The "Pearl Fishers" Duet at MusicalHeritage.com

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Of all the tenors heralded as Caruso's successor, Sweden's Jussi Bjoerling came closest to meriting the distinction, according to Caruso's widow. Like Beniamino Gigli, he made an easy transition from boy soprano to lyric tenor, debuting professionally at 19 and giving concerts throughout Sweden and the U.S. with his father and brothers in the Bjoerling Male Quartet.

The Swedish artist made his professional U.S. debut in a concert broadcast from Carnegie Hall in 1937 and first appeared with the Metropolitan Opera as Rodolfo in La Bohème in 1938. He was long one of the favorite tenors at the Met, his occasional appearances at Covent Garden were always eagerly awaited and he also sang as a guest artist with the Vienna and Dresden State Operas and the Salzburg Festival. During his career his Rodolfo, his Cavaradossi in Tosca and his Des Grieux in Manon were considered unsurpassed by any of his contemporaries.

Although Bjoerling was short and an indifferent actor, the sheer allure of his singing made him an enduringly popular artist wherever he appeared — especially at the Met during the 1950s. He was also dedicated, proceeding to go on with a performance as Rodolfo at Covent Garden in 1960 in spite of a heart attack. He died the same year at age 49, his voice virtually undimmed in its luster and flexibility.

Bizet: The Pearl Fishers: Au fond du temple saint; Puccini: Tosca: Mario, Mario, Mario!; Manon Lescaut: Oh, sarò la più bella!; Tu, tu, amore? Tu?; La Bohème: In un coupé? O Mimì, tu più non torni; Turandot: Signore, ascolta!; Non piangere, Liù; Verdi: Don Carlo: Io l'ho perduta!; Dio, che nell'alma 0nfondere; La Forza del Destino: Solenne in quest'ora; Aïda: La fatal pietra; O terra addio; Otello: Oh! monstruosa colpa!; Sì, pel ciel marmoreo giuro!

Jussi Bjoerling, Tenor; Robert Merrill, Baritone; Renata Tebaldi, Zinka Milanov, Licia Albanese, Sopranos; Chorus & Orchestra of the Rome Opera; Erich Leinsdorf, Conductor.

Tracklisting

The "Pearl Fishers" Duet
	1.	Les Pêcheurs de perles, opera in 3 acts by Bizet, Georges Ensemble: RCA Victor Orchestra Vocals: Jussi Björling Conductor: Renato Cellini Baritone (Vocal): Robert Merrill Length: 04:45
	2.	Tosca, opera by Puccini, Giacomo Orchestra: Rome Opera House Orchestra Conductor: Erich Leinsdorf Vocals: Jussi Björling Soprano (Vocal): Zinka Milanov Length: 13:24
	3.	Don Carlo, opera by Verdi, Giuseppe Ensemble: RCA Victor Orchestra Vocals: Jussi Björling Conductor: Renato Cellini Baritone (Vocal): Robert Merrill Vocals: Emil Markow Length: 10:36
	4.	Manon Lescaut, opera by Puccini, Giacomo Orchestra: Rome Opera House Orchestra Vocals: Licia Albanese Vocals: Jussi Björling Conductor: Jonel Perlea Length: 07:59
	5.	La bohème, opera by Puccini, Giacomo Ensemble: RCA Victor Orchestra Vocals: Jussi Björling Conductor: Renato Cellini Baritone (Vocal): Robert Merrill Length: 04:18
	6.	La forza del destino, opera by Verdi, Giuseppe Ensemble: RCA Victor Orchestra Vocals: Jussi Björling Conductor: Renato Cellini Baritone (Vocal): Robert Merrill Length: 04:19
	7.	Aida, opera by Verdi, Giuseppe Orchestra: Rome Opera House Orchestra Vocals: Jussi Björling Soprano (Vocal): Zinka Milanov Conductor: Jonel Perlea Length: 12:04
	8.	Turandot, opera by Puccini, Giacomo Orchestra: Rome Opera Orchestra & Chorus Conductor: Erich Leinsdorf Vocals: Jussi Björling Vocals: Tommaso Frascati Vocals: Piero de Palma Vocals: Mario Sereni Soprano (Vocal): Renata Tebaldi Bass (Vocal): Giorgio Tozzi Length: 07:50
	9.	Otello, opera by Verdi, Giuseppe Ensemble: RCA Victor Orchestra Vocals: Jussi Björling Conductor: Renato Cellini Baritone (Vocal): Robert Merrill Length: 04:26

Performances

Les Pêcheurs de perles, opera in 3 acts - Au fond du temple saint by Bizet, Georges

Performer(s): RCA Victor Orchestra (Ensemble), Jussi Björling (Vocals), Renato Cellini (Conductor), Robert Merrill (Baritone (Vocal))

Tosca, opera - Mario Mario Mario! by Puccini, Giacomo

Performer(s): Rome Opera House Orchestra (Orchestra), Erich Leinsdorf (Conductor), Jussi Björling (Vocals), Zinka Milanov (Soprano (Vocal))

Don Carlo, opera - Io l'ho perduta! Dio che nell'alma infondere by Verdi, Giuseppe

Performer(s): RCA Victor Orchestra (Ensemble), Jussi Björling (Vocals), Renato Cellini (Conductor), Robert Merrill (Baritone (Vocal)), Emil Markow (Vocals)

Manon Lescaut, opera - Oh saro la piu bella! Tu tu amore? Tu? by Puccini, Giacomo

Performer(s): Rome Opera House Orchestra (Orchestra), Licia Albanese (Vocals), Jussi Björling (Vocals), Jonel Perlea (Conductor)

La bohème, opera - In un coupe? O Mimi tu piu non torni by Puccini, Giacomo

Performer(s): RCA Victor Orchestra (Ensemble), Jussi Björling (Vocals), Renato Cellini (Conductor), Robert Merrill (Baritone (Vocal))

La forza del destino, opera - Solenne in quest'ora by Verdi, Giuseppe

Performer(s): RCA Victor Orchestra (Ensemble), Jussi Björling (Vocals), Renato Cellini (Conductor), Robert Merrill (Baritone (Vocal))

Aida, opera - La fatal pietra O terra addio by Verdi, Giuseppe

Performer(s): Rome Opera House Orchestra (Orchestra), Jussi Björling (Vocals), Zinka Milanov (Soprano (Vocal)), Jonel Perlea (Conductor)

Turandot, opera - Signore ascolta! Non piangere Liu by Puccini, Giacomo

Performer(s): Rome Opera Orchestra & Chorus (Orchestra), Erich Leinsdorf (Conductor), Jussi Björling (Vocals), Tommaso Frascati (Vocals), Piero de Palma (Vocals), Mario Sereni (Vocals), Renata Tebaldi (Soprano (Vocal)), Giorgio Tozzi (Bass (Vocal))

Otello, opera - Oh! monstruosa colpa! Si pel ciel marmoreo giuro! by Verdi, Giuseppe

Performer(s): RCA Victor Orchestra (Ensemble), Jussi Björling (Vocals), Renato Cellini (Conductor), Robert Merrill (Baritone (Vocal))

The "Pearl Fishers" Duet

Review

Read About This Recording

Contents

Tracklisting

Performances