Jussi Björling Society-USA Washington, D.C. Mini-Conference

JBS-USA Announces 20th Anniversary mini-conference
& brand new CD!

JBS-USA is delighted to announce that the celebratory year of our 20th Anniversary will kick off with a Mini-Conference in Washington, D.C. November 17th and 18th, 2017,  along with the issue of a very special members-only CD.

We will begin on Friday the 17th by attending a rehearsal of Washington Concert Opera’s presentation of Bellini’s La Straniera at the Lissner Auditorium. Those of us who attended this company’s Semiramide a couple of years ago, and the D.C. members who regularly attend their productions, can attest to the very high level of performance we can expect.

During the day on Saturday, the 18th, we will be at the gorgeous Swedish Embassy to listen to a wide variety of highly qualified speakers. As of this writing, our speakers include Washington Post classical music critic Anne Midgette, Björling scholar Harald Henrysson, Swedish music journalist Nils-Göran Olve, our own Stephen Fischman, and Peter Russell (former Director of DC Concert Opera and of DC Vocal Arts, among other things).  Stefan Olmårs of the Scandinavian Jussi Björling Society will talk to us about plans to get together early in Fall of 2018 in Sweden.

If you haven’t been to the Swedish Embassy, it is a really spectacular building, overlooking the Potomac, and worth a visit under any circumstances.

On Saturday evening, members will adjourn to Maija Bodow’s fantastic Georgetown home where she will once again host us for a buffet dinner and drinks. Maija has offered us this tremendous generosity several times over the years, and it has been a wonderful occasion to talk over what we’ve seen and heard, and to spend time with (usually) distant friends.

In honor of this important anniversary, our Board has been working together with the Jussi Björling Society in Scandinavia to produce a very special CD, available to members only,  entitled “Jussi Björling:  Rarities from Opera, Concert, and Radio”.

This historic CD will include items which either have never been released at all, or have simply not been available for a significant period of time. For instance, many of us who were present in Stockholm for the 2004 Congress will recall Carl-Gunner Åhlen’s extensive Faust excerpt, not released until now. The Societies have worked together to acquire this stunning piece of singing.  

A long hoped-for bonus will be two electrifying excerpts from the legendary (and nearly mythical) 1939 Toscanini Requiem, with Milanov, Thorborg and Moscona.  The final item is something Lars Björling found in his father’s desk drawer (the desk which now sits on the second floor of the JB Museum in Borlänge).  This wonderful new CD will be ready for you to pick up in Washington!

Schedule and sign up sheet

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17
7 PM to 10 PM (approx).
Rehearsal, Washington Concert Opera, GWU auditorium, La straniera

Saturday, November 18 - 
10:00 AM to 5 PM
Swedish Embassy, 2900 K St. NW, various speakers, release of the new Jussi Björling CD

6:30 PM to 9 PM
Buffet and drinks at Maija Budow’s home

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