Jussi’s Performance Chronology
The Jussi Björling Chronology, with comprehensive information both in Swedish and English about his known singing performances, was first published here in 2017 and most recently updated in March 2025. Performances were public or arranged for special guests (though all broadcasts are included, also those without a studio audience). Studio recordings for gramophone companies and films are not included but found in a separate list of Jussi’s recordings. “Spontaneous” singing without accompaniment, at dinners, etc., is not included.
Jussi Björling made more than three thousand performances with this definition. 3188 are now known and dated, of those 1013 as a child together with his father (until 1926) and his brothers, 2175 as an adult tenor. 931 of them are complete operas (Cavalleria rusticana and Pagliacci on the same evening registered as two performances).
As early as at the age of four Jussi made his debut together with his brothers Olle and Gösta at Trefaldighetskyrkan (Trinity Church) in Örebro on 12 December 1915. His very last performance was at Skansen, Stockholm on 20 August 1960. On 9 September the same year he passed away at his beloved summer house on Siarö.
The list was compiled by Harald Henrysson and Roger Alderstrand. For their laborious work they were in 2011 awarded Jussi Björlingsällskapets Pris (The Prize of the Jussi Björling Society in Sweden). The research continues, and after the first complete version, published in 2010 in the book Jussi: Sången, människan, bilderna, 185 performances have been added – much thanks to digitization which has made many old newspapers easily available.
By clicking the five links below you will get various kinds of information about Jussi’s career:
Chronology: Foreword and explanation of plan and rules
Annual number of performances
Also information about documentation in the archive of the former Jussi Björling Museum
US performances
Grouped by states and dates
Number of opera and operetta performances
Grouped by works, opera houses and countries
Commentaries and corrections are always welcome!