Experience the timeless artistry of Jussi Björling, one of the most celebrated tenors of the 20th century, with this exquisite recording of "Cavalleria Rusticana" and "Pagliacci." Originally released in 1954, this album has been meticulously remastered and reissued by Bluebell Records, offering both opera enthusiasts and newcomers a chance to immerse themselves in Björling's unparalleled vocal prowess.
"Cavalleria Rusticana," composed by Pietro Mascagni, is a one-act opera that captures the intense passions and tragedies of rural Sicilian life. Björling's powerful and nuanced performance brings depth and authenticity to the roles he portrays, making each note resonate with raw emotion. The album features a stellar cast of supporting singers and the Stockholm Royal Opera Orchestra, conducted by Nils Grevillius, providing a rich and vibrant musical backdrop.
Following "Cavalleria Rusticana," the album presents "Pagliacci," Ruggero Leoncavallo's masterful opera that explores themes of love, betrayal, and madness. Sung in Swedish, this performance showcases Björling's versatility and linguistic skill, adding a unique dimension to the opera. The dramatic intensity and lyrical beauty of "Pagliacci" are beautifully captured, making this a standout recording in Björling's discography.
With a total duration of 2 hours and 15 minutes, this album is a comprehensive exploration of Björling's artistry. The performances are vivid and engaging, highlighting the singer's ability to convey the full range of human experience through his voice. Whether you are a seasoned opera aficionado or a curious newcomer, this recording of "Cavalleria Rusticana" and "Pagliacci" by Jussi Björling is an essential addition to your collection.
2012 Bluebell2012 Bluebell
Tracks
Cavalleria rusticana: PreludePietro Mascagni, Aase Nordmo Løvberg, Jussi Björling, Bette Björling, Margit Sehlmark, Georg Svedenbrant, Stockholm Royal Opera Chorus, Stockholm Royal Opera Orchestra, Kurt Bendix
Cavalleria rusticana: O Lola ch'ai di latti fior di spino, "Siciliana" (Turiddu)Pietro Mascagni, Aase Nordmo Løvberg, Jussi Björling, Bette Björling, Margit Sehlmark, Georg Svedenbrant, Stockholm Royal Opera Chorus, Stockholm Royal Opera Orchestra, Kurt Bendix
Cavalleria rusticana: Gli aranci olezzano (Chorus)Pietro Mascagni, Aase Nordmo Løvberg, Jussi Björling, Bette Björling, Margit Sehlmark, Georg Svedenbrant, Stockholm Royal Opera Chorus, Stockholm Royal Opera Orchestra, Kurt Bendix
Cavalleria rusticana: Dite, Mamma Lucia (Santuzza, Lucia)Pietro Mascagni, Aase Nordmo Løvberg, Jussi Björling, Bette Björling, Margit Sehlmark, Georg Svedenbrant, Stockholm Royal Opera Chorus, Stockholm Royal Opera Orchestra, Kurt Bendix
Cavalleria rusticana: Il cavallo scalpita (Alfio, Chorus)Pietro Mascagni, Aase Nordmo Løvberg, Jussi Björling, Bette Björling, Margit Sehlmark, Georg Svedenbrant, Stockholm Royal Opera Chorus, Stockholm Royal Opera Orchestra, Kurt Bendix
Cavalleria rusticana: Beato voi, compar Alfio … Regina Coelu, laetare (Lucia, Alfio, Santuzza Chorus, Santuzza)Pietro Mascagni, Aase Nordmo Løvberg, Jussi Björling, Bette Björling, Margit Sehlmark, Georg Svedenbrant, Stockholm Royal Opera Chorus, Stockholm Royal Opera Orchestra, Kurt Bendix
Cavalleria rusticana: Perche m'hai fatto segno … Voi lo sapete (Santuzza, Lucia)Pietro Mascagni, Aase Nordmo Løvberg, Jussi Björling, Bette Björling, Margit Sehlmark, Georg Svedenbrant, Stockholm Royal Opera Chorus, Stockholm Royal Opera Orchestra, Kurt Bendix
Cavalleria rusticana: Tu qui, Santuzza? … Fior di giaggiolo (Turiddu, Santuzza, Lola)Pietro Mascagni, Aase Nordmo Løvberg, Jussi Björling, Bette Björling, Margit Sehlmark, Georg Svedenbrant, Stockholm Royal Opera Chorus, Stockholm Royal Opera Orchestra, Kurt Bendix
Cavalleria rusticana: Ah! lo vedi, che hai tu detto … Turiddu, ascolta! (Turiddu, Santuzza)Pietro Mascagni, Aase Nordmo Løvberg, Jussi Björling, Bette Björling, Margit Sehlmark, Georg Svedenbrant, Stockholm Royal Opera Chorus, Stockholm Royal Opera Orchestra, Kurt Bendix
Cavalleria rusticana: Oh! il Signore vi manda … Il ver (Santuzza, Alfio)Pietro Mascagni, Aase Nordmo Løvberg, Jussi Björling, Bette Björling, Margit Sehlmark, Georg Svedenbrant, Stockholm Royal Opera Chorus, Stockholm Royal Opera Orchestra, Kurt Bendix
Cavalleria rusticana: IntermezzoPietro Mascagni, Aase Nordmo Løvberg, Jussi Björling, Bette Björling, Margit Sehlmark, Georg Svedenbrant, Stockholm Royal Opera Chorus, Stockholm Royal Opera Orchestra, Kurt Bendix
Cavalleria rusticana: A casa, a casa, amici, ove ci aspettano (Chorus, Turiddu, Lola)Pietro Mascagni, Aase Nordmo Løvberg, Jussi Björling, Bette Björling, Margit Sehlmark, Georg Svedenbrant, Stockholm Royal Opera Chorus, Stockholm Royal Opera Orchestra, Kurt Bendix
Cavalleria rusticana: Intanto amici, qua … Viva il vino (Turiddu, Chorus)Pietro Mascagni, Aase Nordmo Løvberg, Jussi Björling, Bette Björling, Margit Sehlmark, Georg Svedenbrant, Stockholm Royal Opera Chorus, Stockholm Royal Opera Orchestra, Kurt Bendix
Cavalleria rusticana: A voi tutti, salute! … Compar Turiddu (Alfio, Chorus, Turiddu)Pietro Mascagni, Aase Nordmo Løvberg, Jussi Björling, Bette Björling, Margit Sehlmark, Georg Svedenbrant, Stockholm Royal Opera Chorus, Stockholm Royal Opera Orchestra, Kurt Bendix
Cavalleria rusticana: Mamma, mamma! Quel vino e generoso (Turiddu, Lucia)Pietro Mascagni, Aase Nordmo Løvberg, Jussi Björling, Bette Björling, Margit Sehlmark, Georg Svedenbrant, Stockholm Royal Opera Chorus, Stockholm Royal Opera Orchestra, Kurt Bendix
Pagliacci (Sung in Swedish): Prologue: God dag, det är jagRuggero Leoncavallo, Ruth Moberg, Jussi Björling, Arne Ohlson, Erik Sundquist, Carl-Axel Hallgren, Stockholm Royal Opera Chorus, Stockholm Royal Opera Orchestra, Kurt Bendix
Pagliacci (Sung in Swedish): Act I: Nu är de här (Chorus, Canio)Ruggero Leoncavallo, Ruth Moberg, Jussi Björling, Arne Ohlson, Erik Sundquist, Carl-Axel Hallgren, Stockholm Royal Opera Chorus, Stockholm Royal Opera Orchestra, Kurt Bendix
Pagliacci (Sung in Swedish): Act I: Välkomma mitt herrskap hit klockan (Canio, Chorus, Tonio, Beppe)Ruggero Leoncavallo, Ruth Moberg, Jussi Björling, Arne Ohlson, Erik Sundquist, Carl-Axel Hallgren, Stockholm Royal Opera Chorus, Stockholm Royal Opera Orchestra, Kurt Bendix
Pagliacci (Sung in Swedish): Act I: Sådant gyckel (Canio, Nedda, Chorus)Ruggero Leoncavallo, Ruth Moberg, Jussi Björling, Arne Ohlson, Erik Sundquist, Carl-Axel Hallgren, Stockholm Royal Opera Chorus, Stockholm Royal Opera Orchestra, Kurt Bendix
Pagliacci (Sung in Swedish): Act I: Ding dong, ding dong (Chorus)Ruggero Leoncavallo, Ruth Moberg, Jussi Björling, Arne Ohlson, Erik Sundquist, Carl-Axel Hallgren, Stockholm Royal Opera Chorus, Stockholm Royal Opera Orchestra, Kurt Bendix
Pagliacci (Sung in Swedish): Act I: Hur vilt hans ögon lyste … Hör, därovanfrån (Nedda)Ruggero Leoncavallo, Ruth Moberg, Jussi Björling, Arne Ohlson, Erik Sundquist, Carl-Axel Hallgren, Stockholm Royal Opera Chorus, Stockholm Royal Opera Orchestra, Kurt Bendix
Pagliacci (Sung in Swedish): Act I: Är det du? Jag trodde (Nedda, Tonio)Ruggero Leoncavallo, Ruth Moberg, Jussi Björling, Arne Ohlson, Erik Sundquist, Carl-Axel Hallgren, Stockholm Royal Opera Chorus, Stockholm Royal Opera Orchestra, Kurt Bendix
Pagliacci (Sung in Swedish): Act I: Nedda! Silvio! I denna timma (Silvio, Nedda)Ruggero Leoncavallo, Ruth Moberg, Jussi Björling, Arne Ohlson, Erik Sundquist, Carl-Axel Hallgren, Stockholm Royal Opera Chorus, Stockholm Royal Opera Orchestra, Kurt Bendix
Pagliacci (Sung in Swedish): Act I: Nu du besluta skall … Ack! Fresta ej (Nedda, Silvio, Tonio)Ruggero Leoncavallo, Ruth Moberg, Jussi Björling, Arne Ohlson, Erik Sundquist, Carl-Axel Hallgren, Stockholm Royal Opera Chorus, Stockholm Royal Opera Orchestra, Kurt Bendix
Pagliacci (Sung in Swedish): Act I: Säg mig, då varför (Silvio, Nedda)Ruggero Leoncavallo, Ruth Moberg, Jussi Björling, Arne Ohlson, Erik Sundquist, Carl-Axel Hallgren, Stockholm Royal Opera Chorus, Stockholm Royal Opera Orchestra, Kurt Bendix
Pagliacci (Sung in Swedish): Act I: Sakta, försiktigt, de dem överraskar (Tonio, Silvio, Nedda, Canio, Beppe)Ruggero Leoncavallo, Ruth Moberg, Jussi Björling, Arne Ohlson, Erik Sundquist, Carl-Axel Hallgren, Stockholm Royal Opera Chorus, Stockholm Royal Opera Orchestra, Kurt Bendix
Pagliacci (Sung in Swedish): Act I: Spela komedi! Pudra ditt anlet (Canio)Ruggero Leoncavallo, Ruth Moberg, Jussi Björling, Arne Ohlson, Erik Sundquist, Carl-Axel Hallgren, Stockholm Royal Opera Chorus, Stockholm Royal Opera Orchestra, Kurt Bendix
Pagliacci (Sung in Swedish): Act I: IntermezzoRuggero Leoncavallo, Ruth Moberg, Jussi Björling, Arne Ohlson, Erik Sundquist, Carl-Axel Hallgren, Stockholm Royal Opera Chorus, Stockholm Royal Opera Orchestra, Kurt Bendix
Pagliacci (Sung in Swedish): Act II: Oha! Oha! Skynda (Chrous, Tonio, Beppe, Silvio, Nedda)Ruggero Leoncavallo, Ruth Moberg, Jussi Björling, Arne Ohlson, Erik Sundquist, Carl-Axel Hallgren, Stockholm Royal Opera Chorus, Stockholm Royal Opera Orchestra, Kurt Bendix
Pagliacci (Sung in Swedish): Act II: The Play: Pajazzo, min make … Oh! Colombin (Nedda, Beppe)Ruggero Leoncavallo, Ruth Moberg, Jussi Björling, Arne Ohlson, Erik Sundquist, Carl-Axel Hallgren, Stockholm Royal Opera Chorus, Stockholm Royal Opera Orchestra, Kurt Bendix
Pagliacci (Sung in Swedish): Act II: The Play: Att vårt bestämda tecknet göra (Nedda, Tonio, Chorus, Beppe)Ruggero Leoncavallo, Ruth Moberg, Jussi Björling, Arne Ohlson, Erik Sundquist, Carl-Axel Hallgren, Stockholm Royal Opera Chorus, Stockholm Royal Opera Orchestra, Kurt Bendix
Pagliacci (Sung in Swedish): Act II: The Play: Låt oss äta (Nedda, Beppe, Tonio)Ruggero Leoncavallo, Ruth Moberg, Jussi Björling, Arne Ohlson, Erik Sundquist, Carl-Axel Hallgren, Stockholm Royal Opera Chorus, Stockholm Royal Opera Orchestra, Kurt Bendix
Pagliacci (Sung in Swedish): Act II: The Play: Vid alla helgon! … En man var har hos dig (Canio, Nedda, Tonio)Ruggero Leoncavallo, Ruth Moberg, Jussi Björling, Arne Ohlson, Erik Sundquist, Carl-Axel Hallgren, Stockholm Royal Opera Chorus, Stockholm Royal Opera Orchestra, Kurt Bendix
Pagliacci (Sung in Swedish): Act II: The Play: Jag är ej Pajazzo (Canio, Chorus, Silvio, Nedda)Ruggero Leoncavallo, Ruth Moberg, Jussi Björling, Arne Ohlson, Erik Sundquist, Carl-Axel Hallgren, Stockholm Royal Opera Chorus, Stockholm Royal Opera Orchestra, Kurt Bendix
Pagliacci (Sung in Swedish): Act II: The Play: Bevars för sådan bagatell (Nedda, Canio, Beppe, Tonio, Silvio, Chorus)Ruggero Leoncavallo, Ruth Moberg, Jussi Björling, Arne Ohlson, Erik Sundquist, Carl-Axel Hallgren, Stockholm Royal Opera Chorus, Stockholm Royal Opera Orchestra, Kurt Bendix
Jussi Björling, born Johan Jonatan Björling, was a Swedish tenor celebrated as one of the most renowned operatic singers of the 20th century. His powerful and versatile voice captivated audiences worldwide, particularly at the prestigious Metropolitan Opera in New York City. Björling's repertoire spanned Italian, French, and Russian operas, each performed with exquisite taste and mastery. His performances at major European opera houses, including the Royal Opera House in London and La Scala in Milan, further cemented his status as a true vocal virtuoso. Björling's legacy endures as a testament to his extraordinary talent and enduring impact on the world of opera.