deum, Messa Da Requiem (Verdi), David Cutler

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

It has been thought by some that, of all Toscanini’s performances of the Verdi Requiem, this was the most dispensable of them. This reaction is hard to believe, as it is still a vastly imposing performance with some excellent singing from voices that can easily cope with the demands, especially Jussi Björling and Zinka Milanov. Stephen Hastings, in his book The Björling Sound, describes the “spiritual concentration” of an earlier performance from Lucerne, Switzerland, recorded in the Jesuitenkirche. However that 1939 performance has, as far as I know, not been issued and it is also incomplete.