Full Description
Detailed examination of the vocal and interpretive artistry of the great Jussi Björling.
A half century after his death in 1960, Swedish tenor Jussi Björling remains one of the most beloved singers in the world. He spent forty-five of his forty-nine years performing in public, rapidly conquering opera-house and concert stages on both sides of the Atlantic. Along the way, he left a vast recorded legacy that continues to enchant lovers of vocal music and inspire young singers. In this ground-breaking book, Stephen Hastings analyzes more than four hundred of the great tenor's recordings, comparing them with the output of a hundred other tenors, from Caruso to Alagna. The repertoire ranges from brief art songs by Schubert and Sibelius to entire opera recordings--some madein the studio, others captured live. What emerges is a richly layered portrait of this most musical of singers. As Hastings's comparisons demonstrate, Björling left his unique imprint on all the scores he sang, combining a perennial freshness of approach with the richly inflected phrasing made possible by a perfectly honed technique.
Born in London and educated in Oxford, Stephen Hastings has been the Milan correspondent of Opera Newssince 1991 and editor in chief of the Italian monthly Musica for the past twelve years.
Contents
Introduction
Adam
Alfvén
Atterberg
Beethoven
Bizet
Borodin
Brahms
Donizetti
Gounod
Grieg
Handel
Leoncavallo
Mascagni
Massenet
Meyerbeer
Mozart
Puccini
Rangström
Rossini
Schubert
Sibelius
Richard Strauss
Verdi
Wagner
Björling's Remaining Recordings: A Survey of the Best (1920-60)
Evolution and Influence
Notes
Discography
Bibliography
Index
