JBS-USA is once again privileged to present the American master of opera critics in a special Zoom presentation for the Society on Tuesday, February 20 at 7:30 pm ET., which will be repeated on Saturday, February 24 at 12 noon ET.  Following the presentation will be a Q & A segment, to which attendees may submit questions.

In addition to celebrating Jussi’s career, we will be adding extra activities and remembrances of 25 years of JBS-USA.

GROUP TICKETS SOLD OUT! On FRIDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 15, the Jussi Björling Society has made plans to attend the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center, a concert performance of Act II of Tristan und Isolde, featuring Stephen Gould and Christine Goerke, conducted by Gianandrea Noseda. To join us for the concert at a group price of $70, SIGN UP HERE <more…>

JBS Arrives in Stockholm, Part 1                                                                                                       
 by Janel Lundgren

The Jussi Björling Society - USA began its 20th anniversary year last November with a successful conference in Washington, D.C. at the beautiful Swedish Embassy.  To conclude this banner year, from August 30 to September 5, 2018, twenty-three members of the Society took our celebrations to Sweden itself for six days of music, travel, and friendship.

We started in Stockholm on Thurdsay, August 30th with a concert at Berwaldhallen, the Swedish Radio Concert Hall, with tickets arranged for us by Nils-Göran Olve.  A part of the Baltic Sea Festival, the concert featured the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Giedrė Šlekytė. The program began with a thrilling performance of  the Esa-Pekka Salonen's Piano Concerto, with Andrius Žlabys, pianist. The performers of this powerful work received thunderous applause.

Following intermission, came a grand rendition of Raminta Šerkšnytė's Songs of Sunset and Dawn, with four guest soloists and the Swedish Radio Choir joining in.   The composer herself was in attendance, and joined the performers for multiple bows to a standing ovation.  

Next day, members enjoyed a free Friday morning in Stockholm.  Many opted for a walking tour of the immediate area and Gamla Stan, led by Nils-Göran Olve, who provided a rich narrative about the city and its history.  We then boarded the afternoon train to Hudiksvall, in time for a boisterous dinner at the Quality Hotell Statt. <more…>

by Janel E. Lundgren
This celebratory, international conference opened with an optional event on Friday evening, November 17th, with members attending a dress rehearsal of Bellini's opera La straniera, performed by the Washington Concert Opera in Lissner Auditorium.  The company's rehearsal/performance was impressive, and a welcome opportunity to hear this infrequently performed opera from the bel canto repertoire. <more...>

By Walter B. Rudolph

JBS-USA Conference in Salt Lake City

Immediately after arriving by boat in New York City, Jussi and Anna-Lisa Björling flew to Provo, Utah where he gave his first American performance for the 1939-40 season on November 20th, 1939 in the Provo Tabernacle (photo).

Revealing a golden tenor voice of rare beauty, Jussi Bjoerling, of Metropolitan Opera fame, sang his way into the hearts of more than 2000 people at the University-Community concert Monday night in the tabernacle. (The Daily Herald, November 21, 1939)

Newsletter of the Jussi Björling Societies of the USA & UK
No. 20 - November 2011

Although there is an huge slate of exciting events planned for 2011 in Sweden, many of our members here may not wish to travel that far (or that expensively!). With that in mind, the Jussi Björling Society-USA will host a commemorative conference in St. Peter, MN, at Gustavus Adolphus College, June 22-26 of 2011.

By David Hill

After arriving in Stockholm (July 10), we bid a fond farewell to our bus driver, Björn, and most of our Swedish companions, and boarded the Silja-line ferry Symphony for Helsinki. The ship was more of a floating shopping mall than a cruise ship, but a good time was had by all as we spread ourselves from Commodore Class to Steerage. Some of us slept, some took in the Casino and bar, and Don thought that he had been able to get a glimpse of Sairo. A peaceful night, the Baltic was very calm, and by daylight we were steaming amongst the islands of the Helsinki archipelago.

The 2007 Summer JBS Swedish safari opened on July 4th  in Borlänge at the Jussi Björling Museum there, a place that some of us regard as the “center of the universe.” This year’s Museum program was unusual in the emphasis on singers other than JB, and on aspects of Jussi in areas other than singing. Really. Harald welcomed all with good cheer (and a new haircut), and we got a running start on a couple of very full days. 

John Steane gave his talk unscripted. This is an edited version, preserving the spoken idiom but reconstructed slightly for purposes of readability.

Ladies and gentlemen, I bring greetings for the conference from Elisabeth Schwarzkopf. She asked me the other day: “What are you doing?” And although that question may sound a little accusatory it was in fact very friendly and I said: “I’m going to Stockholm.” She said: “Oh! How lovely! What are you doing there?” And so I told her. And she said: “Ah! I sang with him you know. And it was one of the great events in my life.” She said: “Will you please give my kinds regards to all the people present and tell them how I join with them in honouring a great artist and a very great man.”  So I pass these greetings on to you from her.

Jürgen Kesting is a prominent German music critic and author of the monumental three-volume Die grossen Sänger as well as of highly original studies of Callas and Pavarotti. In his lecture “The exception to every rule: the role of the tenor since Caruso,” Kesting provided a fascinating examination of Björling’s position among singers and key features of his vocal technique.

Fans of the late Swedish tenor Jussi Björling converged on Stockholm and Borlänge, Sweden, during September 8th-13th.  They came from all around the world to attend an International Congress that chronicled Björling’s extraordinary life and career.

Let’s take one more look at our October 2002 conference: One way to get a sense of the occasion is to look at the actual program for that event. You’ll find a facsimile of the program below, along with a transcript of Regina Resnik’s especially insightful reminiscences of Jussi made during George Jellinek’s panel program on October 26.