Jussi Björling Rediscovered | Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz Schubert, ...

Jussi Björling Rediscovered | Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz Schubert, ... | Magnificent

classical music:

Jussi Björling Red...

	Jussi Björling Rediscovered Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz Schubert, ... RCA, 2003 average customer review:based on 17 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Before there were the Three Tenors there was Jussi Björling, the great Swedish tenor who died in 1960 at the age of 49. His bright, sunny tone had a slight, emotion-laden tear in it that conveyed feeling as well as, or more than, any number of sobs and effects that other tenors use. His Carnegie Hall recital of September 24, 1955 has long been available; in addition, this CD features nine never-before released selections from that recital which either did not fit on the original LP or were omitted for some other reason. He can sing at any dynamic level, the voice is always secure, and his taste and musicianship, as always, are impeccable. I doubt we'll ever hear Tosti's Ideale sung more tenderly or "Che gelida manina" sung with such poetic abandon; the newly discovered Grieg, Sibelius, and Sjoberg songs are sung with an opera singer's--rather than a Lieder singer's--style, but it's doubtful anyone will complain. Björling fans should race to hear this; for those who came to opera after his heyday (or during the reign of other tenors), this will be a stunning ear-opener. A must have. --Robert Levine

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"Bjorling"

In a word - superb. This brings to mind the review of Bjorling's RCA LP "Bjorling in Opera" by Stereo Review's critic George Jellinek, shortly after it's release in 1959, which he ended by saying "highly recommended, especially for other tenors".

Magnificent

Some years ago I met an elderly gentleman who'd served as a co-pilot on a B-24 bomber during WWII. During a raid on a North German site their aircraft was badly damaged and they were forced to crash-land it in Sweden. The shaken but uninjured crew was picked up by the Swedish authorities and immediately interred (Sweden being a neutral country). They were sent to a dreadful and notorious Swedish internment camp--the largest and lushest hotel in Stockholm--and given something of an expense account. It just happened to be the same hotel where Jussi Bjorling had his digs.

Through a variety of happenings, the vet ended up befriending Bjorling, who he described to me as "one hell of a nice guy" and they became drinking buddies. He and his fellow aviators had front row seats at any and all recitals and apparently became society figures in cultured Stockholm. To my wonder and astonishment, this old Regular Joe fellow, no opera fan before Sweden, told me he was the guy who taught Jussi Bjorling the song "Pistol Packin' Mama." Now wouldn't we all pay good money to have heard him sing that!!

There's nothing more terrific than a great voice attached to a great guy who'd sit and drink with downed aviators and happily learn their favorite pop songs. This disc of music is as wonderful as the guy who recorded it.

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Jussi's voice - pure silver

There was virtually no deterioration in Bjorling's voice over a career of thirty years before his untimely death - from heart-failure exacerbated by his alcoholism - at 49. This Carnegie Hall recital, long available on LP and in bits on CD, is here issued in its entirety, only the raucous and rapturous applause trimmed to allow it to fit on to one disc. Bjorling's opening "Adelaide", lovely as it is, certainly does not match the hushed intensity and poised delicacy of his famous and unmatched 1939 recording and it is clear that he takes a while for the voice to warm up, but by the time he gets to the "Dream" from "Manon" the control is a thing of beauty. One must make allowance for the fact that he was singing to a large audience in a large hall and thus had to sing out more, and I could wish that the audience could restrain themselves from expressing their appreciation until the music of each number had actually ended but the atmosphere of a great occasion is certainly captured. The songs in Swedish are more of a rarity and it is clear how much Bjorling felt free to let himself go here, but the operatic arias are similarly untrammelled by any sense of restraint; that liquidly beautiful voice, impassioned and always suggesting a hint of tears, pours forth like molten silver. I was only a few months old when this concert took place but Bjorling will alwys be one of the handful of tenors, headed by Caruso, who move me beyond others. A must for fans and enough to convert tyros.

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The god of tenors

I discovered Jussi about 15 years ago and have never tired of his voice. I already had a CD with a Carnegie Hall recital. I'd hope to hear it in its entirety.

I am always amazed at the nuanced emotions in his voice. His "Flower Song" from Carmen is tender and masculine and absolutely melting. Who would want Escamillo after hearing Don Jose sing THAT!??!! And I love the heartiness he projects as a storyteller in "The Trout." His "L'Alba separa dalla luce l'ombra" is a delightful tribute to Caruso.

The biggest surprise was a song that I normally can't stand; "Jeannie with the Light Brown Hair". After hearing many Irish tenors slaughter it, I was ready to just skip over it. Instead, I found myself with tears runnig down my cheeks.

Anyone who can make me love that old chestnust has got to be the greatest!

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sound quality

Jussi Bjorling Rediscovered: this CD was not given the sound engineering consideration the performer deserves. Bjorling has always been my favorite tenor from the very first time I heard and saw him in Manon Lescaut in 1959. However, with all due respect to the technicians who worked to produce this CD the sound is no where near as good as it ought to be. The CD does not meet up to the sound quality of the many other CD's I have of Jussi Bjorling. Sorry about that!!

reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4

Tracks
Il mio tesoro | Amor ti vieta | Flower Song ("La Fleur que tu m'avais jetée") | The Dream ("Instant charmant; En fermant les yeux") | Addio alla madre | E lucevan le stelle | Come un bel di di Maggio | Che gelida manina

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