"flüssig, kräftig, männlich, souverän und dabei doch lyrisch!"
So true. Completely masculine yet also ethereal, not quite of this so-flawed world. And in perfect taste. Nothing for effect, unlike the kitschy, overdone "Taube" that is sometimes crooned over, which I am sure Wagner would have detested, or the mincing sotto voce effect, which is just lame. Perhaps only Italian-trained singers should sing this role. Thanks for posting.
Ich habe diese Arie immer für beinah unsingbar (also kein Meisterwerk) gehalten. Die hohen Töne zwingen den Tenor zum Forcieren, zum Brüllen, obwohl es eine flüssige Erzählung mit organischen Höhepunkten sein sollte. Keine Aufnahme wollte mir gefallen. Auch nicht die Versuche, die Arie sotto voce zu singen. Aber diese Einspielung von Björling zeigt zu meiner Überraschung, dass es doch geht: flüssig, kräftig, männlich, souverän und dabei doch lyrisch! Das braucht Wagner...
Very nice, but I will repeat a comment from a Swede who loves Jussi but who understands much more. "Jussi could sing Lohengrin but Set Svanholm WAS Lohengrin". And we should all remember that Jussi's voice was not so large on the stage, but always amplified when he recorded, since he put a great deal of energy into his commercial contracts. And this recording is in Swedish, btw.
A very fine tenor! His breathing, voice placement and that special special brilliance of voice make him one the greatest tenors! It is wonderful that we have recordings to hear him today!
One of the most tragic aspects of Jussi's untimely, too early departure from us, he was already seriously prepping for Wagnerian roles. Perhaps his spinto tenor wouldn't be right for the big Ring roles, I'm not qualified to judge, but I believe he would've been the greatest Lohengrin of all time. He didn't have Melchior's bullhorn power, but his voice had the ping and celestial ring that I think the Danish tenor's voice lacked.
@MTondeleo '"Perhaps his spinto tenor...." Jussi's voice wasn't close to a spinto. It was a full lyric, like Wunderlich, and like Fritz, one of the most beautiful ever. Those I know, like Bergonzi and HInes who heard Jussi often in the house described his voice as smallish but silvery and, of course, absolutely gorgeous. Wunderlich was also preparing Lohengrin and what a shame that neither ever sang the role in the house.
@countceprano: Thanks. I’m not up on voice classifications. Agree re Fritz. Lived not far from Björling on Stockholm Archipelago ’59-’60, only met once, train heading for city, problem with SAS. Tongue-tied but not wanting to be fawning fan, pretended not to know, asked about fishing. At one point I asked, “Can you tell me how to find the Royal Opera?” He picked up smirk on my face, smiled & said, “You Americans!” What I remember best, he said, “People talk too much ABOUT singing.”
@MTondeleo - Interesting comments, from Jussi, esp. "ABOUT singing." Maybe he meant, that even in his short time in life, there was too-much TALKING about singing, and maybe ... again, in his time, esp. after WW2, not very-many great SINGERS. We know that there are almost NO singers in the present age, who could approach him. Maybe the young man from Stora Tuna was more-perceptive about the trends/shifts in classical vocalism, than he knew.
@hardtimesincountry If you are Swedish, then you should listen to the definitive interpreter of this role, Set Svanholm. Vänliga hälsningar från VivaRenata
@VivaRenata Ikke svensk, men dansk! Så jeg forstår en del, men ikke det hele. Tak for tippet med Set Svanholm. Jeg kender ham godt, men mest af navn. Jeg vil prøve at finde hans Lohengrin.
This may be the one tenor role for which i have the largest number of FAVOURITES. Georges Thill, Jess Thomas, Jussi, that beaming silver shine from Jussi never fails to shock me with joy.
Sorry Mozzrt - Corelli was one of the greatest (if not the greatest) tenors. It's a matter of philosophy how you look at a tenor. No singer is flawless, and all have their stregths and weaknesses. Even Wunderlich (whom I consider to be right at the top) was not totally 100%, though damn close. To rank them is pointless. MDM's power, Corelli's glory, Bjoerling's control, Di Stefano's beauty,
Wunderlich's everything, Tucker's technique, Schmidt's ease ... who can accurately rank them ?
@dubitz11 Corelli totally wore his voice out though; always pushing. Yes, he shone briefly, but the mark of a technically great singer is to endure, eg. Bjorling and Kraus...
@flaze3 Perhaps,Corelli did wear his voice out. But,he remained a student of vocal tecnique throughout his career,consulting with his peers like Volpi Del MonacoTucker& I'm sure others that we don't about.There is no one tecnique that is suited for every singer.You mention thatFC had shone briefly,but you did not state a period of time?Bjorling died at 49.Corelli was still in pretty good vocal condition by age 49.There'sno way of telling how long Bjorling would have lasted.continued
@sugarbist That's true, but Bjrling was special because every note was grounded in Italian/Swedish high quality technique. It's this precision and elegance that make him so interesting.
@flaze3 I must agree that Bjorling was a most elegant singer,But perhaps limited to the lyric spinto repertoire which he was more suited for.This does not diminish his artistry in any way.Corelli,short career or not had many signature roles to his credit.Turandot Chenier Tosca Poliuto TrovatoreCarmen Ernani Don Carlo Aida Forza Pagliacci.Corelli was also special&unusual because of his large voice capabilities to do diminuendos& more so for his facilty in the upper register.JB BEAUTY FC THRILLING
@flaze3 I'm fine with that. Everyone has a different siren in their head. My brother, loved Gigli DiStefano Pavarotti&Bjorling.He never cared much for Corelli or DelMonaco. I really enjoy many different tenors. Sometime in 1960s I only listened to Bjorling&Pertile for about a four month stretch.Try checking out Daniele Barioni&Vasco Campagnano.I find them pretty interesting.
@flaze3 Perhaps Bjorling's career might have been shortened by his alcoholism,if he had lived.Corelli did suffer from stage fright. We don't really know if that contributed to the so called pushing that you mention or was it the Heavy Spinto operas that he sang,which Kraus did not have to contend with,&Bjorling did, in a limitedway with mostly studio recordings of the heavier roles like Turandot Aida &Forza.Yes, Gedda Kraus Peerce Schipa were wonderful artists but I prefer the thrilling Corelli
@sugarbist It seems to me that the heavier singers suffer more strain later in life, but I'll be honest--who knows how Bjorling would have turned out later in life? Certainly Bjrling sings with a very full tone, so it's hard to say--it's a very different sound from someone like Kraus, for example.
@flaze3Lauri Volpi was a real Phenomenon in his prime&then developed a wobble later on in his career.Masini,Fillipeschi&even the more lyric Gedda developed wobbles as well.DelMonaco was still a vocal monster at age 60 even though his vocal line was a little shot up.I really don't know what the answer is, but it makes for interesting conversation.Thanks
@ketillflatnefur - Thanks, Ketill. We can listen to Volker, Melchior and others .... but the ubiquitous Swede is EQUALLY-capable, as a Heldentenor. ... "Kievest" mentions Georges Thill, and the Sobinov version should be great, also. Skol.
The best lyrical tenor of all time, Corelli? No musical critic would agree on this. Apart from his dreadful mannerisms, his shouting, his liberties with the score, his insénsivity, you also have tho most ghastly lisping of all operatic singers. Corelli is not included in "100 greatest singers" here on youtube, nor was he included in Classical CDs "20th centurys 100 top singers", where UK.s leading musical critics voted in the most respected singers pol of all. Actually, Bjorling won this poll.
@mozzrt I recently bought a cd called 'The Great Masters of the Opera' and not once did Bjorling feature! It was all Pavarotti, Kraus, Caballé, Callas, Lanza and Domingo. Great singers, indubitably, but where was Bjorling?!!
@flaze3 Lanza...oh. Well Bjoerling is featured on many other 'great singers' CDs. Alrhough he is perhaps more a 'darling of the critics' than of the 'audience'. He might be too subtle to appeal to the masses...
Fritz Wunderlich war der Beste Deutschetenor. Jussi der Beste Schwede. Aber der beste Tenor aller Zeiten in der lyrischen ist und war Franco Corelli. Leider hat Corelli nie große Wagnerrollen oder den Otello live gesungen. Schade das es kaum noch so große Sänger wie diese drei gibt.
Once when asked why he'd never done Lohegrin Bjorling replied, "Who could ever believe that I could fight a battle with broadswords and win?" Jussi may not have been the most imposing figure on stage, but that voice is something else again. Voice of a god! Thank you for sharing this.
kfdoktor posted the first and last stanzas of the Swedish text -- many thanks, I can't pick it all up by ear, and I believe knowing exactly the thought/feeling being expressed on each note is most valuable, this is after all lyric DRAMA. Now, could someone please post the middle stanza?? Many thanks in advance.....
@thewadbrook Hi, I have the middle stanza and I tryed to place it but something is going wrong !! It's within the limmits of 500 so what am I overlooking...??
@46fixed Many thanks for your kind attempt to post that stanza. I'm afraid I'm the last person to guess what might be wrong. I'm even confused about the following: hasn't the missing part now been posted by kfdoktor, and it shows up right next to his original post?? Aren't these postings in some sort of chronological order? If not, what order? Thanks and best regards to you both, Bill Wadbrook, Virginia
Danke für den Kommentar. Aber ich möchte die beiden einfach nicht vergleichen, denn beide sind eben unvergleichlich, jedenfalls für mich. Sie beherrschten mühlos (scheinbar) die Kunst des Singens, wie kein anderer. Ihnen nahe kommt Gedda. Aber wie gesagt, es gab wirklich große Sänger, jedoch diese beiden sind ein besonderes Geschenk eines gnädigen Gottes gewesen!
@GERMANYFrankie Jawohl, dieser Verlust ist immens, und schmerzt mich als Deutscher immer noch sehr. Eine solche Stimme, so ein unverdientes Ende. Welch ein Verlust und welch ein Schmerz!
The role calls for a jugendliche heldentenor...someone like Svanholm or Voelker, not a full heldentenor like Melchior. And this aria in particular should be sung very lyrically. Bjorling sings it very fine.
There is a recording of this aria done in Italian by Mario DelMonaco, which someone should get on YT. Just a thought, but should the Farewell be judged by how the tenor sings in at the end of a full very long performance of Loh., not just as a concert aria.
Questa è l'emissione perfetta per Lohengrin. Peccato, doveva affrontarlo interamente, ma purtroppo morì anzi tempo... Come tecnica vocale è stato uno dei piu grandi tenori documentati su disco!
as a Melchior fan I still have to come back to this rendition as the most perfect in terms of pitch and precision. Hear this angel sing Nevski's aria from Eugene Onegin to understand the etherial bliss that was Jussi.
Yes this was near the end of his life in concert he died shortly after this, of course his was not a Wagner voice still it's well done. Interesting in Swedish.
A tragedy, how many tenors are unwilling or incapabale of prdoucing that lyric edge that Jussi exerted. It's the only way the Gralserzählung can be sung, allowing the tenor get through the rest of the opera too. This performance is the epitome of wagnerian singing style. And yet it is so scarcely found...
I have thought it over and over again, listened to many other tenors, since I wrote a comment to this video, a reply of a comment of thotmosis. Who's pardon I beg, if I might have offended him. This is Jussi's last commercial recording, from a live radio broadcast on the 5th of august in 1960 in Göteborg, only about one month before his death. Believe me, who carefully listened to almost any recorded famous tenor voice. There was no better tenor since
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
herrliche Stimme und wunderschön gesungen,aber schön singen ist nicht alles und das ist das Problem bei ihm,es fehlt immer an Ausdruck,Kraft und Leben,hier merkt man es am deutlichsten.
Entschuldigung, aber Du hast scheinbar von Singen nicht die geringste Ahnung. Diese Aufnahme ist - obwohl in schwedisch gesungen - zum niederknieen schön, eine der besten Aufnahmen des vielleicht besten Tenors aller Zeiten. Und übrigens: von welchem Tenor gibt es denn eine bessere Aufnahme dieser Arie - sag mal? Björling wäre wahrscheinlich, wie mit dieser Aufnahme in einmaliger Weise verdeutlich, der ideale Lohengrin gewesen (und das ist übrigens nicht nur meine Meinung).
Sorry. No matter how hard he trys, how much power added, his quality will never make it for the heavy tenors of Wagner. And for that I am greatful. Bjoerling, always has that silver edge, that's so distinctive and lyric. Maybe it's because of the high placement or his Swedish? Whatever, he's not my idea of a Wagnerian tenor; but he is my idea of one of the greatest tenors--ever.
Thank goodness we have recordings, so the lyric quality can be heard--whether singing powerfully or softly.
Probably not, but his voice got a thicker quality to it as he got older. It's to bad he didn't as good care of body as he did his voice. That firewater took its toll as it does to so many who have great trouble with the stress of traveling and performing around the world
Lohengrin was one of the roles Jussi wanted to do. His voice in the latter stages of his life had deepened and this aria shows that he would have been a great Lohengrin. His death in 1960 intervened.
Not a true Helden tenor. Which makes me wonder when this is one of the best performances of this aria I have ever heard. I have it on vinyl as well, but it's great that it is being shared like this!
Lohengrin is interesting insofar as it has traditionally been sung by many light voices. It is presumed to require less breadth of sound than Tristan, for example. The late belcantists (for example Thill and Kozlovsky) were among its great interpreters. It is less frequently sung by the great Italianate tenors nowadays, from whom Giacomini is a magnificent exception.
I heard Vogt singing it a week or two ago, and he has a lightish kind of voice as well, compared to Melchior, Vickers, King, Jerusalem etc. (But Vogt will gain weight as he gets older.) I didn't know Giacomini had ever sung Lohengrin! But with the baritonal quality of his voice, it would probably be suited to many of the helden tenor staple roles.
One could only tell by hearing him live if his voice was getting larger. You can't really make that assessment from recordings. The color got a little darker as he aged, as happens with many singers. Perhaps that's what you're hearing and thinking it's the same as volume? It's not.
Jussi Björling never sing Lohengrin on stage but he sing Erik in Der Fliegende Holländer, Froh in Das Rheingold, Walther in Tannhäuser and A young sailor in Tristan und Isolde.
They mirror roles, and the Wagner recordings as exits are In fernem Land, four times, 1952 Radio Recording (The recording we listen to now), 1954 Radio recording with piano, 1955 Recital in Helsinki and Guthenburg 1960, last recorded sound of Jussi Björling!
Total agreement. My father heard Caruso in the flesh and he heard Bjorling. Said Jussi outshone Caruso. All I know is Bjorling could outsing the angels.
You measure fach considering range and tessitura (the part of the vocal range where the voice is comfortable and resonant) and weight apart from timbre, and without EVER getting heavy or guttural Jussi has immense power. Despite this his diction is phenomenal. Listen to Villazon - isnt he balancing on the razors edge
He left early so what would have come, we do not know. But I will say that if you listen to the earliest recordings of Domingo singing Wagner, it is not as good as this, of course much because of the German language which is much closer to Swedish..but then how Jussi sang Italian? Or what do the Italians think?
Hi, Im not sure about Italians but I know Victoria De Los Angeles who a knew a thing about singing said Jussi Bjorling was the only singer she would go and stand in the wings and listen to when she wasnt on stage herself, and that he could make the hairs on the back of her neck stand up.
...sorry, mistake, in the studio should be (getting late)
In terms of timbre, he sounds dead on lyric if not even lighter, but I believe his technique simply defies fach classification, just like Caruso, perhaps Domingo etc
Ciao, erialm. Jussi started out with leggiero repertoire like Almaviva (Barber of Seville), went over Rodolfo, the Duke (lyric )to spinto like Pinkerton, Canio, and I think I heard Mr Saeden say he also sang Don Jose in Stockholm, but I may well be wrong and also, pretty early in his career I think I remember, sang Radames which count as dramatic and sang of course nessun Dorma and obviously Lohengrin on stage....
I had the ocassion to be at a musical social event in NYC where Maestro Toscanini was in attendance and overheard him state that since Caruso's time he thought no one could ever take his place until Bjorling came into the scene.This coming from a master musician who was 110% italian!
Wagner demanded his particular orchestra for colour. That is why he had the pit covered in his own hall...and I´ve heard he appreciated Bellini very much
But Jussi never sang Calaf on the stage. He just recorded it in the studio. Most Wagner tenor roles demands dramatic or heldentenors. Jussi was a lyric tenor.
Furthermore, Wagner is fine in Swedish, and translates in my opinion as good as Mozart depending on the ability of the librettist, but even more upon the singers ability to tune the vowels to the pitches...of which Jussi was probably one of the great experts ever, which is why he could sing Lohengrin like this
swedish is a wonderful language for opera in my opinion : the obvious is having a lot of common with german, the transition is painless, but surprisinglyn enough it also work with italian. I saw a few years ago Cosi Fan Tutte at the swedish Royal Opera and was surprised how easily the musicality of the language could blend with the italian line. Swedish is a beautiful and very musical language. By the way one of my favourite Bjorling cd is his recording os swedish songs
They bring tears to you eyes don't they? How greatful to have them. I find my self listening to them almost daily. His voice is so great I find it hard to listen to any other tenor. So thankful we have so many of his recordings
Jussi carried very well. I know this from Erik Saeden who sang face to face with him and Birgit on many occasions. According to him, standing next to them they never sounded loud or harsh, but they carried like anything - to the last seat of the hall
Jussi! Did you know that his real name was Jonatan? And did you know that he sounded like a tenor already as a child? I have such a recording - with Jussi 9 years old! (you can even recognize his voice. Mini-Jussi!)
Yes, this was really a performance of high quality, though performed in Swedish, which is acceptable for Mozart but not for Wagner. However, don't bring on your superlatives unless you had heard this in an opera house with an orchestra of the size that Wagner demanded. Beauty is not the only issue relevant in opera (see the case of Callas). Extraodinary performance by Björling, however!
Oh MY !!! A LIVE performance of the singularly most stunning tenor of the century! Thank you SO much for posting this MXL2003! Every tenor in the entire world needs to listen to this. . and that includes the 3 stooges. . . and be HUMBLED ! God gave Jussi a great talent, and he developed it and sang correctly his entire life. How many can say that?
Rumour has it that Bjoerling was Sir thomas Beecham's choice for the title role in a recording of the complete Lohengrin that was planned but of course prevented from happening by Bjoerling's death.
Thank you for posting this great example af Bjorling artistry and beautiful voice and perfect technique.Should every voice teacher and singing student learn how to sing properly by listening to Bjorling, we certainly had better singers today..
Unfortunately, listening to great singers will never help you to learn how to sing, though it can be helpful as an aesthetic guidance. Acquiring technique is only possible through hundreds of lessons with an expert teacher, and there are very few indeed who can rightfully call themselves teachers, but there are some, and who really wants will find them.
Yes , of course, I was talking about listening to Bjorling as an aesthetic guidance( to use your own words) and as a healthy example of great vocalism. As a singer and voice teacher myself, I know it is impossible to learning how to sing just by listening...to somebody...Your opinion is respected, but absolutely too obvious.I bet you can deliver some more creative reply in the future.
Not entirely true in the case of Galli-Curci, who had very few voice lessons (some say none, but that is probably incorrect) and did listen to the great singers of her era.
"flüssig, kräftig, männlich, souverän und dabei doch lyrisch!"
So true. Completely masculine yet also ethereal, not quite of this so-flawed world. And in perfect taste. Nothing for effect, unlike the kitschy, overdone "Taube" that is sometimes crooned over, which I am sure Wagner would have detested, or the mincing sotto voce effect, which is just lame. Perhaps only Italian-trained singers should sing this role. Thanks for posting.
schweigendernacht 2 months ago 3
Lovey singing.TY mx12003 for posting.
paulostroff99 3 months ago
Ich habe diese Arie immer für beinah unsingbar (also kein Meisterwerk) gehalten. Die hohen Töne zwingen den Tenor zum Forcieren, zum Brüllen, obwohl es eine flüssige Erzählung mit organischen Höhepunkten sein sollte. Keine Aufnahme wollte mir gefallen. Auch nicht die Versuche, die Arie sotto voce zu singen. Aber diese Einspielung von Björling zeigt zu meiner Überraschung, dass es doch geht: flüssig, kräftig, männlich, souverän und dabei doch lyrisch! Das braucht Wagner...
joama27 6 months ago 3
@joama27 Was hältst Du von Seider?
danzwoot 4 months ago
@joama27 Sie sollten mal Franz Völker (1936) hören...
AfroPoli 2 months ago
MAGNIFICENT! TY mx for posting
paulostroff99 8 months ago
Wenn zu einer begnadeten Stimme auch noch eine perfekte Gesangstechnik dazu kommt nennt man das Jussi Björling !!!
schnullerdrachen1 8 months ago
Crédible,même si cet air n'est pas tout à fait dans ses cordes.
abracadabranque 8 months ago
Very nice, but I will repeat a comment from a Swede who loves Jussi but who understands much more. "Jussi could sing Lohengrin but Set Svanholm WAS Lohengrin". And we should all remember that Jussi's voice was not so large on the stage, but always amplified when he recorded, since he put a great deal of energy into his commercial contracts. And this recording is in Swedish, btw.
VivaRenata 8 months ago
Simply the greatest tenor ever!
achantus1 9 months ago
A very fine tenor! His breathing, voice placement and that special special brilliance of voice make him one the greatest tenors! It is wonderful that we have recordings to hear him today!
CanadaPisces 10 months ago
One of the most tragic aspects of Jussi's untimely, too early departure from us, he was already seriously prepping for Wagnerian roles. Perhaps his spinto tenor wouldn't be right for the big Ring roles, I'm not qualified to judge, but I believe he would've been the greatest Lohengrin of all time. He didn't have Melchior's bullhorn power, but his voice had the ping and celestial ring that I think the Danish tenor's voice lacked.
MTondeleo 11 months ago
@MTondeleo '"Perhaps his spinto tenor...." Jussi's voice wasn't close to a spinto. It was a full lyric, like Wunderlich, and like Fritz, one of the most beautiful ever. Those I know, like Bergonzi and HInes who heard Jussi often in the house described his voice as smallish but silvery and, of course, absolutely gorgeous. Wunderlich was also preparing Lohengrin and what a shame that neither ever sang the role in the house.
countceprano 11 months ago
@countceprano: Thanks. I’m not up on voice classifications. Agree re Fritz. Lived not far from Björling on Stockholm Archipelago ’59-’60, only met once, train heading for city, problem with SAS. Tongue-tied but not wanting to be fawning fan, pretended not to know, asked about fishing. At one point I asked, “Can you tell me how to find the Royal Opera?” He picked up smirk on my face, smiled & said, “You Americans!” What I remember best, he said, “People talk too much ABOUT singing.”
MTondeleo 11 months ago
@MTondeleo : Neat story about you and Jussi! What wouldn't we give to hear a voice like his now at the Met!
countceprano 11 months ago
@MTondeleo - Interesting comments, from Jussi, esp. "ABOUT singing." Maybe he meant, that even in his short time in life, there was too-much TALKING about singing, and maybe ... again, in his time, esp. after WW2, not very-many great SINGERS. We know that there are almost NO singers in the present age, who could approach him. Maybe the young man from Stora Tuna was more-perceptive about the trends/shifts in classical vocalism, than he knew.
jhb134 10 months ago
Eine wunderschoene Stimme!
Fasolt100 1 year ago
I just got this through iTunes - had to have it. His voice seems ideal for this part. And Wagner in Swedish - det låter vackert!
hardtimesincountry 1 year ago
@hardtimesincountry If you are Swedish, then you should listen to the definitive interpreter of this role, Set Svanholm. Vänliga hälsningar från VivaRenata
VivaRenata 8 months ago
@VivaRenata Ikke svensk, men dansk! Så jeg forstår en del, men ikke det hele. Tak for tippet med Set Svanholm. Jeg kender ham godt, men mest af navn. Jeg vil prøve at finde hans Lohengrin.
hardtimesincountry 8 months ago
He beats even Melchior. I'm beginning to think that Jussi was the greatest tenor ever. And such perfection in a live recording - to have been there!
hardtimesincountry 1 year ago
Bjoerling!
js59695 1 year ago
What can you say... Never heard a better interpretation! Brings tears in my eyes every time.
kfdoktor 1 year ago
This man's vast repertoire mocks all the traditional tenor classifications of lyric, spinto,etc.
RoyKa2010 1 year ago
@RoyKa2010
Well put!
Oudfreak 1 year ago
In fermem Land- I fjärran land- In a Distance Land !
Jussi Björling sounds wonderful through times and eternity,
it is really the blessed Fire on Man´s Soul.
rulle1946 1 year ago
This may be the one tenor role for which i have the largest number of FAVOURITES. Georges Thill, Jess Thomas, Jussi, that beaming silver shine from Jussi never fails to shock me with joy.
herminestover 1 year ago
@herminestover Villazon should listen to the singers you mention and learn something!
TheVoicelesson 1 year ago
Sorry Mozzrt - Corelli was one of the greatest (if not the greatest) tenors. It's a matter of philosophy how you look at a tenor. No singer is flawless, and all have their stregths and weaknesses. Even Wunderlich (whom I consider to be right at the top) was not totally 100%, though damn close. To rank them is pointless. MDM's power, Corelli's glory, Bjoerling's control, Di Stefano's beauty,
Wunderlich's everything, Tucker's technique, Schmidt's ease ... who can accurately rank them ?
dubitz11 1 year ago
@dubitz11 Corelli totally wore his voice out though; always pushing. Yes, he shone briefly, but the mark of a technically great singer is to endure, eg. Bjorling and Kraus...
flaze3 1 year ago
@flaze3 Kraus was only singing 3 roles a year, later on...
seektheforce 1 year ago
@flaze3 Perhaps,Corelli did wear his voice out. But,he remained a student of vocal tecnique throughout his career,consulting with his peers like Volpi Del MonacoTucker& I'm sure others that we don't about.There is no one tecnique that is suited for every singer.You mention thatFC had shone briefly,but you did not state a period of time?Bjorling died at 49.Corelli was still in pretty good vocal condition by age 49.There'sno way of telling how long Bjorling would have lasted.continued
sugarbist 7 months ago
@sugarbist That's true, but Bjrling was special because every note was grounded in Italian/Swedish high quality technique. It's this precision and elegance that make him so interesting.
flaze3 7 months ago
@flaze3 I must agree that Bjorling was a most elegant singer,But perhaps limited to the lyric spinto repertoire which he was more suited for.This does not diminish his artistry in any way.Corelli,short career or not had many signature roles to his credit.Turandot Chenier Tosca Poliuto TrovatoreCarmen Ernani Don Carlo Aida Forza Pagliacci.Corelli was also special&unusual because of his large voice capabilities to do diminuendos& more so for his facilty in the upper register.JB BEAUTY FC THRILLING
sugarbist 7 months ago
@sugarbist Maybe you're right. Most of the time it comes down to personal preference, and I'm just not that fond of Corelli.
flaze3 7 months ago
@flaze3 I'm fine with that. Everyone has a different siren in their head. My brother, loved Gigli DiStefano Pavarotti&Bjorling.He never cared much for Corelli or DelMonaco. I really enjoy many different tenors. Sometime in 1960s I only listened to Bjorling&Pertile for about a four month stretch.Try checking out Daniele Barioni&Vasco Campagnano.I find them pretty interesting.
sugarbist 7 months ago
@sugarbist I will have a look, thanks :-)
flaze3 7 months ago
@flaze3 Perhaps Bjorling's career might have been shortened by his alcoholism,if he had lived.Corelli did suffer from stage fright. We don't really know if that contributed to the so called pushing that you mention or was it the Heavy Spinto operas that he sang,which Kraus did not have to contend with,&Bjorling did, in a limitedway with mostly studio recordings of the heavier roles like Turandot Aida &Forza.Yes, Gedda Kraus Peerce Schipa were wonderful artists but I prefer the thrilling Corelli
sugarbist 7 months ago
@sugarbist It seems to me that the heavier singers suffer more strain later in life, but I'll be honest--who knows how Bjorling would have turned out later in life? Certainly Bjrling sings with a very full tone, so it's hard to say--it's a very different sound from someone like Kraus, for example.
flaze3 7 months ago
@flaze3Lauri Volpi was a real Phenomenon in his prime&then developed a wobble later on in his career.Masini,Fillipeschi&even the more lyric Gedda developed wobbles as well.DelMonaco was still a vocal monster at age 60 even though his vocal line was a little shot up.I really don't know what the answer is, but it makes for interesting conversation.Thanks
sugarbist 7 months ago
yes - in swedish - all swedish fans know this version - and love it.
ketillflatnefur 1 year ago
@ketillflatnefur - Thanks, Ketill. We can listen to Volker, Melchior and others .... but the ubiquitous Swede is EQUALLY-capable, as a Heldentenor. ... "Kievest" mentions Georges Thill, and the Sobinov version should be great, also. Skol.
jhb134 1 year ago
@ketillflatnefur then where I went wrong was thinking it was in German, hahaha
flaze3 1 year ago
in seiner Muttersprache - unglaublich shön!
ketillflatnefur 1 year ago
Jussi und Fritz, unglaublich!
johan52312 1 year ago
The best lyrical tenor of all time, Corelli? No musical critic would agree on this. Apart from his dreadful mannerisms, his shouting, his liberties with the score, his insénsivity, you also have tho most ghastly lisping of all operatic singers. Corelli is not included in "100 greatest singers" here on youtube, nor was he included in Classical CDs "20th centurys 100 top singers", where UK.s leading musical critics voted in the most respected singers pol of all. Actually, Bjorling won this poll.
mozzrt 1 year ago 6
@mozzrt I recently bought a cd called 'The Great Masters of the Opera' and not once did Bjorling feature! It was all Pavarotti, Kraus, Caballé, Callas, Lanza and Domingo. Great singers, indubitably, but where was Bjorling?!!
flaze3 1 year ago
@flaze3 Lanza...oh. Well Bjoerling is featured on many other 'great singers' CDs. Alrhough he is perhaps more a 'darling of the critics' than of the 'audience'. He might be too subtle to appeal to the masses...
mozzrt 1 year ago
Gott in Himmel!
MrGratefulheart 1 year ago
Fritz Wunderlich war der Beste Deutschetenor. Jussi der Beste Schwede. Aber der beste Tenor aller Zeiten in der lyrischen ist und war Franco Corelli. Leider hat Corelli nie große Wagnerrollen oder den Otello live gesungen. Schade das es kaum noch so große Sänger wie diese drei gibt.
chaten65 1 year ago
Aus Jussis Stimme leuchtet der Gral.
preruminator 1 year ago
Beautiful !!
46fixed 1 year ago
To me he would have been the (vocally) ideal Lohengrin.
PEAinSwe 1 year ago 8
Once when asked why he'd never done Lohegrin Bjorling replied, "Who could ever believe that I could fight a battle with broadswords and win?" Jussi may not have been the most imposing figure on stage, but that voice is something else again. Voice of a god! Thank you for sharing this.
docmalthus 1 year ago 2
Comment removed
docmalthus 1 year ago
kfdoktor posted the first and last stanzas of the Swedish text -- many thanks, I can't pick it all up by ear, and I believe knowing exactly the thought/feeling being expressed on each note is most valuable, this is after all lyric DRAMA. Now, could someone please post the middle stanza?? Many thanks in advance.....
thewadbrook 1 year ago
@thewadbrook Hi, I have the middle stanza and I tryed to place it but something is going wrong !! It's within the limmits of 500 so what am I overlooking...??
46fixed 1 year ago
@46fixed Many thanks for your kind attempt to post that stanza. I'm afraid I'm the last person to guess what might be wrong. I'm even confused about the following: hasn't the missing part now been posted by kfdoktor, and it shows up right next to his original post?? Aren't these postings in some sort of chronological order? If not, what order? Thanks and best regards to you both, Bill Wadbrook, Virginia
thewadbrook 1 year ago
@thewadbrook Sorry, don't know why the middle verses didn't come through:
2: Vart år en duva sig från himlen sänker
på nytt att stärka kalkens underkraft.
Dess namn är Gral, och salig tro den skänker
dess ridderskap som den sen forntid haft.
Den som nu korad är att kalken tjäna
den rustar han med överjordisk makt.
Det ondas list han nedslår ej allena.
Nej, då han är vald, han nedslår dödens makt!
kfdoktor 1 year ago
@thewadbrook 3:
Den som av kalken sänds till fjärran länder
att bistå dygden som förtrampad är,
ej från honom sin helga kraft han vänder,
och om som stridsman är han är okänd där.
kfdoktor 1 year ago
He did so much only in Swedish. I guess like Wunderlich, but he had so much bigger a repertoire in his native tongue.
waustad 1 year ago
Så helig art har likväl kalkens styrka
att oinvigdas blick den måste fly
På riddarens namn bör därför ingen yrka.
Om känd han blir, han måste från er fly.
Nu hör Elsa rensat tvivlet får försona:
Av Graal har jag till eder blivit sänd.
Min fader Parsifal bär nu dess krona -
dess kämpe, jag - som Lohengrin är känd.
kfdoktor 1 year ago 5
I fjärran land, dit edra steg ej hinna
tronar en borg som kallas Montsalvat.
Ett härligt tempel i dess mitt vi finna
så dyrbart som på jorden intet var.
En helig kalk, av underbar förmåga
som högsta helgedom bevakas där.
Den blev - att vårdas utav renhets låga -
till jorden nedförd av en änglahär.
kfdoktor 1 year ago 3
Mae'n cael canu mor gyffrous hon. Mae hyn yn wych.
99Gambo 2 years ago
Im letzten Jahrhundert gab es viele wahrhaft gute Tenöre. Aber unter den lyrischen ragen zwei meilenweit heraus, das sind eben Jussi und Fritz..
Wer hier noch kritisiert, hat nicht verstanden, was schön singen heißt.
Übrigens, für den Lohengrin muß man kein Heldentenor wie Melchior sein, den ich übrigens sehr verehre.
Aber man muss singen können. Und das konnte Jussi wie kaum ein zweiter, eben wie sonst nur Fritz Wunderlich!
Einfach nur zum niederknien schön!
Danke für das Video!
tenorvoicefan 2 years ago 25
@tenorvoicefan:
Da kann ich zu 100 % jedem Wort zustimmen! FW und JB hatten die schönsten Stimmen, wobei ich meine, dass Björling noch die mühelosere
Höhe hatte!
Antenorix 2 years ago
@Antenorix
Danke für den Kommentar. Aber ich möchte die beiden einfach nicht vergleichen, denn beide sind eben unvergleichlich, jedenfalls für mich. Sie beherrschten mühlos (scheinbar) die Kunst des Singens, wie kein anderer. Ihnen nahe kommt Gedda. Aber wie gesagt, es gab wirklich große Sänger, jedoch diese beiden sind ein besonderes Geschenk eines gnädigen Gottes gewesen!
tenorvoicefan 2 years ago 2
@tenorvoicefan I thought these the words to the aria, until I saw 'Fritz Wunderlich' and 'danke fur das video' hahaha
flaze3 1 year ago
@tenorvoicefan Ich stimme mit Ihnen ueberein, nur haben Sie wohl den besten vergessen, welcher leider viel zu jung starb und dies war Joseph Schmidt!
GERMANYFrankie 1 year ago
@GERMANYFrankie Jawohl, dieser Verlust ist immens, und schmerzt mich als Deutscher immer noch sehr. Eine solche Stimme, so ein unverdientes Ende. Welch ein Verlust und welch ein Schmerz!
tenorvoicefan 1 year ago
@tenorvoicefan und Nicolai Gedda
krajncrocky1 9 months ago
@tenorvoicefan Wolfgang Windgassen als Lohengrin ;)
Battramsysni 1 week ago in playlist Weitere Videos von mxl2003
He may not be a Heldentenor, but his voice is magnificent anyway.
alontas 2 years ago 6
@alontas For sing Lohengrin isn't necessary a Heldertenor
Onegin65 2 years ago 3
he is not an heldetenor but much better then the rest..
MOLLYPET1 2 years ago 5
Bjorling is a model tenor.
jth0134 2 years ago 6
Heroic poetry, incomparable musician-
ship, clarity and thrilling dramatic
presentation define Bjorling's superb
performance. In my opinion, only
Sobinov and Thill bestow the same
grace of Wagner's masterwork! Thank
you for posting!
Kievest 2 years ago 13
Quintessence of quintessential Wagner -- for upwards of sixty years now, JB has been this listener's Graal....
tiswamat 2 years ago 6
very beautiful
metcalf214 2 years ago 5
Jussis voice conveys the Grail's incandescence.
preruminator 2 years ago
would you be so kind to give more details about this, he died young but what were those plans? thanks
egymagyar1111111 2 years ago
The role calls for a jugendliche heldentenor...someone like Svanholm or Voelker, not a full heldentenor like Melchior. And this aria in particular should be sung very lyrically. Bjorling sings it very fine.
GermanOperaSinger 2 years ago 2
El dia en que Jussi Björling murio, los angeles vienieron a buscarlo, porque solo uno de ellos pudo cantar Lohengrin de esta manera...
dimitriaguero 2 years ago
Mira que seré ateo, pero debo de reconocer que esas palabras que escribiste son simplemente bellas, saludos!!
horla87 2 years ago
Man, i fucking LOVE Jussi!
kkm3000 2 years ago 3
WOW!
Jussi singing Wagner.... Too bad he never recorded more. What a treat!
bradleyschuller 2 years ago 7
There is a recording of this aria done in Italian by Mario DelMonaco, which someone should get on YT. Just a thought, but should the Farewell be judged by how the tenor sings in at the end of a full very long performance of Loh., not just as a concert aria.
machored135 2 years ago
In italian? Surely that would ruin it.
daveydaveybaby 2 years ago
Wow.
RamirRMA 3 years ago
Questa è l'emissione perfetta per Lohengrin. Peccato, doveva affrontarlo interamente, ma purtroppo morì anzi tempo... Come tecnica vocale è stato uno dei piu grandi tenori documentati su disco!
ilpaolissimo 3 years ago
what was the matter with that audiance? the applause was just polite, they should have taken the roof off!
RickManchester 3 years ago 4
Stupid me! Lenski's aria. Dumbo!
tomthepiper6284 3 years ago
as a Melchior fan I still have to come back to this rendition as the most perfect in terms of pitch and precision. Hear this angel sing Nevski's aria from Eugene Onegin to understand the etherial bliss that was Jussi.
tomthepiper6284 3 years ago 5
Not the right kind of voice, but the right kind of singing. Better then many Wagnerian Tenors.
For me, only Sandor Konya's version surpasses this one.
Bravo.
pedrinrj 3 years ago
very beautiful but not the right kind of voice.
LordMoe9 3 years ago
Yes this was near the end of his life in concert he died shortly after this, of course his was not a Wagner voice still it's well done. Interesting in Swedish.
pearlmuth3 3 years ago 2
A tragedy, how many tenors are unwilling or incapabale of prdoucing that lyric edge that Jussi exerted. It's the only way the Gralserzählung can be sung, allowing the tenor get through the rest of the opera too. This performance is the epitome of wagnerian singing style. And yet it is so scarcely found...
BuryTone 3 years ago 4
BEAUTIFUL, REALLY
petrof4056 3 years ago
Absolutely wonderful! The soul can be heard, not only magnificent voice and technique. Superb musicality. Love it.
kolior 3 years ago 4
very good video - thanks
bernalyckan 3 years ago
Doch doch, da gibt es noch einen..... Leo Slezak!
blinzinger 3 years ago
Ich sagte ja auch: "there was no better tenor since". Slezak ist aus der Generation Carusos, das war vor Björlings Zeit.
tenor74 3 years ago 4
It's me again, the caruso an björling fan.
I have thought it over and over again, listened to many other tenors, since I wrote a comment to this video, a reply of a comment of thotmosis. Who's pardon I beg, if I might have offended him. This is Jussi's last commercial recording, from a live radio broadcast on the 5th of august in 1960 in Göteborg, only about one month before his death. Believe me, who carefully listened to almost any recorded famous tenor voice. There was no better tenor since
tenor74 3 years ago 2
Thank you for posting this. It is truly great.
unauthorizedbeast 3 years ago
Does anybody know the lyrics in swedish?
Har någon texterna till denna sång?
Thank you in advance
johanstockholmung 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
herrliche Stimme und wunderschön gesungen,aber schön singen ist nicht alles und das ist das Problem bei ihm,es fehlt immer an Ausdruck,Kraft und Leben,hier merkt man es am deutlichsten.
thotmosis 3 years ago
Entschuldigung, aber Du hast scheinbar von Singen nicht die geringste Ahnung. Diese Aufnahme ist - obwohl in schwedisch gesungen - zum niederknieen schön, eine der besten Aufnahmen des vielleicht besten Tenors aller Zeiten. Und übrigens: von welchem Tenor gibt es denn eine bessere Aufnahme dieser Arie - sag mal? Björling wäre wahrscheinlich, wie mit dieser Aufnahme in einmaliger Weise verdeutlich, der ideale Lohengrin gewesen (und das ist übrigens nicht nur meine Meinung).
tenor74 3 years ago 2
Ich liebe dieses Stück, aber die deutsche Version ist viel besser.
Jag älskar den här låten men den tyska versionen är mycket bättre.
I love this song but the german version is much better.
Sulfur1871 3 years ago
Sorry. No matter how hard he trys, how much power added, his quality will never make it for the heavy tenors of Wagner. And for that I am greatful. Bjoerling, always has that silver edge, that's so distinctive and lyric. Maybe it's because of the high placement or his Swedish? Whatever, he's not my idea of a Wagnerian tenor; but he is my idea of one of the greatest tenors--ever.
Thank goodness we have recordings, so the lyric quality can be heard--whether singing powerfully or softly.
doggy8dog 3 years ago
Critics? What critics?
whalermon 3 years ago
doggy8dog:
If there's ONE Wagner opera where some degree of lyricism may be required; it's Lohengrin!
Fellow Swede Gösta Winbergh found the perfect balance some 30 years later...
Having said that; Wagner as such belongs to Melchior...end of story.
HelgeKS 3 years ago
Agree. Also, Sandor Konya with von Matacic brought an Italiante lyricism that was exquisite. For some reason he didn't have it at all with Leinsdorf.
jkircher314 3 years ago
Probably not, but his voice got a thicker quality to it as he got older. It's to bad he didn't as good care of body as he did his voice. That firewater took its toll as it does to so many who have great trouble with the stress of traveling and performing around the world
jlnucla1 3 years ago
Aìnt we all?
m1947n 3 years ago
Que colores tan heróicos!!podría haber sido un gran Lohengrin. Claro, el gran Bjoerling podía cantar muy bién practicamente todo.
Gracias mx12003. Falicidades!.
bellatrix58 3 years ago
I think this was the last concert he gave just a month or so before his untimely death.
citrussorbet 3 years ago
Lohengrin was one of the roles Jussi wanted to do. His voice in the latter stages of his life had deepened and this aria shows that he would have been a great Lohengrin. His death in 1960 intervened.
Toutbon 3 years ago 2
the best voice I know ! And an honest, direct interpretation as well !
derwundenlabsal 4 years ago
AETION
I wonder if you might be thinking of Lauritz Melchior, the greatest Wagnerian of all time..
penwittig 4 years ago
Not a true Helden tenor. Which makes me wonder when this is one of the best performances of this aria I have ever heard. I have it on vinyl as well, but it's great that it is being shared like this!
cyfieithydd 4 years ago
Lohengrin is interesting insofar as it has traditionally been sung by many light voices. It is presumed to require less breadth of sound than Tristan, for example. The late belcantists (for example Thill and Kozlovsky) were among its great interpreters. It is less frequently sung by the great Italianate tenors nowadays, from whom Giacomini is a magnificent exception.
apro1 4 years ago
I heard Vogt singing it a week or two ago, and he has a lightish kind of voice as well, compared to Melchior, Vickers, King, Jerusalem etc. (But Vogt will gain weight as he gets older.) I didn't know Giacomini had ever sung Lohengrin! But with the baritonal quality of his voice, it would probably be suited to many of the helden tenor staple roles.
cyfieithydd 4 years ago
Giacomini sang it in an Italian translation.
Heyitsme3po 3 years ago
Jag tycker om honom.....
pianofalco 4 years ago
Jo, Jussi are Swenska pjoika.
hammarch 4 years ago
Jo, Jussi är en svensk pojke
(The right translation). ;)
soldansare 4 years ago
Thanks, I need a tutor, my grandfather introduced me to Jussi many many years ago.
hammarch 4 years ago
He is absolutely great I love when sings in a languish different to the Italian. In fact I adore him always.
OPERATEMIS 4 years ago 2
i like how he sings it floaty and then lets it go on the "der GRAAL!". too bad not one singer/tenor can do that today.
btsg 4 years ago
Nobody can sing as you did, Jussie.
joanabanyeres 4 years ago 4
One of his best performances!Bravo
paulostroff99 4 years ago
Moelleux, viril et rayonnant: quel bonheur de se baigner dans ce timbre!
musaline 4 years ago
used to listen to this all the time in my teens, so beautiful, my dodgy tape recording from classic fm
JimmyC1983 4 years ago
Bjoerling is the greatest singer of all! His voice touches the deepest of my heart.
wubejaja 4 years ago 2
What a great voice..bjorling was one of the greatest singer of all time....the second after the legend Caruso
69brancaleone 4 years ago
Wagner needs a special tenor voice. Not all of the great tenors would be able to sing Wagner.
I remeber a good Dane tenor, but I am not sure for the name: Ticho Parly, or something like this. Can any one help? Thanks.
Aetion 4 years ago
is it just me or was his voice getting larger before he died?
emalaithdies 4 years ago
One could only tell by hearing him live if his voice was getting larger. You can't really make that assessment from recordings. The color got a little darker as he aged, as happens with many singers. Perhaps that's what you're hearing and thinking it's the same as volume? It's not.
izar1234 4 years ago
Jussi Björling never sing Lohengrin on stage but he sing Erik in Der Fliegende Holländer, Froh in Das Rheingold, Walther in Tannhäuser and A young sailor in Tristan und Isolde.
They mirror roles, and the Wagner recordings as exits are In fernem Land, four times, 1952 Radio Recording (The recording we listen to now), 1954 Radio recording with piano, 1955 Recital in Helsinki and Guthenburg 1960, last recorded sound of Jussi Björling!
OPERASVERKER671 4 years ago
Trevligast är att han sjunger på svenska, ett snart utdöende språk (pessimistiskt tänkt) :)
bernalyckan 4 years ago 2
How rich... and such variation in one Piece.
GYLEN1234 4 years ago
Bjorling defies classification. He had it all: power, technique, beauty and artistry. Probably the greatest singer in history.
vpo2g2 4 years ago 4
Total agreement. My father heard Caruso in the flesh and he heard Bjorling. Said Jussi outshone Caruso. All I know is Bjorling could outsing the angels.
ceb2633 4 years ago 3
(...sorry for posting so many)
You measure fach considering range and tessitura (the part of the vocal range where the voice is comfortable and resonant) and weight apart from timbre, and without EVER getting heavy or guttural Jussi has immense power. Despite this his diction is phenomenal. Listen to Villazon - isnt he balancing on the razors edge
SVENSKSOPRAN 4 years ago
He left early so what would have come, we do not know. But I will say that if you listen to the earliest recordings of Domingo singing Wagner, it is not as good as this, of course much because of the German language which is much closer to Swedish..but then how Jussi sang Italian? Or what do the Italians think?
SVENSKSOPRAN 4 years ago
Hi, Im not sure about Italians but I know Victoria De Los Angeles who a knew a thing about singing said Jussi Bjorling was the only singer she would go and stand in the wings and listen to when she wasnt on stage herself, and that he could make the hairs on the back of her neck stand up.
utubeuser2006 4 years ago 2
...sorry, mistake, in the studio should be (getting late)
In terms of timbre, he sounds dead on lyric if not even lighter, but I believe his technique simply defies fach classification, just like Caruso, perhaps Domingo etc
SVENSKSOPRAN 4 years ago
Ciao, erialm. Jussi started out with leggiero repertoire like Almaviva (Barber of Seville), went over Rodolfo, the Duke (lyric )to spinto like Pinkerton, Canio, and I think I heard Mr Saeden say he also sang Don Jose in Stockholm, but I may well be wrong and also, pretty early in his career I think I remember, sang Radames which count as dramatic and sang of course nessun Dorma and obviously Lohengrin on stage....
SVENSKSOPRAN 4 years ago
merveilleux ! le plus beau avec Volker avec une autre voix
ravinecab 4 years ago
I had the ocassion to be at a musical social event in NYC where Maestro Toscanini was in attendance and overheard him state that since Caruso's time he thought no one could ever take his place until Bjorling came into the scene.This coming from a master musician who was 110% italian!
in
jrldev 4 years ago
Wagner demanded his particular orchestra for colour. That is why he had the pit covered in his own hall...and I´ve heard he appreciated Bellini very much
SVENSKSOPRAN 4 years ago
Btw for a man who sings Calaf, Lohengrin isn´t too far away
SVENSKSOPRAN 4 years ago
But Jussi never sang Calaf on the stage. He just recorded it in the studio. Most Wagner tenor roles demands dramatic or heldentenors. Jussi was a lyric tenor.
erialm 4 years ago
Furthermore, Wagner is fine in Swedish, and translates in my opinion as good as Mozart depending on the ability of the librettist, but even more upon the singers ability to tune the vowels to the pitches...of which Jussi was probably one of the great experts ever, which is why he could sing Lohengrin like this
SVENSKSOPRAN 4 years ago
swedish is a wonderful language for opera in my opinion : the obvious is having a lot of common with german, the transition is painless, but surprisinglyn enough it also work with italian. I saw a few years ago Cosi Fan Tutte at the swedish Royal Opera and was surprised how easily the musicality of the language could blend with the italian line. Swedish is a beautiful and very musical language. By the way one of my favourite Bjorling cd is his recording os swedish songs
franrat 4 years ago 5
They bring tears to you eyes don't they? How greatful to have them. I find my self listening to them almost daily. His voice is so great I find it hard to listen to any other tenor. So thankful we have so many of his recordings
jlnucla1 3 years ago 4
the are many tenors but Jussi is THE TENOR, that's all
neronnenn 3 years ago 5
Jussi carried very well. I know this from Erik Saeden who sang face to face with him and Birgit on many occasions. According to him, standing next to them they never sounded loud or harsh, but they carried like anything - to the last seat of the hall
SVENSKSOPRAN 4 years ago
Jussi! Did you know that his real name was Jonatan? And did you know that he sounded like a tenor already as a child? I have such a recording - with Jussi 9 years old! (you can even recognize his voice. Mini-Jussi!)
ellandelachapelle 4 years ago
I found it! Here on YouTube! It´s Psalm 4 sung by the Björling quartet!
ellandelachapelle 4 years ago
Wow! Amazing...and how should we fach this guy who could seemingly sing Pamino and Lohengrin with the same impeccable beauty?
SVENSKSOPRAN 4 years ago
fach is bullshit,stupid german design!
hobo1975 4 years ago
Yes, this was really a performance of high quality, though performed in Swedish, which is acceptable for Mozart but not for Wagner. However, don't bring on your superlatives unless you had heard this in an opera house with an orchestra of the size that Wagner demanded. Beauty is not the only issue relevant in opera (see the case of Callas). Extraodinary performance by Björling, however!
VivaRenata 4 years ago
Always liked this Tenors voice ,thank god he left a good recorded legacy . A Tenors ,Tenor!
opera60 4 years ago
Oh MY !!! A LIVE performance of the singularly most stunning tenor of the century! Thank you SO much for posting this MXL2003! Every tenor in the entire world needs to listen to this. . and that includes the 3 stooges. . . and be HUMBLED ! God gave Jussi a great talent, and he developed it and sang correctly his entire life. How many can say that?
2ManyHighCs 4 years ago
Pollione, you are so right! It is a most difficult business to find a good teacher. Too many phoneys around!
leander0 4 years ago
Thank You a LOT!!!
Erkele 4 years ago
this was bjorlings very last recording!what a way to go out!right at the top of your game.
RickManchester 4 years ago
Yes, Mr Björling sings in Swedish on this recording. Thanks for posting.
StaffanSwede 4 years ago
Rumour has it that Bjoerling was Sir thomas Beecham's choice for the title role in a recording of the complete Lohengrin that was planned but of course prevented from happening by Bjoerling's death.
rupepill 4 years ago
That's a loss to weep over....
jkircher314 4 years ago
Thank you for posting this great example af Bjorling artistry and beautiful voice and perfect technique.Should every voice teacher and singing student learn how to sing properly by listening to Bjorling, we certainly had better singers today..
gurrytenore 4 years ago
Unfortunately, listening to great singers will never help you to learn how to sing, though it can be helpful as an aesthetic guidance. Acquiring technique is only possible through hundreds of lessons with an expert teacher, and there are very few indeed who can rightfully call themselves teachers, but there are some, and who really wants will find them.
Pollione88 4 years ago
Yes , of course, I was talking about listening to Bjorling as an aesthetic guidance( to use your own words) and as a healthy example of great vocalism. As a singer and voice teacher myself, I know it is impossible to learning how to sing just by listening...to somebody...Your opinion is respected, but absolutely too obvious.I bet you can deliver some more creative reply in the future.
gurrytenore 4 years ago
Not entirely true in the case of Galli-Curci, who had very few voice lessons (some say none, but that is probably incorrect) and did listen to the great singers of her era.
meltzerboy 2 years ago