Jussi Björling Live, Holland 1939, Norway 1954

BELL 163 MONO

Product Details 

• Artist: Jussi Björling
• Release Title: Live, Holland 1939, Norway 1954
• Record Label: Bluebell of Sweden
• Genre: Classical
• Release Year: 1984
• Format: Vinyl (LP, Mono)
• Catalog Number: BELL 163 Mono 
• Release Date: 1984

Overview

Jussi Björling, one of the greatest tenors of the 20th century, is celebrated for his astonishing voice and technique. This album showcases two historic live performances from 1939 and 1954, offering a rare glimpse into his artistry at different points in his career. The first concert, recorded in Holland in June 1939, captures Björling at the height of his youth, having just debuted at the Metropolitan Opera and Covent Garden. The second, recorded in Norway in 1954, presents a more seasoned artist, though his voice was affected by a throat illness at the time. Despite the challenges, Björling's expressive and artistic power remained undiminished.

This album features a diverse selection of works, from operatic arias to Nordic songs, highlighting Björling's versatility and range. The Holland concert includes several iconic opera arias, sung in their original languages, such as "O paradiso" from Meyerbeer's L'Africaine and "La fleur que tu m'avais jetée" from Bizet's Carmen. The Bergen concert of 1954 includes Handel's "Ombra mai fu," as well as Nordic songs by Alfvén, Sibelius, and Grieg.

Track Listing

Side A

1. Ingemisco, Messa da Requiem - Giuseppe Verdi – 4:03
2. O paradiso, L'Africaine (L'Aricana) - Giacomo Meyerbeer – 3:11
3. La fleur que tu m'avais jetée, Carmen - Georges Bizet – 3:55
4. En fermant les yeux, Manon - Jules Massenet – 2:47
5. Salut! Demeure, Faust - Charles Gounod – 4:51
6. Che gelida manina, La Bohème - Giacomo Puccini – 4:14

Side B

1. Ombra mai fu, Serse - Georg Friedrich Handel – 4:22
2. Pietà, Signore - Louis Niedermeyer – 7:18
3. Ingemisco, Messa da Requiem - Giuseppe Verdi – 3:40
4. Skogen sover, Op. 28, No. 6 - Hugo Alfvén – 2:40
5. Säv, säv, susa, Op. 36, No. 4 - Jean Sibelius – 2:23
6. En svane, Op. 25, No. 2 - Edvard Grieg – 2:39
7. Jeg elsker dig, Op. 5, No. 3 - Edvard Grieg – 2:40

Key Credits

• Conductor (Holland 1939): Frieder Weissmann
• Orchestra (Holland 1939): Hilversum Radio Orchestra
• Conductor (Norway 1954): Carl Garaguly
• Orchestra (Norway 1954): Harmoniens Orkester, Bergen

Box #150