Hello to all Jussi-Fans all over the world, and especialy to all
living in german speaking countrys. A few years ago, I´ve translated
the Biography "Jussi" from Anna-Lisa Bjoerling and Andrew Farkas into
german. It was just a hobby, non commercial interests.
If you would like to read this, please don´t hesitate to contact me.
The whole Biography is available as WORD-document and of course for
free!
My name is Michael Stember, I´m from germany!

O Helga Natt (O Holy Night) was not Jussi's final recording. On Feb
8, 1959, Jussi recorded O Helga Natt, plus 7 other songs. Next came
the complete Turandot, in July, 1959. Next came the complete
Butterfly in Sept-Oct, 1959. Next came the complete Verdi Requiem in
May-June, 1960. In late June, 1960, Jussi recorded the Dein Ist Mein
Ganzes Herz (from The Land Of Smiles). This was Jussi's contribution
to the gala ballroom sequence of the complete recording of Die
Fledermaus, conducted by Von Karajan. The Decca Company ledgers do
not name any conductor of the "scratch" orchestra which accompanied
Jussi on that song - it was not Von Karajan. On July 8, 1960, Decca
started to record Verdi's Un Ballo In Maschera in Rome, with Jussi,
Nilsson, Simionato, MacNeil, and the orchestra of the Accademia di
Santa Cecilia, conducted by Solti. After a few sessions, and disputes
with Solti, Jussi, who was ill, returned to Sweden, and the project
was withdrawn. (It was later revived with Bergonzi as the tenor).
According to Mr. C. Raeburn of the Decca Record Company, Jussi
recorded nothing extensive for the projected complete opera. There
were a few short phrases of recitative recorded by Jussi, and since
they comprised about 2 or 3 bars, they were not worth preserving.
Jussi's final concert was in Gothenburg, Sweden, on August 5, 1960.
It was broadcast on radio, and was recorded and later released, and
is, indeed, magnificent!! A month and 4 days later, Jussi died. Ciao.

I once saw a printed program of a Jussi concert at the Philadelphia
Forum, 1957 (I forget the month). Listed in the program was the aria Un
Di All Azzuro Spazio from Andrea Chenier. I was quite surprised, since
Jussi is not known to have ever sung that aria. I believe the program
was in error - Jussi most likely sang Come Un Bel Di Di Maggio, not the
Improviso. Jussi once mentioned that he would like to record the entire
opera, Andrea Chenier, but, sadly, never did. Had he lived longer, he
probably would have. He even mentioned that he would like to record
Otello, someday. Had he lived longer, he might have. Ciao.

There are 3 live radio broadcasts of Jussi singing O Helga Natt (O Holy
Night), all 3 with piano accompaniment. The dates are: December 22,
1945, December 21, 1946, & December 20, 1954. The first 2 were recorded
at NBC studios in New York City, for radio broadcast. The 1954
rendition was recorded at a radio studio in Stockholm, for hospitals in
the Stockholm area. I have never heard any of these 3 broadcasts, but
would surely love to hear any, or all. I believe all 3 still exist. By
the way, 2 other tenors have commercially recorded O Helga Natt, in
Swedish. The late Finnish tenor, Peter Lindroos recorded it in the
early 1970's, I think. And, more recently, Tito Beltran recorded it, a
few years ago. Both are excellent, but Jussi's 1959 recording remains
the ultimate rendition of this song, in Swedish. Ciao.

Yes! Yes! I would love some info on this additonal
production. I am interested in getting all of the JB
live video recordings that are available, as I am in
training as a similarly registered tenor, and am very
interested in studying his physical approaches to his
repertoire, as well as how he turned that golden sound
into such a powerful emotive force (which is so hard
to do singing tenor, and above the passagio). I think
JB's greatest gift or learned trait was his ability to
sing well above the passagio and go from a fortissimo
to a pianissimo within seconds. Only a few tenors EVER
could do this and still maintain the beauty and
resonance! I can get down to maybe a mezzo-forte on
notes like A and Bb, but nothing even close to what
the 'king of tenors' could do. Once I go to my Bs or
Cs, it's strictly triple-F, no dynamic options! So how
the heck did he do that?? I mean, does anyone really
know?

Also, one point about DeStefano, whom I personally
abhor listening to. He sang almost all of his voice
uncovered -- even up to Bb's, which is a very
dangerous practice, and I believe it is why he lost
his voice. I listen to Jussi, and he covers around F#
or even F most of the time, which is typical for a
spinto voice, but yet his vocal quality was purely a
lyric tenor. I think that one of many reasons that
made him so very exceptional, as this approach must
have made singing very easy by comparison.


--- nhollan493@... wrote:

> Tiger Shark,
>
> The Voice of Firestone tapes and DVD's are an
> outstanding way to view Jussi
> Bjoerling. There is also another video I have which
> I will get you the info on
> and e-mail it to you when I get home. In it, Jussi
> Bjoerling is part of this
> collection on film of great singers which includes
> other greeat singers like
> Martinelli, Schipa, Gigli, Tauber, Pinza, Rosa
> Ponselle and Melchior. His
> segment is the telecast he did with Renata Tebaldi
> of the end of act one of Boheme
> including Che Gelida, Mia Chiammo Mimi and O Soave
> Fanciulla. It is glorious. I
> will e-mail you the info when  I get home tonite.
>
> I do not believe Jussi would have fallen into the
> DiStefano trap, he was too
> smart. Over 30 years ago when  I sang with the
> Boston Opera Co, Jussi's son
> Rolf was our Des Grieux in Puccini's Manon Lescaut
> and I asked him a similar
> question ( I had sung two roles Edgardo in the 1st
> act and the lamplighter in the
> 3rd act). he said his father was very selective in
> what he sang knowing fully
> well his limits. Catch you later.
>
> Norm Hollander
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been
> removed]
>
>




________________________________________________________________________________\
____
Don't pick lemons.
See all the new 2007 cars at Yahoo! Autos.
http://autos.yahoo.com/new_cars.html

I must say, I never heard Jussi live in opera, I did however, hear him twice at
Carnegie  Hall and twice at Hunter collage.  I saw grown men weep when they
heard him sing.  I was a voice that you can never forget.  In my humble opinion,
ther's Jussi and everyone else. He had a baritonal quality when he sang the
lower notes in his voice.  They were not in his throat either, they remained
forward in the mask!  You don't hear that anymore. Oh! for the days of: Tibbett,
J.C. Thomas, Thomas L. Thomas and Nelson Eddy, yes Nelson Eddy!  They don't
train them like that anymore.  Go to "Historical Tenors" and listen to a tenor
named; Albert Lance, he ain't too bad either!

   Jim H.

John Lipian <tigershark30@...> wrote:
           Oh yeahh..I totally agree -- a great performance!!
Although if I am being super picky, the high C# at the
end of Cujus Animum was just a hair shaky sounding.
But then again, how many tenors of his fach would even
attempt it?

I am also astounded by a voice of his type being able
to carry Di Quella Pira and Il Pagliacci so
convincingly, yet also being light and supple enough
to sing such a beautiful Una Furtiva Lagrima.

I sometimes wonder if his voice just recorded better
than any other voice due to its accoustic
characteristics, or if he really was the best ever. I
read that Correlli was a big fan of his until he heard
Jussi live, and he was surprised at how small his
voice sounded in live performance.

Oh well, he is my favortie to listen to either way.

--- james hanrahan <singfree23@...> wrote:

> How about Cujus Animum from "Sabat Mater?' No
> tenor has come near his interpretation, give that a
> listen.
>
> Jim Hanrahan
>
> John Lipian <tigershark30@...> wrote:
> I am also a big fan of the 'O Holy Night'
> recording of
> Jussi's, and it is without a doubt the best I have
> ever heard anyone sing it!
>
> I also love his Cielo E Mar from (I think) the late
> 30's/early 40s, and his Nessun Dorma from '38.
> Another
> great performance is Salut! Demeure from Voices of
> Firestone, as wel as "Mattinata" from the same show.
>
>
> Pearl Fishers is also excelent. What can I say?
> Nobody
> is better than Jussi!
>
> --- Ken <kenreg@...> wrote:
>
> > Hi J.S. and Welcome!
> >
> > Done to death? Hardly. This group has been
> > extremely quiet so I was
> > delighted to see your message this morning.
> >
> > My 2 favorite Bjoerling recordings would have to
> be:
> >
> > 1) Duet from the Pearl Fishers with Robert
> Merrill.
> > This was the first
> > Bjoerling recording I heard and it made my socks
> > roll up and down! :-)
> >
> > 2) Verdi Requiem. Live performance at Carnegie
> > Hall in 1942 (or 1941?
> > early 40s, anyway) with Toscanini and the NBC. I
> > believe that this
> > recording was unpublished until some time in the
> > 80s.
> >
> > -- Ken
> >
> > tenorfan55 wrote:
> > >
> > > I am new to this group but delighted to be here.
> I
> > think Bjoerling's
> > > version of "O Holy Night" is the most beautiful
> > and thrilling ever
> > > recorded. It invariably makes me tear up,
> > especially at the end.
> > > Question: I've heard this was the last thing he
> > ever recorded - is this
> > > true?
> > >
> > > I'm curious - what are people's favorite
> Bjoerling
> > recordings? (Limit
> > > to two, please!!) Again, sorry as I'm sure this
> > question has been done
> > > to death here. But there are always newbies.
> > >
> > > J.S.
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been
> > removed]
> >
> >
>
>
__________________________________________________________
> Looking for earth-friendly autos?
> Browse Top Cars by "Green Rating" at Yahoo! Autos'
> Green Center.
> http://autos.yahoo.com/green_center/
>
>
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------
> Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail
> beta.
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been
> removed]
>
>

__________________________________________________________
Any questions? Get answers on any topic at www.Answers.yahoo.com. Try it now.





---------------------------------
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Tiger Shark,

The Voice of Firestone tapes and DVD's are an outstanding way to view Jussi
Bjoerling. There is also another video I have which I will get you the info on
and e-mail it to you when I get home. In it, Jussi Bjoerling is part of this
collection on film of great singers which includes other greeat singers like
Martinelli, Schipa, Gigli, Tauber, Pinza, Rosa Ponselle and Melchior. His
segment is the telecast he did with Renata Tebaldi of the end of act one of
Boheme
including Che Gelida, Mia Chiammo Mimi and O Soave Fanciulla. It is glorious. I
will e-mail you the info when  I get home tonite.

I do not believe Jussi would have fallen into the DiStefano trap, he was too
smart. Over 30 years ago when  I sang with the Boston Opera Co, Jussi's son
Rolf was our Des Grieux in Puccini's Manon Lescaut and I asked him a similar
question ( I had sung two roles Edgardo in the 1st act and the lamplighter in
the
3rd act). he said his father was very selective in what he sang knowing fully
well his limits. Catch you later.

Norm Hollander


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Thanks for the info. What I wouldn't give to have been
able to hear Jussi sing in a live performance! You are
so very lucky! The closest I have is a Voices of
Firestone DVD from the early 1950s, which is
tremendous, but I'm sure nothing compared to hearing
him live.

BTW, my view on how Jussi would have been treated if
he came along today is that they would have tried to
cast him in dramatic tenor roles, and his voice would
have been ruined before he left his 30's. I think that
part of the problem for modern singers is that if they
do possess a great instrument, they are immediately
thrust into heavy roles way too soon and their voices
ruined forever. If they choose to turn them down, they
lose their careers. Such a shame -- I'm thankful Jussi
sang when he did.




--- nhollan493@... wrote:

> To Tiger Shark and all other Fans of Jussi Bjoerling
> (ofwhich I am one),
>
> I am delighted to see that there is some activity on
> this long dormant
> discussion board. I thought it had been disbanded
> due to inactivity. To all of those
> who have just posted, I suggest you go to the
> following website
> www.jussibjorlingsociety.com and check it out. Also
> there was an outstanding biography
> titled Jussi by Andrew Farkas ( in collabaration
> with his widow) which you can
> maybe find in book stores or on Amazon, it is
> wonderful reading and gives all
> sides of this very complex man whose voice is like
> none anybody else has ever
> come close to sounding like.
>
> It is a terrific website that is very active ( I am
> a member).  I attend the
> Fall 2002 convention in NYC and the 2004 convention
> in Washington DC and they
> were both great. I come from a different perspective
> in that I heard him live
> when I was 9 and a half years old at the old Met. It
> was in a performance of
> Tosca and it was one of his last there - I saved the
> program. In these days
> where marginal talent is hailed as great, it would
> have been interesting to see
> how he would have been treated had he come along now
> and how he would have
> handled it (read the Farkas book).
>
> Regards to all,
> Norman Hollander
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been
> removed]
>
>




________________________________________________________________________________\
____
We won't tell. Get more on shows you hate to love
(and love to hate): Yahoo! TV's Guilty Pleasures list.
http://tv.yahoo.com/collections/265

To Tiger Shark and all other Fans of Jussi Bjoerling (ofwhich I am one),

I am delighted to see that there is some activity on this long dormant
discussion board. I thought it had been disbanded due to inactivity. To all of
those
who have just posted, I suggest you go to the following website
www.jussibjorlingsociety.com and check it out. Also there was an outstanding
biography
titled Jussi by Andrew Farkas ( in collabaration with his widow) which you can
maybe find in book stores or on Amazon, it is wonderful reading and gives all
sides of this very complex man whose voice is like none anybody else has ever
come close to sounding like.

It is a terrific website that is very active ( I am a member).  I attend the
Fall 2002 convention in NYC and the 2004 convention in Washington DC and they
were both great. I come from a different perspective in that I heard him live
when I was 9 and a half years old at the old Met. It was in a performance of
Tosca and it was one of his last there - I saved the program. In these days
where marginal talent is hailed as great, it would have been interesting to see
how he would have been treated had he come along now and how he would have
handled it (read the Farkas book).

Regards to all,
Norman Hollander


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Oh yeahh..I totally agree -- a great performance!!
Although if I am being super picky, the high C# at the
end of Cujus Animum was just a hair shaky sounding.
But then again, how many tenors of his fach would even
attempt it?

I am also astounded by a voice of his type being able
to carry Di Quella Pira and Il Pagliacci so
convincingly, yet also being light and supple enough
to sing such a beautiful Una Furtiva Lagrima.

I sometimes wonder if his voice just recorded better
than any other voice due to its accoustic
characteristics, or if he really was the best ever. I
read that Correlli was a big fan of his until he heard
Jussi live, and he was surprised at how small his
voice sounded in live performance.

Oh well, he is my favortie to listen to either way.


--- james hanrahan <singfree23@...> wrote:

> How about Cujus Animum from "Sabat Mater?'   No
> tenor has come near his interpretation, give that a
> listen.
>
>   Jim Hanrahan
>
> John Lipian <tigershark30@...> wrote:
>           I am also a big fan of the 'O Holy Night'
> recording of
> Jussi's, and it is without a doubt the best I have
> ever heard anyone sing it!
>
> I also love his Cielo E Mar from (I think) the late
> 30's/early 40s, and his Nessun Dorma from '38.
> Another
> great performance is Salut! Demeure from Voices of
> Firestone, as wel as "Mattinata" from the same show.
>
>
> Pearl Fishers is also excelent. What can I say?
> Nobody
> is better than Jussi!
>
> --- Ken <kenreg@...> wrote:
>
> > Hi J.S. and Welcome!
> >
> > Done to death? Hardly. This group has been
> > extremely quiet so I was
> > delighted to see your message this morning.
> >
> > My 2 favorite Bjoerling recordings would have to
> be:
> >
> > 1) Duet from the Pearl Fishers with Robert
> Merrill.
> > This was the first
> > Bjoerling recording I heard and it made my socks
> > roll up and down! :-)
> >
> > 2) Verdi Requiem. Live performance at Carnegie
> > Hall in 1942 (or 1941?
> > early 40s, anyway) with Toscanini and the NBC. I
> > believe that this
> > recording was unpublished until some time in the
> > 80s.
> >
> > -- Ken
> >
> > tenorfan55 wrote:
> > >
> > > I am new to this group but delighted to be here.
> I
> > think Bjoerling's
> > > version of "O Holy Night" is the most beautiful
> > and thrilling ever
> > > recorded. It invariably makes me tear up,
> > especially at the end.
> > > Question: I've heard this was the last thing he
> > ever recorded - is this
> > > true?
> > >
> > > I'm curious - what are people's favorite
> Bjoerling
> > recordings? (Limit
> > > to two, please!!) Again, sorry as I'm sure this
> > question has been done
> > > to death here. But there are always newbies.
> > >
> > > J.S.
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been
> > removed]
> >
> >
>
>
__________________________________________________________
> Looking for earth-friendly autos?
> Browse Top Cars by "Green Rating" at Yahoo! Autos'
> Green Center.
> http://autos.yahoo.com/green_center/
>
>
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------
> Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail
> beta.
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been
> removed]
>
>




________________________________________________________________________________\
____
Any questions? Get answers on any topic at www.Answers.yahoo.com.  Try it now.

How about Cujus Animum from "Sabat Mater?'   No tenor has come near his
interpretation, give that a listen.

   Jim Hanrahan

John Lipian <tigershark30@...> wrote:
           I am also a big fan of the 'O Holy Night' recording of
Jussi's, and it is without a doubt the best I have
ever heard anyone sing it!

I also love his Cielo E Mar from (I think) the late
30's/early 40s, and his Nessun Dorma from '38. Another
great performance is Salut! Demeure from Voices of
Firestone, as wel as "Mattinata" from the same show.

Pearl Fishers is also excelent. What can I say? Nobody
is better than Jussi!

--- Ken <kenreg@...> wrote:

> Hi J.S. and Welcome!
>
> Done to death? Hardly. This group has been
> extremely quiet so I was
> delighted to see your message this morning.
>
> My 2 favorite Bjoerling recordings would have to be:
>
> 1) Duet from the Pearl Fishers with Robert Merrill.
> This was the first
> Bjoerling recording I heard and it made my socks
> roll up and down! :-)
>
> 2) Verdi Requiem. Live performance at Carnegie
> Hall in 1942 (or 1941?
> early 40s, anyway) with Toscanini and the NBC. I
> believe that this
> recording was unpublished until some time in the
> 80s.
>
> -- Ken
>
> tenorfan55 wrote:
> >
> > I am new to this group but delighted to be here. I
> think Bjoerling's
> > version of "O Holy Night" is the most beautiful
> and thrilling ever
> > recorded. It invariably makes me tear up,
> especially at the end.
> > Question: I've heard this was the last thing he
> ever recorded - is this
> > true?
> >
> > I'm curious - what are people's favorite Bjoerling
> recordings? (Limit
> > to two, please!!) Again, sorry as I'm sure this
> question has been done
> > to death here. But there are always newbies.
> >
> > J.S.
> >
> >
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been
> removed]
>
>

__________________________________________________________
Looking for earth-friendly autos?
Browse Top Cars by "Green Rating" at Yahoo! Autos' Green Center.
http://autos.yahoo.com/green_center/





---------------------------------
Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail beta.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I am also a big fan of the 'O Holy Night' recording of
Jussi's, and it is without a doubt the best I have
ever heard anyone sing it!

I also love his Cielo E Mar from (I think) the late
30's/early 40s, and his Nessun Dorma from '38. Another
great performance is Salut! Demeure from Voices of
Firestone, as wel as "Mattinata" from the same show.

Pearl Fishers is also excelent. What can I say? Nobody
is better than Jussi!


--- Ken <kenreg@...> wrote:

> Hi J.S. and Welcome!
>
> Done to death?  Hardly.  This group has been
> extremely quiet so I was
> delighted to see your message this morning.
>
> My 2 favorite Bjoerling recordings would have to be:
>
> 1)  Duet from the Pearl Fishers with Robert Merrill.
>  This was the first
> Bjoerling recording I heard and it made my socks
> roll up and down!  :-)
>
> 2)  Verdi Requiem.  Live performance at Carnegie
> Hall in 1942 (or 1941?
> early 40s, anyway) with Toscanini and the NBC.  I
> believe that this
> recording was unpublished until some time in the
> 80s.
>
> -- Ken
>
> tenorfan55 wrote:
> >
> > I am new to this group but delighted to be here. I
> think Bjoerling's
> > version of "O Holy Night" is the most beautiful
> and thrilling ever
> > recorded. It invariably makes me tear up,
> especially at the end.
> > Question: I've heard this was the last thing he
> ever recorded - is this
> > true?
> >
> > I'm curious - what are people's favorite Bjoerling
> recordings? (Limit
> > to two, please!!) Again, sorry as I'm sure this
> question has been done
> > to death here. But there are always newbies.
> >
> > J.S.
> >
> >
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been
> removed]
>
>




________________________________________________________________________________\
____
Looking for earth-friendly autos?
Browse Top Cars by "Green Rating" at Yahoo! Autos' Green Center.
http://autos.yahoo.com/green_center/

Hi J.S. and Welcome!

Done to death?  Hardly.  This group has been extremely quiet so I was
delighted to see your message this morning.

My 2 favorite Bjoerling recordings would have to be:

1)  Duet from the Pearl Fishers with Robert Merrill.  This was the first
Bjoerling recording I heard and it made my socks roll up and down!  :-)

2)  Verdi Requiem.  Live performance at Carnegie Hall in 1942 (or 1941?
early 40s, anyway) with Toscanini and the NBC.  I believe that this
recording was unpublished until some time in the 80s.

-- Ken

tenorfan55 wrote:
>
> I am new to this group but delighted to be here. I think Bjoerling's
> version of "O Holy Night" is the most beautiful and thrilling ever
> recorded. It invariably makes me tear up, especially at the end.
> Question: I've heard this was the last thing he ever recorded - is this
> true?
>
> I'm curious - what are people's favorite Bjoerling recordings? (Limit
> to two, please!!) Again, sorry as I'm sure this question has been done
> to death here. But there are always newbies.
>
> J.S.
>
>



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I am new to this group but delighted to be here.  I think Bjoerling's
version of "O Holy Night" is the most beautiful and thrilling ever
recorded.  It invariably makes me tear up, especially at the end.
Question: I've heard this was the last thing he ever recorded - is this
true?

I'm curious - what are people's favorite Bjoerling recordings?  (Limit
to two, please!!)  Again, sorry as I'm sure this question has been done
to death here.  But there are always newbies.

J.S.

To me, he is the greatest tenor of all time, and yet I can find only
limited info about him on the internet.

I am interested in how tall he was, since I have been told that
only 'big' tenors have 'big' voices (ie, Correlli, Domingo). While
Jussi was not a dramatico tenor, he had a huge voice for his type --
yet he looks short. I also understand that Caruso and Mario Lanza were
short.

Anyway, I have seen him in the Voices of Firestone, and though he does
look heavy-set, he did not look very tall.

I think that you are right that there isn't much available on the
net.  I looked at google images

http://images.google.com/images?
q=jussi+bjorling&hl=en&lr=&safe=off&start=0&sa=N

The two photos on the page

www.operasolisterna.se/donatorer/jussi_bjorlings_minnesfond.htm

seem to be the best.

John

--- In fansofjussibjoerling@yahoogroups.com, "David Igra"
<david_igra@y...> wrote:
>
>
> Hi all,
>
> I wanted to print a good photo of Jussi as a bookmark for this new
book about him that
> I'm about to read and thought that it would be a simple task to
find several printable
> (large) photographs of him on the net, but alas I search in vain
and haven't been able to
> find much at all.
>
> Not even the JBS-homepage had any printable photos and that's just
plain wrong ;-)
>
> By any chance do any of you other members have any good photos to
share with me? They
> wouldn't have to be clean or of great color (if at all in color),
I can retouch them in
> Photoshop but I need something to work with.
>
> A printable photo is usually a large picture that can be printed
in a smaller size and thus
> look fairly decent, at least good enough for a bookmark ;-)
>
>
> Many thanks,
> David Igra
> Stockholm, Sweden

Hi all,

I wanted to print a good photo of Jussi as a bookmark for this new book about
him that
I'm about to read and thought that it would be a simple task to find several
printable
(large) photographs of him on the net, but alas I search in vain and haven't
been able to
find much at all.

Not even the JBS-homepage had any printable photos and that's just plain wrong
;-)

By any chance do any of you other members have any good photos to share with me?
They
wouldn't have to be clean or of great color (if at all in color), I can retouch
them in
Photoshop but I need something to work with.

A printable photo is usually a large picture that can be printed in a smaller
size and thus
look fairly decent, at least good enough for a bookmark ;-)


Many thanks,
David Igra
Stockholm, Sweden

Zach,
'
Jussi's commercial recording of Tosca was with the great Leonard Warren as
Scarpia. I got to know Merrill because my late uncle was a boyhood friend of
Richard Tucker and Richard's son Barry is a close friend and golfing buddy of
mine who introduced me to Merrill.

Norman

Wow! that's impressive! Robert Merrill is another favorite of
mine...i was so sad to hear of his passing. I hear that his recording
of the Pearl Fishers duet with Jussi is like...as good as it gets.
Did Jussi ever record Tosca with Merrill as Scarpia? now that would
be something to listen to!
Perhaps i could also include my thoughts on how fabulous Bjoerling's
Cavarodossi is. I have not heard many others sing it, Tucker,
DiStefano,Domingo, but i just have to say, that i cannot imagine
anyone singing it as well as Bjoerling. Did he record it many times?
i have it with him opposite Milanov (of whom, as some very early
posts show, i am not very fond of) but i remain firm in my belief
that he steals the show from her. Id love to hear it with him
opposite almost...anyone else? haha!
Zach

--- In fansofjussibjoerling@yahoogroups.com, nhollan493@a... wrote:
> I can not totally reply with full knowledge but I was friendly with
Robert Merrill who just recently passed away and his book Between
Acts he devoted an entire chapter to his friendship with Jussi
Bjoerling where he in effect stated that his excessive drinking came
from a blood sugar deficiency, I belive Andrew Farkas devotes some
space to it also.

I can not totally reply with full knowledge but I was friendly with Robert
Merrill who just recently passed away and his book Between Acts he devoted an
entire chapter to his friendship with Jussi Bjoerling where he in effect stated
that his excessive drinking came from a blood sugar deficiency, I belive Andrew
Farkas devotes some space to it also.

I just read the email in response to your inquiry as to Jussi's death.  I read
the Farkas biography about Jussi and I believe that he died in his sleep of a
heart attack.  As to his alcoholism, I attended one of his last New York City
concerts at Hunter College concert hall shortly before his death.  I was sitting
next to a woman who had a subscription for all the concerts at the hall. She
asked me who would be performing this evening, I replied; "Jussi Bjoerling," 
she said; "I hope he isn't drunk!"  I was quite surprised.  I asked her what she
meant by that remark. She told me that the last time she attended one of his
concerts, he had to be carried off the stage!  I never believed what she said. 
I attended the concert at Hunter the year before and he sang as beautiful as
ever and he did not have to be carried on, or off!   I wasn't awhere of his
alcoholism until I read  his biography, by Farkas.  I was sorry to hear that he
did in fact, have a problem with drinking.  I think he'd
  be still singing today if he hadn't that problem.

strauss87 <no_reply@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
How exactly did Jussi die? i know it was shortly after recording
turandot (a recording i tresure). I also remember hearing something
about him having a problem with alcohol, but im not positive about it.
Anyone know?
Zach





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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Zach,

Jussi died on September 9, 1960 in his sleep from a heart attack.If you  want
to read more about him and his life Andrew Farkas several yearsago  published
a biography in conjunction with his widow Anna Lisa called Jussi. His
alcohol problem is discussed in a chapter all by itself most interesting and
insightful.

For your information the Turandot recording was made in June of 1959 in
Rome. his last studio recrding was in June of 1960 a performance of the Verdi
Requiem conducted by Fritz Steidry  and included as the soprano soloist a  young
Leontyne Price. Keep up your good work.

Norm Hollander


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

He died on his summerhouse Singö in the Stockholm archipelago. There was a
heartattack and they say it was caused by his longtime-alcoholproblem. In the
fifties they didn´t speak loud about this but some books and essays recently
tells about this in a very clean and sympathetic way. I don´t know if these
books are translated into english but incase i can higly recommend a book from
Yrsa Stenius called  something liked "Until the wing is broken".
Jussi-greetings from a snowy Sweden
/Kat

strauss87 <no_reply@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

How exactly did Jussi die? i know it was shortly after recording
turandot (a recording i tresure). I also remember hearing something
about him having a problem with alcohol, but im not positive about it.
Anyone know?
Zach





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http://groups.yahoo.com/group/fansofjussibjoerling/

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fansofjussibjoerling-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

How exactly did Jussi die? i know it was shortly after recording
turandot (a recording i tresure). I also remember hearing something
about him having a problem with alcohol, but im not positive about it.
Anyone know?
Zach

Dear Zach,

I don’t know exactly how Jussi breathed when he sang but I do know he sang;
"Into The Mask." This would indicate to me that he did have knowledge of breath
support. As to the business of ; "Tucking in the stomach," It depends where and
what is meant; "The stomach!" I will give you an explanation of the way to
breath when you sing.

The breath is acquired by lifting the lowest back ribs. This is accomplished by
finding the muscles that control this area of the body. You must exercise by
bending over at the waist, keeping your arms close to your sides and extending
your hands and fingers upwards. You must do this exercise until you begin to
notice where these muscles are. You will feel the muscles ache (because you’ve
never used them before.) Another way in aiding the body to find them is to take
a deep breath, suspend that breath (without closing the throat to hold it,) Take
another breath upon that, keep repeating that exercise until you start to feel
the supporting muscles. Once you find these muscles you will learn how to flex
them without using the exercises. Now you can begin to extend the back ribs to
inflate the lungs with the air to sing with. Remember, you must be able to
control the intake of air so that you can control the outlet of it. The lower
back ribs also control the opening of the throat, when
  the lower back ribs are not extending outward, the throat will close! The
diaphragm will go downward, this is where the "Tuck" will be employed. The front
and rear sphincter muscles will be drawn inward and upward, this action will
help support and motivate the breath and keep the tone forward. Once you let the
support down, the voice becomes throaty and tension begins to move into the jaw,
the tongue pulls back into the throat, the soft pallet raises and cuts off the
sinus cavities. You cannot resonate through the nose. This is only the start,
you must learn to connect the breath to the voice, that takes many years to
learn how to accomplish and many students of today don’t want to take the time
to learn how to do this. I believe that breath control for singers must start at
a very young age, as young a 10 or 11 years of age, the younger the better. We
develop many bad habits as we age, so learn the proper way early. I hope you
understand what I’ve written to you. If you have any
  questions, please write again, if I can help, I’ll be glad to answer.


strauss87 <no_reply@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
I have recently begun looking into certian breathing techniques. In
my training i have always been taught to "tuck" in the stomach (as
joan sutherland describes it) and compress the breath in my lungs,
thus causing an inner expansion.
While no two vocal tecniques are ever exactly the same, i have been
told Bjoerling did something like it. If you run a search for Mayer
Vocal Arts,  you will find a man named Michael Mayer who has done
research into Bjoerling's technique. He apparently was from a vocal
lineage that yeilded Kirsten Flagstadt, Birgit Nilsson, and
eventually Shirley Verrett, all i think to be fine singers.
There's a story where Bjoerling went to a voice teacher who put a
belt around his waist and told him to expand against it. He
replied "JACKASS! that is the perfect way to ruin the voice!"

anyone else have any information?
Zach





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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Zach,

If you go on to Jussi Bjoerling's website www.jussibjorlingsociety.com you will
read an entire discussion about his techniques and delivery of sound. I myself
have studied his technique because he is my vocal hero. I even had the thrill of
hearing him before he died but  I was only nine years old at the time and too
young to truly appreciate it. Good luck.

Norm Hollander

I have recently begun looking into certian breathing techniques. In
my training i have always been taught to "tuck" in the stomach (as
joan sutherland describes it) and compress the breath in my lungs,
thus causing an inner expansion.
While no two vocal tecniques are ever exactly the same, i have been
told Bjoerling did something like it. If you run a search for Mayer
Vocal Arts,  you will find a man named Michael Mayer who has done
research into Bjoerling's technique. He apparently was from a vocal
lineage that yeilded Kirsten Flagstadt, Birgit Nilsson, and
eventually Shirley Verrett, all i think to be fine singers.
There's a story where Bjoerling went to a voice teacher who put a
belt around his waist and told him to expand against it. He
replied "JACKASS! that is the perfect way to ruin the voice!"

anyone else have any information?
Zach

Hello,

Welcome to the group.  It was a pleasure to read your message.

--- In fansofjussibjoerling@yahoogroups.com, "ilovebjoerling"
<marionamiller@y...> wrote:
> Hi---my name is Marion and I am new to the group.  I have only
heard
> Jussi Bjoerling on cds and on tape, but was enthralled with his
voice
> from the first note I ever heard him sing.  This was on a tape of
> Romeo et Giulliette from the Met with Bidu Sayao.  At once, the
voice
> was rich and lustrous, with a timbre like a bell....and he gave
the
> performance such fire, youthfulness and passion--I'll never forget
> it.  And, there is an aching sadness along with the incredible,
> indescribable beauty of his voice that just yanks at my heart.  He
> sometimes employs a slight sharpness to his high notes, too, that
> gives an exciting edge and is very distinctive.....One of the very
> first recordings I ever heard him in, besides Romeo, was as
> Rodolpho....when he sang, in che gelida manina, "Ruban tutti
Yoyelli"
> in that Swedish accent of his, I fell in love.  What an endearing
> tenor...Happy Thanksgiving to all and happy listening.  Marion

Hi---my name is Marion and I am new to the group.  I have only heard
Jussi Bjoerling on cds and on tape, but was enthralled with his voice
from the first note I ever heard him sing.  This was on a tape of
Romeo et Giulliette from the Met with Bidu Sayao.  At once, the voice
was rich and lustrous, with a timbre like a bell....and he gave the
performance such fire, youthfulness and passion--I'll never forget
it.  And, there is an aching sadness along with the incredible,
indescribable beauty of his voice that just yanks at my heart.  He
sometimes employs a slight sharpness to his high notes, too, that
gives an exciting edge and is very distinctive.....One of the very
first recordings I ever heard him in, besides Romeo, was as
Rodolpho....when he sang, in che gelida manina, "Ruban tutti Yoyelli"
in that Swedish accent of his, I fell in love.  What an endearing
tenor...Happy Thanksgiving to all and happy listening.  Marion

--- In fansofjussibjoerling@yahoogroups.com, "greghauser2002"
<greghauser2002@y...> wrote:
> Hello!
>
> I am an Austrian fan of Jussi Björling. One of my favorite Cd´s of
> him is "Turandot" (Leinsdorf). But I am always amazed and worry
about
> the fact that Jussi did not sing the high note at the scene with
> Princess Turandot (final of the second act)"No, no principessa
altera
> ti voglio tutta ardente d´amor" (Corelli did it and even Carreras
> tried to do it).
>
> You are  admirers and experts about Jussi. Do you know, if there is
> another recording (live) where he do the high note at this scene. I
> cannot believe that Jussi never did it!
>
> I am looking forward to hear from you.
> Thank You and best wishes from Salzburg
>

Gregor,

I am new to this particular web board but I am an opera singer  and
ardent Jussi Bjoerling fan as all tenors are. The answer to your
question is that Jussi Bjoerling did not sing the high C because it
is not written in Puccini's original score and it is listed as an
option if wanted. Always being faithful to the score oviously he
never did. Having sung in this opera many times with several famous
tenors of the modern era, the high C interpolation becomes very gross
and out of context. Happy listening.

Norm