[ Alto / CD ]
Release Date: Friday 10 December 2010
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Swedish-born Johan Jonatan "Jussi" Björling was one of the leading operatic tenors of the twentieth century. This release brings together highlights from some of the most popular operatic recordings from the 1950s along with selections from Bjoerling's amazing solo LPs, made in Stockholm, Rome, New York and London at the height of his fame as an international superstar of the opera stage.
"What is it that remains so unique about the Björling voice? The Nordic air seemed to provide the bright metallic sound, thrilling in intensity and powerful enough to cut through the heaviest orchestrations. But there was also a velvety, lyrical, bel canto quality that caressed the listener; this quality being especially evident in his recordings of French opera and in the many recordings of songs." - James Murray
Swedish-born Johan Jonatan "Jussi" Björling was one of the leading operatic tenors of the twentieth century. This release brings together highlights from some of the most popular operatic recordings from the 1950s along with selections from Bjoerling's amazing solo LPs, made in Stockholm, Rome, New York and London at the height of his fame as an international superstar of the opera stage.
[1] Bizet: Les Pecheurs des Perles - Au fond du temple saint (1951)**with R Merrill 4:36
[2] Puccini: Tosca - Recondita armonia (1957) *** 3:03
[3] Puccini: Tosca - E lucevan le stelle (1957) *** 3:42
[4] Puccini: Turandot - Non piangere Liù (1960)*** 2:54
[5] Puccini: Turandot - Nessun dorma (1960)*** 3:27
[6] Bizet: Carmen - La fleur que tu m'avais jetée (1938) * 3:52
[7] Massenet: Manon - Je suis seul… Ah! Fuyez, douce image (1945)* 4:31
[8] Gounod: Roméo et Juliette - Ah! lève-toi soleil (1946)-* 3:21
[9] Meyerbeer: L'Africana - Mi batte il cor… O Paradiso! (1937) * 3:14
[10] Verdi: Aida - Se quel guerrier… Celeste Aida (1951)** 4:41
[11] Verdi: La Forza del Destino - Solenne in quest'ora (1951)**with Robert Merrill 4:10
[12] Verdi: Otello - Si, pel ciel [with Robert Merrill] (1951)** 4:26
[13] Ponchielli: La Gioconda - Cielo e mar (1951)** 4:25
[14] Puccini: Manon Lescaut - Donna non vidi mai (1948)* 2:26
[15] Puccini: La Bohème - Che gelida manina (1956) ** 5:09
[16] Puccini: La Bohème - - O Mimi, tu più non torni (1956) ** with Robert Merrill 3:04
[17] Mascagni: Cavalleria Rusticana - Mamma, quel vino e generoso (1944) * 3:49
[18] Leoncavallo: I Pagliacci - Recitar! Vesti la giubba (1944) * 3:41
[19] Leoncavallo: Mattinata (1944) * 2:17
[20] Tosti: Ideale (1937)* 3:21
[21] Alfvén: Skogen sover [with Harry Ebert, piano] (1939) 2:31
*Orchestras incl Royal Opera Stockholm conducted by Nils Grevilius (6-9,14,17-20)
**RCA Victor Orchestra, Renato Cellini (1,10-13) conducted Thomas Beecham (15,16)
***Orchestra of the Rome Opera / Erich Leinsdorf 1957 (2-3) 1960 (4,5)