Music Commons^™

The People's Singer, Erik Jarnklev

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

When Jussi Bjorling's name could be announced for a concert in a folkpark it was a great day, and his name would be advertised in the largest type the printer could find.

Skansen Concerts-And The Last One, Gosta Berg

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Jussi Bjorling sang for the first time at Skansen on the 15th September 1935¹. I retain vivid memories of the deep impression he made even then on me and the large audience.

And he returned. Actually, it became a tradition that he came to us at least once each year. In all, he appeared here fifty-three times, sometimes with the Royal Orchestra, but mostly in solo recital, including three times with his wife Anna-Lisa. The public attendance was usually overwhelming, and there were some who arrived as early as 10 o'clock in the morning in order to secure …

Singing From The Heart: Kissed By The Gods: A Remembrance Of The Tenor Jussi Bjorling, Jurgen Kesting

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Ever more frequently the work of record companies results in damage to the legacy of their artists. A current example is a so-called 'Ultimate Collection" published by RCA/BMG in the "Artist of the Century" series, marking the death forty years ago (on September 9, 1960) of Swedish tenor Jussi Bjorling at the age of 49.

Spotlight On Carla Ramsey

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Carla Ramsey, the author of the "Adelaide" comparison appearing in this issue, was born and raised in San Antonio, where she began studying piano at age six and trombone at eleven. I wish I had taken up cello instead," she says, .. but Texas was band country back in the '50s." Why trombone, instead of clarinet or flute like the other girls? "I can't remember. why I found this instrument so fascinating, but it might have had something to do with the fact that I enjoyed hanging out with and competing with the guys," admits- the self-described "aging tomboy." "Later, …

Yearning For The Unattainable: A Comparison Of Jussi Biorling's Four Recorded Performances Of Beethoven's "Adelaide", Carla Ramsey

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

1f you w.mt a lifetime companion of the feathered variety, all you have to do is show up when a duckling hatches. By a neural process known as "imprinting," the baby bird will bond to and faithfully follow the first object it sees- whether it's mama duck, a human, or even the family dog- upon emerging from its shell. Perhaps you have had a similar experience with a favorite piece of music: you became "imprinted' by the first performance you were exposed to, to such an extent that it subconsciously became the standard by which you judge all others. In …

Jussi Bjorling: The Supreme Singing Of A Shy Man, Stephen Hastings

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

On September 9 1960 the newstands of Stockholm were plastered with the news "Jussi dod i morse• (Jussi dead this morning). It is rare for newspaper to call an opera singer by his Christian name, but then Bjorling's relationship with Sweden was a very special one. 11 had begun forty-five years earlier, when his further David Bjorling-also a tenor-decided to take little Jussi (born on February 5, 1911) on tour with his brothers Costa and Olle. The "Bjorling Male Quartet" could not fail to win audiences over, with the boys dressed in traditional costumes singing music (including compositions by David …

Same Perspectives On The "Editorial We"

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Welcome to the Spring 2001 issue of this journal, our latest experiment in producing a permanent "hard copy" record of what the Jussi Bjorling Societies are doing: Let's take a moment here to look ahead at some of the featured articles in this issue:

An Excursion To Santa Fe, July 3-8

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Several of us are planning to continue the fellowship generated during our conference, by extending out trip to include an excursion co Santa Fe, New Mexico, for two operas and some exploration of the superb state parks and museum, dedicated to the local Indian history and culture. We'll see Verdi's Falstaffon July 4 (Fenton will be sung by Greg Turay, dubbed "the new Bjoerling• last spring by The New York Times) and Lucia di Lammermoor on July 6. The opera house there is perched in a natural bowl in the Tesuque hills, just outside of Santa Fe, and is …

The Next Jbs Conference, June 28-July 1 In Minnesota: ... The People, The Program, The Activities, Registration Arrangements, Bill Clayton, Mickey Dove, Bill Dove, Tom Hines, Dan Shea

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Our JBS held its first conference in Washington DC during June 1999, and it seemed a great success: lots of people meeting each other for the first time, enjoying the sessions together and even picking up some new ideas. Now we will build on our experience with a more ambitious 4·day event at Gustavus Adolphus College in St Peter, MN. We hope you'll consider joining the fun and "Jussicology"! For an early look at the campus, chock out this website: www.gustavus.edu (and come prepare, l to admire the ingenious sculptures of Paul Granlund, located all over campus).

Front Matter

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

No abstract provided.

Sonic Apricity, October 14, 2021 [Program], University Of Northern Iowa. School Of Music.

Music Recital Programs

Program of a music recital given by faculty, students, or guest artists from the School of Music at the University of Northern Iowa.

Charles W. Bolen Faculty Recital Series: Faculty Brass Quintet, October 14, 2021, Anna Mcnamara, Katherine Shindledecker, Rachel Hockenberry, Mark Babbit, Andy Rummel

School of Music Programs

Center for the Performing Arts

October 14, 2021

Thursday Evening

8:00 p.m.

Charles W. Bolen Faculty Recital Series: Faculty Brass Quintet, October 14, 2021, Anna Mcnamara, Katherine Shindledecker, Rachel Hockenberry, Mark Babbit, Andy Rummel

School of Music Programs

Center for the Performing Arts

October 14, 2021

Thursday Evening

8:00 p.m.

George Jellinek On Wunderlich, Bjorling And Schubert

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

One of the highlights of the June JBS Conference at Gustavus came with our opportunity to hear a new edition of George Jellinek's radio program "The Vocal Scene" devoted to a comparison of Jussi with the great, lamented German tenor Fritz Wunderlich, who died in 1966, a few days short of his 36th birthday, due to a tragic fall down a staircase. We heard Dr. Jellinck's interesting discussion of these two careers, along with examples of their substantial common repertoire: both singers in the "free as a bird" aria from Millocker's Beggar Student> as well as arias from Boheme, L'elisir …

A Report From The Jussi Bjorling Museum, Harald Henrysson

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

On October 7, Swedish Radio's weekly Sunday opera program was devoted rto an interview with Lars Hemmingsson, the current Chairman of the Scandinavian Jussi Bjorling Society. Lars described the three existing chapters of JBS, in the UK, USA and Sweden, and described the origin of his own interest in Jussi (which had a connection with Jussi's son Rolf, one of whose teachers: was Lars' father). He also told of his memories as a youthful super at the Royal Opera, one of them at an Aida performance with Jussi where he stood close to him and could hear his remarks before …

Word From The Jussi Bjorling Sallskapet (Society)

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

The May 2001 Newsletter of the Scandinavian Society asks what their Society has in common with the currently-popular TV soap opera " Rederiet" and the Royal Opera's Academy. the answer was supplied by professor Folke Abenius of that school: The Academy is presently housed in the Remmerline mansion on Dag Hammerskjold's Street, and in its formar location on Nybrokajen it served as Jussi's main opera-school. On the other hand, the exterior of the present school is portrayed as a main focus for the soap opera's events. Professor Abenius spoke last May 5 to members of the Sallskapet about the current …

A Remarkable Music Database, William C. Clayton

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

If you are like me, you probably have a very large collection of recordings in all different forms catalogued, at best perhaps, on 3x5 cards. During my computer years, I have tried to achieve some order, but the result has been little more than glorified lists by composer.

Gosta Winbergh Remembers A Mistake Of His Youth

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Mike Richter's website is always interesting, we recommend it to your attention: mrichter.com. During November it featured three Swedish tenors in "Che gelida manina '': JB (from his 1939 Holland radio broadcast), Nicolai Gedda and Uno Stjernqvist. In October there was an interesting interview of Gosta Winbergh by Jim Farber of the LA Westside Rave! Just at that time, the LA Opera was starring Winbergh in Lohengrin, and Farber asked him about his youthful fling with pop music, as part of a rock band that played the youth clubs of Stockholm. As Farber recounts the story. Winbergh "offhandedly turned down …

The Recorded Legacy-Reviews Of Recent Releases Of Interest To Jbs Members, Harold Sokolsky

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Undoubtedly the biggest news about JB recordings in 2001 came from Sweden's Bluebell label, via company manager Hanna Hedman and Bluebell Company board member Harald Henrysson: The 1940 Swedish Radio broadcast of Jussi and Hyordis Schymberg in Romeo et Juliette would be released as a complete opera - util now we've had to be content, with the excerpts from, this delectable performance that we could find on earlier Bluebell releases, or ripoffs of those recordings that appeared on various pirate labels. There has been continuing enthusiastic reaction to release on the internet as more fans discover it, here're some of …

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

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

When a Jewish mother watches her child graduate from medical school she "kvells" (Yiddish for swelling-and that's just the way we feel when we see glowing references to JB in the media. The past few months have turned up more of these than we can print, but here arc a few highlights - so that you, too, can "kvell" with us:

Travels In Time Of War, Harry Ebert

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

One goes to experience much in the course of a decades long friendship spent journeying in the service of music. Jussi and I travelled together a great deal, both in Sweden and on the Continent, but above all in the U.S.A. where we lived together through four long tours. Let me for a moment recall some of my memories of our adventurous travels right in the midst of war.

Guest Performances On California's Sunshine Coast, Kurt Herbert Adler

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Jussi Bjorling's long-standing connections with the San Francisco Opera have left us with wonderful and unforgettable memories. He sang many of his most famous roles here-in Li Trovatore, Manon Lescaut, La Boheme, Tosca. Rigoletto and Romeo et Juliette. At one of these performances his wife appeared as Juliette, and on one occasion she sang with him the duet "Sweethearts'' for the annual Fol de Roi, an event which the Opera Guild organizes to support the work of the opera company and which is attended by thousands of people. Mr. Bjorling always hoped that he would have the opportunity to sing …

More On Bertil's Smithsonian Lecture In Washington D.C.

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Here is a portion of Don Pruitt's report on Bertil's talk of June 26 at the Hirshhorn Gallery: "Alla and I have just returned from Bertil's outstanding lecture at the Smithsonian. The talk was fascinating, with several new (to me) photos and sound tracks, including a wonderful Carmen Flower Song from the Firestone Hour and a 'La donna e mobile' from, of all places, the Ed Sullivan Show. The latter used a seductive Maddalena mime who clung to JB throughout, apparently affecting his performance toward greatest fears of verisimilitude that the usual partaker of this role could ever hope for.

Jussi Bjorling's Record Season 1934-1935, Bertil Bengtsson

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

If one surveys Jussi Bjorling's first seasons as an opera singer, one very soon notices that the breadth of his repertoire and the number of his performances are indicative of an almost unbelievable level of diligence and ability to learn roles during these years. He reached the apogee in this respect during two seasons- 1934-1935 and 1935-1936. It is the first of these that I intend to discuss in detail here. To judge from surviving reviews, he also at this time was performing at a very high level both vocally and interpretively.

An Appraisal Of The Vocal Art Of Jussi Bjorling, Vsevolod Vasilievich Timokhin

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

The countries of Scandinavia have given the world of vocal art many times which have achieved world renown. What music lover does not know about the "Swedish Nightingale," Jenny Lind, who was one of the greatest singers of the Nineteenth Century? Or about those other artists, Patti's rivals, Christine Nilsson and Sigrid Arnoldson? Or about the famous Finnish singer Alma Fahstrom, who preformed for many years on the stage of the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow? In our century many Scandinavian singers have achieved international fame; but it is interesting to note that almost all of them were adherents of the …

The J.B. Museum's "Jussi-Appreciation" Project For Elementary-School Students, Deborah Clemons

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Who says that children can't love opera and the classically trained singing voice? The first step is to let them hear it. We at the Jussi Bjorling museum in Sweden have tried just that. We recently completed a pilot project with the Ostermalm Elementary School in Borlange that introduced students to Jussi. Our project used a group of 80 students from ages 6 to 9. We designed the project to give students a broader experience than they would normally get during a standard one-hour museum visit. This project, with some modifications, could be used in any school and with any …

Jussi And The Gounod "Sanctus", Donald Pruitt

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

The wonderful CD "Jussi Bjoerling Rarities" (VAIA 1189) contains much welcome material, including what is indeed a rarity: a musical error committed by our tenor. When I listened for the first time to the "Sanctus" from Gounod's "St. Cecilia Mass" in English (HHP A51, the Ford Sunday Evening Hour broadcast of November 13, 1938), I detected a digression from the score in the second solo tenor passage. Having sung the is piece numerous times myself, I wondered if my memory of it had faded with the years, so I received my copy of the score and investigated. Surely enough, I …

More On Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg And Bertil Bengtsson's Smithsonian Lecture, Dan Shea

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

We were pleased to learn 1har Supreme Court Justice Ginsburg had attended Bertil's lecture in Washington, described elsewhere in this Journal, but not really surprised; Justice Ginsburg is a well known supporter of the arts and especially an opera fan. In fact, she told about her enthusiasm for opera during an interview on a Met intermission feature last season, as you may recall. Bur in checking some biographical notes on her (www.supremecour1his1ory. org/justice/ginsburg.com and also via google.com) we were surprised to learn of her additional connections to Sweden and to the classical music recording industry!

Jussi At Carnegie Hall, Harold Sokolsky

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

Every classical lover knows about Carnegie Hall, the historic concert hall at Seventh Avenue and 57th Street in New York City. Designed in a Neo-ltalian Renaissance style by William B. Tuthill, the building opened in May 1891 and was eventually named for the industrialist Andrew Carnegie, its builder and original owner. Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky served as guest conductor during thc hall's opening week, and since then virtually every important American and visiting musician has performed there. The hall was the longtime home of the New York Philharmonic until that orchestra moved to Lincoln Center in the 1960s.

Jussi Bjorling At Carnegie Hall, Cantor Don Goldberg

Journal of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK

You remember the old saw: the tourist lost in Manhattan sees a violinist walking down the street and calls out, "how do you get to Carnegie Hall?" The musician's answer is, "Practice!"