Jussi Björling - O Sole Mio

[Hubert4758]

May be the best...

[pgiuser]

Jussi var svensk men har påbrå från Finland och kanske till o med (som jag tror utan att kunna bevisa det) har romskt påbrå. Hans röst var unik den har aldrig förut funnits och kommer aldrig mer att komma igen.

[MrWeedram]

förbannade! His name was Johan Jonatan Björling. His finnish grandmother gave him the nickname Jussi, and that nickname became to live a life of it`s own.

[bubajoon]

Whether being a dumb American or not, doesn't change the fact that Jussi was a Tenor from Suomi. Like his countryman Jean Sibelius.

[ScandiNemo]

@bubajoon Well you obviously are a dumb American only after provoking people, ridiculous. I suggest you google Jussi or search for his name on Wikipedia instead of showing your ignorance.

[BOGSTEN]

@bubajoon All Finns have a Swedish ancestor. Before the 1300s, there was nothing than mosquitos. How many of today's Finns can the history of the country Suomi, as Napoleon indirectly created. Sibelius and the Mannerheim families all originate from Sweden. Begin the history lesson by asking why the Republic is still termed Finland internationally. But it is at your own risk.

[MrMakahano]

Of course it is not his song. He was Swedish and this song is italianissmo. However Robert Merrill, his American partner, more than once told the story of his own experience of Jussi in Naples, singing "O, sole mio". "I have never heard anyone sing like he did on that occasion." Namely "O, sole mio". And they had made numerous tenor–baritono-recordings together.

"Au fond du temple saint" is still considered an outstanding interpretation, and it is!

qarl

[petereuropa]

This is the 1st time I write a negative comment about JB. I love Jussi's voice, one of the greatest of all time. But this is not "his" song.

[metropolisio]

recording technique was similar to the one used in Robertino's recording of O sole mio in 1961 the echoe is there

[bernalor1]

Jussi Bjorling was great. I have always been a great admirer of him, certainly among the world's greatest tenor's. A very unique voice. Yet, when I listen to Enrico Caruso and Beniamino Gigli sing 'O Sole Mio', I immediately feel a warmth and beauty that Bjorling does not give to this song.

[bernalor1]

How Enrico Caruso and Beniamino Gilgi, I believe the beauty of their voices were at a different level

[Bjorlingmiracle]

Some say Jussi's voice is cold; I say it's just understated, as anything to do with emotions is in Sweden. You need to open your heart, not just your ears, to hear the passion in his expression.

[AugustWik]

Orpomannen! År man född i Borlänge så är man svensk!!! Och glöm inte att Finland var en landsdel av Sverige i 500 år, Finsk? Ursvensk.

[boz1965]

Pavarotti är bra men Jussi ÄGER!

[etsar1]

Finns ingen och kommer nog aldrig finnas nån som MR Björling.

En skola för sig själv.

[Thesnuttan52]

Jussi´s Grandmother was from Finland. She gave the name Jussi, which is the finish form of the swedish name Johan. Jussi was born in Borlänge and is regarded to be the best tenor ever. I am proud to be a member in his fan-club!!!

[nightowl5306]

MY DAD GOT ME INTO OPERA AND HE IS IRISH, BUT ALWAYS LOVED OPERA THROUGH HIS PARENTS JUSSI IS GREAT.

[meloncholybob]

WOW all new to me but what a difference. The clarity of his range is amazing. I just started to sing opera and this is what I am shooting for

[Trunks858585]

@meloncholybob good luck becoming one of the best SINGERS in history. I'll be cheering for you since I've started too

[Siriusfanatiker]

Stora Tuna, near Borlänge in Sweden. He was a real rumpMas whole his life. Always loooonging for Sweden when abroad. Always even better when singing in Swedish. Not bad for a guy from Stora Tuna who d outclassed the Italians in there own languaghe.

[EBAM416]

que maravilla de voz! escucharlo cantar pareciera q aun estuviese vivo y cantado frente a mi! q maravilla de verdad como transmite de manera tan natural el sentimiento de la cancion

[Stingerfyle]

I love sweden!

Have been there many times. I'm german.

[lanzanut]

Thank you elvismann67 for your swift response to my query, naturally I am pleased to read the positive answer. I have just written to Classic FM here in England asking them to play a Jussi aria, I will listen as much as I can for a day or two but from past experiences nothing will be forthcoming? I can only presume from your name you are an Elvis admirer, did you know who is favourite singer was. Sorry I dare not mention his name on this site.

[lanzanut]

I sincerely hope he is remembered in Sweden tomorrow on what would he been his 100th birthday. ONe of the greatest tenors of all time,naturally gifted. would like to read about any celebrations which occur in Sweden tomorrow and especially from his home town of Borlange (forgive spelling please)

[elvismann67]

Dear Lanzanut: I can reasure you that there will be plenty of celebrations commemorating Jussi´s 100th anniversary all throughout this year and not only today. There is, among other things, one opera festival just outside of Stockholm this summer. There will be plenty of concerts, some lectures and a US-tour; "Jussi a sonorous tribute" by one of the foremost Jussi specialists, Bertil Bengtsson as well as some movies out - one called "Jussi - in our hearts" opening up today, February 2nd.

[belle12071937]

Well, according to Wikipedia he was born February 5, 1911.

[belle12071937]

Mr. Bjorling's birthday is coming up on an impressive anniversary. February 4, 1911.

If his singing was any more beautiful I could not stand it! He brings me to tears of joy.

[alragarp]

Una de las voces más bellas en la cuerda de tenor. Linda versión de O sole mio.

[barrister79]

the everlasting bjorling

[nicoletta101292]

grande Carusooooooo...w Napoli!

[mactopolis]

Bjorling had learned 31 languages fluent inmost of them..a genius

[mactopolis]

The most beautiful Italian song ever..kind of makes you wonder why its so alluring that ever great singer had sung it...the theme song of heaven

[mojomanist]

The most wonderful, the most correct pitch for a tenor. Congratulations Jussi, U r an inspiration to us all

[misswrigly]

I never heard of him and even worse we er nabo I can not begin to say how humbled i feel. thank you for posting this and heja sverige.

[tarahund]

you are not wrong, he is swedish.

[paulostroff99]

Awesome!

[TheNole2005]

So powerful but never brutish like some tenors we know (I'm looking at you Placido).

[LeSimpleton]

OHHHHHHHH MY GOD!!!!!!!!! I love this song!!!!! I would hear it alll the time but I didn't know the name. Just stumbled upon it! THANKS YOU SOOOOOOO MUCH!!!!

[alphahanen]

No eng

no fre

no ger

no ita.

Phonetic. He lerd this song i 3 days.

he did also singit in hallal

[StreetPunxLeo]

Grandissimo....

[FabioPBarbieri]

Speaking as an Italian - great voice indeed - but a little bit on the neat side. There has to be a bit less polish when you sing about love. Plus, the accent is all wrong - he sings it as if it were Italian, and Neapolitan it most emphatically not. Nonetheless, this is in the top one per cent of all the performances of this great song I ever heard.

[Lordandmasterpa]

@FabioPBarbieri How well do you sing Swedish?

[FabioPBarbieri]

@Lordandmasterpa As it happens, I would say that the greatest performance of ANYTHING I have heard in years is JB singing "O Helga Natt" - Yes, mate, in Swedish. I do not have to be as good as JB to have an opinion on him, and if you are trying to imply that I do not have the right to have a view about the language I was born with, you are also denying any value to my very great admiration of this very great singer. Funny how some people don't realize that they argue against themselves.

[ForAll23]

@FabioPBarbieri

> I do not have to be as good as JB to have an opinion on him

That is right, but what do you want to prove?

[sillychad18]

actually I am Italian too and I sing pretty well in Swedish ;)

[sillychad18]

LOL settentrionale? yes you're right, except I've heard some of his Italian songs and they are not really pronounced that well, while I don't think his pronunciation in this performance is bad at all! but yes I do agree with the whole Neapolitan being an Arabic version of Italian thing and shouldn't really be same pronounced, but he is amazing I just love anything he sings regardless =)

[Lovelytenor1]

He sings this w/the same style as did the greatest son of Naples- Caruso. Caruso sang it w/the same smooth, but passionate manner. The melodic line & words should dominate here & with both these great tenors, they do.

[FabioPBarbieri]

Two premises: one, when you are dealing with artistry on such a level, all criticisms are relative. Two, Caruso's recordings, unlike Bjoerling's, only afford us a hint of what he must have been like in real life - though, what a hint! Having said that, Caruso was Neapolitan and understood everything he sang.

[FabioPBarbieri]

And those who know such things will tell you that the difference is such that even Sicilian singers such as Pippo di Stefano simply don't sound right. Bjoerling knew the old-fashioned Italian of opera libretti, which is a world away from Neapolitan.

[Palakangas]

Jussi is still "en jäkel på att sjunga".

[zelda0521]

gosh I can feel my own head ringing listening to him sing. talk about resonances...

[tildastromberg]

stolt Svensk !!

[mactopolis]

This was lovely and the same way Caruso had done this song...He must have loved this song greatly and also adore Caruso as well..This I believe was Bjorling's tribute to Caruso...for he truly mimicked Caruso style beautifully...BRAVO BRAVO BRAVO

[mestrong2001]

Hnmmmm. at the risk of offending the hometown crowd... the MUST be italian in his family tree somewhere! BTW - the best vibrato I have ever heard. I am not sure he has the emotional range of the Maestro, but I cant argue the overall quality of his voice. Superb.

[inseita]

was für eine stimme !!!

[musclemaggg]

bra

[operalament]

gosusan, i too have on occassion been lured into responding to someones comment about pavarotti and bjoerling. save your energy. i thought pavarotti had a gorgeous voice, but it is absurd to suggest he was in the same ballpark as bjoerling. this is beautiful isnt it.

[GosuSan]

agree, operalament, and yes, it´s beautiful, a religious man would say divine. :)

[sidnidb0984]

gorgeous. as i remember him from ney york and stockholm.

[cannonboll]

You have obviously no idea about opera music.

Jussi is probably THE biggest operasinger that ever lived.

and as they have been saying further down here, even pavarotti didnt want to be compared to jussi because he thought it wasn´t anywhere close to jussi´s magical voice.

[ForAll23]

I have throughout my life (57 years) loved Mr Björling. I have almost been rapturous to his song. I got to know Rolf Björling as a result of this passion.

However, I would say without hesitation that Mr Pavarotti surely can be compared with Mr. Björling. I still feel better for Jussis voice, but it is only a matter of taste

Let us not decide who is the greatest Master. Let us enjoy all the great masters.

[claudiooriental]

En lo personal, soy un verdadero fanático de Pavarotti. Aún así debo reconocer que Bjorling fue algo fuera de este mundo. Sin lugar a dudas sin comparación con nada. A Pavarotti pude verlo, lamento no haber podido escuchar al Maestro sueco.

[GosuSan]

Please don´t lie adiloreto2007! If u like Pavarotti more, then say so, but don´t say he was better then Jussi. Pavarotti himself didn´t want to be compared with Jussi because, as he said, - I´m only human.

[adiloreto2007]

Pavarotti better ;)

[cwcascales]

What do you base your "better" on? Both of these artists were very different. One can admire the qualities of each without denigrating the other.

This recording was probably made in the 1940's so lacks the audio perfection that modern recordings have.

Bjorling had a one of a kind voice- almost silver in tone. He had an incredible work ethic and indeed performed his last concert after having suffered a heart attack.

He was an incredible gift to us.

I love Pavarotti also- "better"- no.

[sas9023055]

Thank-you for posting recording from the great Jussi Bjorling. His lyrical tone is beautiful here with that perfect vabrato, and he makes it seem so effortless when he sings.

[Siriussupporter]

And hade an Dalarne accent. U can hear it some recordings in swedish. So fans. Hurry up! The Swedish courses are full in april.

[jonasxDahlman]

He was born in borlänge, I know that because I live there. we have a statue of him and a jussi björling museum.

[pearlmuth3]

Always a classy intelligent singer of the highest order and a great favorite of mine along with a few others.

[pearlmuth3]

Wrong sure--- he was born in Sweden too Swedish parents but his grandmother was Finnish on his fathers side. His grandfather Lars was born in Sweden in 1842 but at age 20 in Finland met his Finnish bride who became Jussi's Grandmother.

[MikaKirin]

Bellissimo

[Razhield84]

Andrea (sorry)

[Razhield84]

his voice is amaizing.

but my favorites are still Pavarotti, Amdrea and Domingo.

[kallejesus]

Superb. I wish he was from sweden but I think originally he was from Finland. Or am I wrong??

[Orponmannen]

You're wrong, he was born in Borlänge.

[kallejesus]

I stand corrected. Thankyou for enligtening me!

[cwcascales]

Jussi is a Finnish name that his grandmother gave him. The family had spent much time living in Finland. However they were Swedish 100%.

[ForAll23]

Jussi was a stage name. His real name was Johan Jonatan.

He was the son of David Björling (born in Sweden) and Ester Björling (born Sund, in Sweden).

David Björlings mother came from Finland, his father from Sweden. No one else of Jussis ancestors came from Finland.

[cwcascales]

"Jussi" was not a stage name. It was what he was called by his family and friends.

Jussi had very deep roots in the inland province of Dalarna in central Sweden. His ancestors there can be followed back to the 15th century, Jussi's paternal grandfather Lars Johan Björn (Björn=bear) worked at a factory in Finland and took the name Björling when he moved there. There, he met the woman he would marry, Matilda Lönnqvist. It was she who would give little Johan the Finnish nickname Jussi.

[ForAll23]

Jussi was definitely his stage name. If he used his nickname as a stage name is more a curiosity, not something essential, in that context.

[stocken11]

@Orponmannen Finland o Sverige har en historia från 1100- talet Drick vh Jussibroder drick;) Mvh Jussi ;)

[wwjohan]

@Orponmannen

was he born at his home or outside? otherwise I'd strongly asume he was actually born in Falun at BB :P

[andenils]

1911 you were born at home with a midwife or doctor on house call. If one check the midwifes journal from 1911 one can see that Jussi was born the 5 of februari at Magasinsgatan (Warehouse street) in Borlänge. His mother spent her time there while Jussis father was away singing :)

[wwjohan]

@andenils ah ofcource! silly me. thanks!

[Illodiini]

He had a Finnish grandmother.

[GABYCONSTANZA]

I was just told by a Finn that his grandmother was Finnish! :D:D

[kronan11]

@GABYCONSTANZA Thats right, she was a finlandswede.

[andenils]

His grandfather met girl in Finland married her. Björlings ancestory can be traced back to the 1400 th in Sweden

[mpre53]

@kallejesus "Jussi" sounds Finnish, but "Bjorling" is all Swedish. He's a Swede.

[mpre53]

@kallejesus There are ethnic Finns who are from Sweden, and ethnic Swedes from Finland. Jussi is a classic Finnish first name, but Bjorling is definitely Swedish. It's possible he may have had a Swedish father and Finnish mother. His facial features have some Finnish traits.

[JonassonFredrik]

@mpre53 His grandmother was from Finland, if I've understood it correctly. 

[ScandiNemo]

@JonassonFredrik I don’t know about that but she had a Swedish name so it’s possible that she was a Swedish Finn.

[ScandiNemo]

@mpre53 Stop spreading lies. He was a proud patriotic Swede. David Björling (his father) was born in Sweden (Hälsingland) but lived a while in Finland (near Björneborg, the Swedish speaking parts of Finland). His partetrnal grandparent’s names were Lars-Johan Björling and Matilda Lönnqvist. Jussi was a pet name given by his grandmother, not surprising considering the fact that his family lived I Finland for a time. Seriously how can you say that he looks Finnish, do you know how a Finn looks?

[bubajoon]

@ScandiNemo Jussi is a Finnish name, everybody knows that. He was a proud Finn.

[ScandiNemo]

@bubajoon No he wasn’t. You obviously don’t know anything about this. Read some history. You give dumb Americans a face.

[89528lc]

one of best

[BassottiSoccorso]

Björling was one of the few non-Latin tenors to rival the Italian dominance of the opera world at that time.

Cantare molto bene! la loro lingua nativa non è spagnolo o italiano!

[apekatt66]

Awesome

[dorusorin1]

just super....

[tomasperry]

I'm even luckier then, being born in 1931. Surely with singers, the quality of recording hasn't really changed much. Even Caruso's 1904 work sounds quite well - the accompaniment is another matter of course - and we can get a very good idea of how the singer would have sounded on stage.

[pearlmuth3]

Yes, I was lucky being born in 1940, all the greats of the 50's like Di stefano,Tucker,Corelli, Tagilavini,Peerce,Domingo, Del Monaco,Bergonzi,Kraus (at his debut) Bjorling and many more like Morell,Vickers not to mention Tebaldi. Callas, Moffo etc. Actually Jussi has some great sounding recordings from 58 and 59 in Stereo and the 54 Lescaut complete is pretty much his sound in the house, not a big voice but silver perfection Back then it was Tucker, Bjorling and Kraus, MY favorite ones.

[GermanOperaSinger]

Pity we don't have better recordings of him. I can only imagine how exciting hearing him sing those top notes live would have been! I curse the year of my birth, most of the greats had retired or passed away by the time I was born.

[katarinaforss]

my good what a voice ! he is still the greatest ! no one can sing like he did..and he is from sweden to...heja sverige !

[nicolacavrioli]

grande

[KyotoMelody]

So beautiful! Thank you, thank you!

[Freedomspeaker101]

WOW, so beautiful! Thank you for posting this!

[nonicare]

Thank You! paulostroff99 Thank you

[nonicare]

God Sang through Bjoerling! What a Voice, it is amazing how a human being can have so much beauty within them. He has now return his voice to God. May he rest in peice.

Jmaes sotomayor.

[paulostroff99]

Beautifully put!

[paulostroff99]

That rating is not correct.I attempted to give it a 5*,but it cut off before I could complete my desired rating!

[cicadada]

Bravo!

[jblo9]

For English listeners, worth a cornet I believe.