Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Aida: Se Quel Guerrier - Giuseppe Verdi
2. Rigoletto: La Donna E Mobile - Giuseppe Verdi
3. Bohème, Opera: Che Gelida Manina - Giacomo Puccini
4. Tosca, Opera: Reondita Armonia - Giacomo Puccini
5. Tosca, Opera: E Lucevan le Stelle - Giacomo Puccini
6. Fanciulla del West (The Girl of the Golden West: Ch'ella Mi Creda - Giacomo Puccini
7. Gioconda: Cielo E Mar - Amilcare Ponchielli
8. Africaine: Mi Batte il Cor - Giacomo Meyerbeer
9. Ideale - Paolo Tosti
10. O Sole Mio for Voice & Piano (Or Orchestra) - Jussi Björling,
11. Vagabond King: Only a Rose - Rudolf Friml
12. For You Alone - Henry Geehl
13. Manon: Instant Charmant - Jules Massenet
14. Carmen: La Fleur Que Tu M'Avais Jetée - Georges Bizet
15. Faust: Salut! Demeure Chaste et Pure - Charles Gounod
16. Martha: M'Appari Tutt' Amor - Jussi Björling,
17. Stabat Mater: Cujus Animam - Gioachino Rossini
18. Messa da Requiem: Ingemisco - Giuseppe Verdi
19. Trovatore: Ah Si, Ben Mio - Giuseppe Verdi
20. Trovatore: Di Quella Pira - Giuseppe Verdi
21. Trovatore: Ah Si, Ben Mio - Giuseppe Verdi
22. Trovatore: Di Quella Pira - Giuseppe Verdi
23. Rigoletto: Questa O Quella - Giuseppe Verdi

Disc 2:

1. Bohème, Opera: O Soave Fanciulla - Giacomo Puccini
2. Romeo et Juliette: Höj Dig, Du Klara Sol - Charles Gounod
3. Rigoletto: E il Sol Dell'anima - Giuseppe Verdi
4. Rigoletto: Questa O Quella - Giuseppe Verdi
5. Ballo in Maschera: Di' Tu Se Fedele - Giuseppe Verdi
6. Turandot, Opera: Nessun Dorma - Giacomo Puccini
7. Andrea Chénier: Come un Bel Di Di Maggio - Umberto Giordano
8. Fedora: Amor Ti Vieta - Umberto Giordano
9. Cavalleria Rusticana: Mamma - Pietro Mascagni
10. Pagliacci: Recitar! - Jussi Björling,
11. Mattinata - Jussi Björling,
12. Elisir d'Amore: Una Furtiva Lagrima - Gaetano Donizetti
13. Pecheurs de Perles: Je Crois Entendre Encore - Georges Bizet
14. Romeo et Juliette: Ah! Léve-Toi, Soleil! - Charles Gounod
15. Manon: Je Suis Seul! - Jules Massenet
16. Ariesiana: E la Solita Storia - Francesco Cilea
17. Cavalleria Rusticana: O Lola - Pietro Mascagni
18. Manon Lescaut, Opera: Donna Non Vidi Mai - Giacomo Puccini
19. Tosca, Opera: Recondita Armonia - Giacomo Puccini
20. Tosca, Opera: E Lucevan le Stelle - Giacomo Puccini
21. Bohème, Opera: O Soave Fanciulla - Giacomo Puccini
22. Romeo et Juliette: Ange Adorable - Charles Gounod
23. Jocelyn: Concealed in This Retreat - Benjamin Godard
24. Alba Separa Dalla Luce l'Ombra - Paolo Tosti
25. Romeo et Juliette: Höj Dig, Du Klara Sol - Charles Gounod
26. Rigoletto: O, I Kvinnor - Giuseppe Verdi

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #172764 in Music
• Released on: 1998-01-20
• Number of discs: 4
• Format: Box set

Amazon.com
This set tells you why Jussi Bjorling is a perennial entrant in the "Tenor of the Century" sweepstakes. Even as the voice darkens from the light lyric to the full, darker instrument of the later recordings, we hear a singer whose elegant style, lovely timbre and innate musicality touch the heart. Many of the selections are sung in Swedish, less of a liability than you might suppose. In whatever language, Bjorling's molten gold flows lavishly. He eschews the sobs and sentimentality that disfigure so much verismo repertory, making his points with stylish vocalism. He's been called a "cool" singer, but try his Puccini and Verdi arias on Disc One and you'll find more than enough vocal and emotional heat. The selections include many neglected Scandinavian songs, sung, like the arias, with a naturalness that disarms criticism. -- Dan Davis

Amazon.com
Swedish tenor Jussi Björling gets many votes for the distinction of greatest all-time tenor. Up to the end, the voice projected a boyish vulnerability, though he also had enough stentorian power to sing the heavy Puccini roles and was ready to take on Lohengrin when he died. He was so deeply musical he eschewed the usual tenor vulgarity without ever slighting the music's theatricality. Even these four well-filled discs of arias and songs can't fully encompass the vocal riches he left behind, but there's a lot here, much of it from his earliest years and (hope you don't mind) sung in a Swedish translation. --David Patrick Stearns

Customer Reviews

The ULTIMATE Collection
When starting my Bjorling collection, I saw MANY CDs, with his early recordings. I was in a quandry as to what to buy, UNTIL I found this set. TRULY remarkable in many levels.FIRST and foremost, the voice. Captured in all levels, from the earliest to the latest. Truly wonderful, and the Swedish versions are a real treat to hear, don't worry, the Italian versions are here too!!Secondly, the remastering process. This set was remastered at Abbey Studios in London. For the first time I've heard, they actually pressed NEW 78s from the metal plates, and THEN remastered the new discs!!! Inspired, and the results--incredible.I find myself listening to Disc 3 the most. Very interesting, as it is the Swedish one. When the songs are terrific, along with the "standard" tenor arias, and it all comes together, it is PURE MAGIC!! I will admit that due to time limitations of recordings of this era, the opera house Bjorling is not fully conveyed. There are other CDs for that. Most notably "Romeo and Juliet", and for a REAL thrill, his ATLANTA concert, in STEREO, so much so, that the piano is even divided; left hand left, right hand right. Wait a minute, am I playing TWISTER??:-)) But if you want to skip all those unknown labels, you couldn't have a MORE complete set. ALL wit the great remastering I spoke of. Bjorling--His voice will NEVER die, at least in MY house!!!

Definitive survey of one of the finest singers on record
Jussi Bjoerling was one of the greatest singers of the century. His voice is pure, effortless and yet thrilling. Even better than the quality of the voice is his style. He never scoops up to a note nor does he ever whoop down from one, instead, he uses perfect legato and faultless intonation to deliver the cleanest sound you'll ever hear from a tenor.

This collection, from the large set of EMI recordings, provides a wonderful survey of Bjoerling's career. He was a straight 'spinto' tenor, that is, between a lyrical tenor (like Pavarotti) and a dramatic tenor (like Domingo). Most of the Puccini roles demand a spinto and those are the roles that Bjoerling was unbeatable in (particularly Des Grieux in Manon Lescaut). However, I think I most prize this collection for the songs sung in English on the last disc. I had some of them on a cassette I wore out in the car and others on a vinyl disc I wore out at home. For shear beauty of voice, the Berceuse by Jocelyn is stunning. For perfect diction, intonation and style, Love but a Day is breathtaking. Buy this set and I guarantee you'll fall in love with what many think is the finest voice on record.

Superb!
This is an wonderful compilation of one of the most incredible voices on record. Whether you are a new or old Bjorling fan -- and who could hear that voice and not be enthralled by it -- this is a fine CD to have. The quality of the recording is excellent, and the range in years, from 1930 to 1959, gives a splendid overview of his dazzling talent. In addition to many of the arias one might expect, there are also lieder and songs in Swedish, as well as some charming duets with Jussi's wife, Anna-Lisa. I have quite a few other Bjorling CDs, and this is one of the best in terms of quality and scope. It is a most worthy addition to any Bjorling collection, regardless of its size.