Special Zoom presentation for JBS-USA on Tuesday, October 22 at 7: 30 pm EDT.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: October 21, 2024
JBS-USA is delighted to announce another special Zoom presentation by the celebrated writer and author Stephen Hastings on Tuesday, October 22, 2024 at 7:30 pm EDT, which will be repeated on Saturday, October 26 at 12 noon EDT. After his presentation, he will be joined by Stefan Johansson, longtime chief dramaturg of the Swedish Royal Opera, for what promises to be a lively and informed discussion of performers and performance traditions. JBS board member Sue Flaster will serve as moderator.
This presentation will be recorded in September.
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF QUESTIONS: SEPTEMBER 7, 2024
According to Mr. Hastings, “Jussi Björling and Carlo Bergonzi belonged to different generations and their careers overlapped only in the 1950’s, but they had six Verdi roles (plus the Requiem) and six Puccini roles in common, as well as such repertory staples as Nemorino, Turiddu and Canio, and they both won acclaim from critics for their musicality and technical skill. It thus seems appropriate, on the 100th anniversary of Bergonzi’s birth, to compare their artistic achievements in arias and songs in which they both excelled.”
Jussi Björling and Carlo Bergonzi as Turiddu
Stephen Hastings was born in London and educated at Oxford. He was the editor in chief of the Italian monthly Musica from 2000 to 2014 as well as Italian correspondent for Opera News. He has spoken at nearly all of the conferences hosted by JBS-USA and by Sällskapet in Sweden over the past 25 years, always offering original and illuminating presentations. In so doing, he has become a great friend and infallible resource for both organizations.
In 2013, Stephen received the ARSC’s Award for Excellence in Historical Sound Research for his indispensable masterwork, The Björling Sound. To quote from Stephen’s introduction:
“My working method for each chapter—and subsection thereof—involved listening, in chronological order and with the score in hand, to all Jussi’s performances of a particular composition, and making extensive notes. After this I would listen to the same music performed by other singers who might have influenced Björling or were worthy of comparison with him. I would then start writing my commentary, listening again to the Björling recordings while I did so. Comparative listening—checking to see how Jussi measured up against himself (when he made more than one recording of the same piece of music) and against other singers (mainly, but not exclusively, tenors)—thus became a fundamental part of the project.”
The saga of the writing of “The Björling Sound” can be found in Four Books, Three Societies, One Museum, published by JBS-USA in 2022.
Stephen’s latest book is a biography in Italian of the early life of Maria Callas, published last year by Zecchini Editore. The title is Maria Callas: la formazione dell’Artista (1923-1947).
Stefan Johansson is a Swedish director, actor, dramaturg and drama critic. He is renowned for his deep knowledge of theater, musical and otherwise. Stefan is the former chief dramaturg of the Swedish Royal Opera, as well as chief dramaturg and director at the Malmö opera. In 1997 Stefan directed Parsifal at Malmö, and the Ring at the Dalhalla arena. For the past several years, Stefan has regularly led master classes for performers.
JBS-USA members in good standing will receive a free link to the presentations by registering on our website, and will also have the opportunity to send in questions for the concluding Q & A segment.
*Members of the Swedish Jussi Björling Sällskapet and the Jussi Björling Appreciation Society UK will also receive a free link to the presentations and may submit questions by registering on our website.
Non-members may register and submit questions on our website for a $35. fee, and will receive a complimentary, one-year membership in JBS-USA.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: October 21, 2024
Your link to attend this Zoom presentation is free to 2024 JBS-USA members in good standing, and will be sent to you by email in October. All questions will be considered by the panel of moderators, and selections will be made according to time constraints. The panel will present the questions to Mr. Hastings during the Question and Answer segment following the presentation.