1985 Stockholm concert commemorating the 25th anniversary of the death of the Swedish tenor Jussi Björling. Artists include: Birgit Nilsson, Nicolai Gedda, Giuseppe di Stefano, James McCracken, Robert Merrill, Elizabeth Söderström
It is a wonderful concert. I actually cried hearing wonderful Elisabeth Soderstrom . She sang with such a glorious , full toned voice and from the depths of her soul. I hope that folks don't forget just how great she was. So much that is fabulous and a fitting tribute to a unique tenor.
she was truly a great singer: Voice, musicianship, intelligence. Kinda like JB. I grew up learning about opera by lsitening to JB dierected by a wonderful little Jewish man who worked in a little record store in Paterson, NJ, USA. Max Schwartz. And forever thankful for Max .
I first heard Jussi sing in I think 1957, the opera was Faust. He has been my favorite tenor ever since. We were very fortunate that he spent time in Chicago I sang here for several years. His son Rolf was studying in Chicago at that time, I think. He gave many concerts at Orchestra Hall, which I attended. I saw him every chance I had at the opera singing Turiddu, Manrico "The greatest Manrico of our time", Mario in Tosca, Romeo, in Manon & Manon Lescaut, Aida, Don Jose. At my age of 88 years, this concert was wonderful to see & hear. Many of the artists I have heard in the past were on the program & that was just a wonderful opportunity to look back and enjoy their voices again. He sang with his father & uncles as a child, so he had a fantastically long musical career and was singing wonderfully at the time of his untimely death. Thank you so much for this wonderful afternoon & my wonderful memories.
OMG, what a beautiful concert. What great singing by not only the greats, Merrill, DiStephano, McKracken, Gedda but also the younger tenors, Swedish I guess. Jussi would be high fiving ALL these performers, and such excellent intonation, style, deportment, musical taste and I must emphatically say words are NOT even close to being sufficient. I used to listen to Jussi Bjoerling 78 RPM records in Calcutta, India where I was born. I used to listen to others too, like Mario Lanza, Beniamino Gigli, Enrico Caruso, Ferrucio Tagliavini, Luigi Infantino, but Jussi ALWAYS stole the show....These concert performers have excellent musicianship, intonation, diction, never overdoing it, a-la Jussi...and I think all in the SUPERB style of Jussi. Thank you a zillion Brad Jarrett for posting this. Absolutely LOVELY.
What a beautiful rendition of this beloved Grieg song. Elisabeth Söderström sang with such depth of feeling. My wife and I met her in 2005 during an international Jussi Björling congress in Stockholm. She spoke at a panel in the Gold Room of Operan, along with other Swedish operatic luminaries, including Ingvar Wixell, Eric Sweden, Kerstin Meyer, and others. The next day, she joined the other attendees at the Music Museum where we all listened to presentations on Jussi and his art. She was so gracious and listened attentively, as we all did. We had opportunities to speak during the breaks. She told us that she grew up listening to Jussi because her father played his records in their home, and she never thought she would ever sing on the same stage with him. I recall that she made her debut at the Met 1959 in Faust with Jussi and Robert Merrill. She later commented how Jussi reassured her that the Met audience would love her, and that he was the one to be nervous because they expected so much from him. It put her at ease. It testified to Jussi's consideration for his colleagues. It was one of the pressures felt by great artists at the top of their form. She was great lady, and, you will see from this concert, also had a great sense of humor.
Que maravilloso y merecido concierto en homenaje a Jussi Bjorling, uno de los más extraordinarios tenores de la historia de la Ópera. Y ni hablar de cuántas leyendas que se hicieron presentes para este homenaje. Todo disfrute!!!
Marvellous in all ways! I remember watching this at Swedish television in 1985. Some additions to the playlist: Peter Lindroos sings from "Manon Lescaut" and the duet from "Aida" with Doris Soffel. Seppe Ruohanen sings "Celeste Aida"-aria.
At last ! I once had this record but it is lost today. Many thanks for uploading. JUSSI for ever ! World CLASS : Birgit Nilsson, Nicolai Gedda, Giuseppe di Stefano, James McCracken, Robert Merrill, Elizabeth Söderström. Was there a Finale with all singing together ? =38.04 Final ? (My memory)
00.01 Elizabeth Söderström - Hjertets melodier, Op. 5: No. 3. Jeg elsker Dig 05.10 Gösta Winbergh - Una furtiva lagrima 11.38 Robert Merrill - Di Provenza il mar 20.02 Claes-Häkan-Ahnsjó - Bizet: Les pecheurs de perles: Je crois entendre encore 25.49 Giuseppe di Stefano - Tosti: Non t'amo più 34.34 Ann-Charlotte Björling - Grieg: 6 Poems, Op. 25: No. 2. En Svane 37.29 Birgit Nilsson - Tosca: Mario, Mario, Mario (con Cornelieu Murgu) 53.27 James McCracken - Otello: Talor vedeste … Si pel ciel (con Björn Asker) 59.30 FIN primera parte 59.38 Ann-Charlotte Björling y Robert Merrill coloquio 1.02.44 Claes-Häkan-Ahnsjó - 1.08.09 James McCracken - Pagliacci: Recitar! … Vesti la giubba 1.12.57 Nicolai Gedda - Onegin: Kuda, kuda 1.20.58 - - - - -Donna non vidi mai 1.24.14 Cornelieu Murgu - Puccini: Turandot: Nessun dorma 1.29.05 Gösta Winbergh - Don Giovanni: Dalla sua pace 1.35.22 Giuseppe di Stefano - 1.41.15 Salvatore Fisichella - Faust: Salut, demeure 1.47.35 Rolf Björling - Verdi: Ingemisco 1.52.08 FIN segunda parte 1.52.47 James McCracken - Verdi: Otello: Dio mi potevi acagliar tutti mali 1.59.46 Nicolai Gedda y Robert Merrill - Verdi: Forza: Solenne in quest' ora 2.05.08 -----------------Verdi: Aida: Celeste Aida 2.10.59 -----------------Verdi: Aida: L'Abborita rivale a me sfuggìa 2.22.25 Gösta Winbergh - Cilea: E la storia del pastore 2.28.18 Salvatore Fisichella - Puccini: La boheme: Che gelida manina 1.33.26 Salvatore Fisichella - Puccini: La boheme: O Mimì, tu più non torni 2.38.04 Final
@@natureboy1025 Two of the blanks filled now 1.20.58 Peter Lindroos Manon Lescaut -Donna non vidi mai 2.10.59 Doris Soffel, Peter Lindroos - Verdi: Aida: L'Abborita rivale a me sfuggìa
The finale is missing , it is a pity =ENSEMBLE: Land du Valsignäde (Ragnar Althén & Elisabeth Björklund) Stockholm Ensemble Symphony; Mats LILJEFORS, conductor September 9, 1985, Stockholm Konzerthaus
Contents Grieg: Hjertets melodier, Op. 5 (Texts: Hans Christian Andersen) Work length2:54$1.00 Elisabeth Söderström Stockholms Symfoniorkester Mats Liljefors Hjertets melodier (Melodies of the Heart), Op. 5: No. 3. Jeg elsker Dig (I Love but Thee) Track length2:54$1.00 excerpt, Donizetti: L'elisir d'amore Work length4:34$1.00 Gösta Winbergh Stockholms Symfoniorkester Mats Liljefors L'elisir d'amore (The Elixir of Love), Act II: Una furtiva lagrima Track length4:34$1.00 excerpt, Verdi: La Traviata Work length3:56$1.00 Robert Merrill Stockholms Symfoniorkester Mats Liljefors La traviata, Act II: Di Provenza il mar Track length3:56$1.00 excerpt, Wagner: Lohengrin Work length8:59$2.00 Gunnel Bohman, Reiner Goldberg Stockholms Symfoniorkester Mats Liljefors Lohengrin, Act III : Atmest du nicht mit mir die sussen Dufte? Track length8:59$2.00 excerpt, Bizet: Les Pêcheurs de Perles Work length4:43$1.00 Claes-Hakan Ahnsjö, Håkan Hagegård Stockholms Symfoniorkester Mats Liljefors Les pecheurs de perles (The Pearl Fishers), Act I: Au fond du temple saint Track length4:43$1.00 Tosti: Non t'amo piu (version for voice and orchestra) Work length4:58$1.00 Giuseppe di Stefano Stockholms Symfoniorkester Mats Liljefors Non t'amo piu Track length4:58$1.00 Grieg: Seks Digte af Ibsen, Op. 25 (Texts: Henrik Ibsen) Work length2:32$1.00 Ann-Charlotte Björling Stockholms Symfoniorkester Mats Liljefors 6 Poems, Op. 25: No. 2. En Svane (A Swan) Track length2:32$1.00 excerpt, Mozart: Don Giovanni, K527 Work length5:02$1.00 Gösta Winbergh Stockholms Symfoniorkester Mats Liljefors Don Giovanni, K. 527, Act I: Aria: Dalla sua pace Track length5:02$1.00 excerpt, Puccini: Tosca Work length11:20$3.00 Birgit Nilsson, Corneliu Murgu Stockholms Symfoniorkester Mats Liljefors Tosca, Act I: Mario, Mario, Mario! Track length11:20$3.00 excerpt, Puccini: La Bohème Work length4:18$1.00 Salvatore Fisichella Stockholms Symfoniorkester Mats Liljefors La boheme, Act I: Che gelida manina! Track length4:18$1.00 Tosti: L'ultima canzone Work length4:18$1.00 Giuseppe di Stefano Stockholms Symfoniorkester Mats Liljefors L'ultima canzone Track length4:18$1.00 excerpt, Verdi: Otello Work length4:06$1.00 James McCracken, Björn Asker Stockholms Symfoniorkester Mats Liljefors Otello, Act II: Talor vedeste … Si pel ciel Track length4:06$1.00 excerpt, Verdi: La forza del destino Work length3:44$1.00 Nicolai Gedda, Robert Merrill Stockholms Symfoniorkester Mats Liljefors La forza del destino, Act III: Solenne in quest'ora Track length3:44$1.00 excerpt, Verdi: Aida Work length9:23$2.00 Doris Soffel, Peter Lindroos Stockholms Symfoniorkester Mats Liljefors Aida, Act IV: Gia i sacerdoti adunansi Track length9:23$2.00 Alfvén: Skogen sover, Op. 28 No. 6 Work length2:28$1.00 Lars Björling Stockholms Symfoniorkester Mats Liljefors excerpt, Gounod: Faust Work length4:32$1.00 Salvatore Fisichella Stockholms Symfoniorkester Mats Liljefors Faust, Act III: Salut! demeure chaste et pure Track length4:32$1.00 excerpt, Puccini: Tosca Work length3:09$1.00 Seppo Ruohonen Stockholms Symfoniorkester Mats Liljefors Tosca, Act III: E lucevan le stelle Track length3:09$1.00 excerpt, Leoncavallo: Pagliacci Work length3:31$1.00 James McCracken Stockholms Symfoniorkester Mats Liljefors Pagliacci, Act I: Recitar! … Vesti la giubba Track length3:31$1.00 excerpt, Verdi: Requiem Work length3:39$1.00 Rolf Björling Stockholms Symfoniorkester Mats Liljefors Messa da Requiem: Dies irae: Ingemisco Track length3:39$1.00 Sjöberg: Tonerna (text: Erik Gustaf Geijer) Work length3:28$1.00 Nicolai Gedda Stockholms Symfoniorkester Mats Liljefors Tonerna Track length3:28$1.00 Althen: Land, du välsignade (Thou Blessed Country)
Robert Merrill should be the one singing the baritone part in the Pearl Fishers' Duet.... lovely rendition of Di Provenza anyway, even though it wasn't Merrill's best perfomance...
Your enthusiasm is admirable, but you need to acknowledge that voices often decline as they age. Mr. Merrill was 68 years old at this 1985 performance, and he'd been singing big repertoire since 1944 (beginning w/ Amonasro). The 1951 studio recording Bjorling & Merrill made of the Bizet duet is justly famous, but it would have been a mistake for Merrill to try singing it live 1985. I really don't think he retained the Bizet in his voice or memory during the latter decades of his career. This whole Stockholm trip was probably meant to be fun & parties with old friends, not work & worry in a practice room. At this 1985 concert, they transposed down hall a step "Di Provenza" for him. The voice was in remarkable condition, but he was smart not to linger on any phrases. Decades of muscle memory are in evidence for this performance.
Everyone was wonderful. Only a few I never heard of, but they were deserving the lengthy applause. I wonder who the talented blond tenor who sang Una Furtiva Lacrima was. And now to hear Salut, Demure Chaste et Pura. Who was that glorious tenor?
