05 February 2011

Jussi Björling born 100 years ago today

Johan Jonatan 'Jussi' Björling was born in Sweden 100 years ago today and died at the age of only 49. Since my childhood I have loved his silvery voice and consider him the greatest of all operatic tenors. He recorded Che gelida manina from Puccini's La Bohème a number of times. Here is a scene from a performance with soprano Renata Tabaldi in 1956 on NBC TV in the USA. I can hardly bear to listen to Björling singing this, it is so achingly beautiful and moving. 

May Jussi Björling be numbered among the heavenly choirs.


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