Events, radio or television programs are known from 15 countries: Austria, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Norway, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, USA.

* 163 concerts

* 78 lectures, CD presentations, discussions etc.

* 48 radio or television programs

* 5 exhibitions

* 5 books and web publications

* 9 CD & DVD releases

Memorial concerts

List of memorial concerts during 2010-2011

2010

July 12, Voxna Church. JB memorial concert with Ingrid Tobiasson (mezzo), Olle Persson (bar) & Nils Olsson (ten).

July 18, Borlänge, Stora Tuna Church. JB memorial concert with soloists from the "Opera på Skäret" Bohèmeproduction: Yana Klein (sop) & César Gutierrez (ten).

August 16, Stockholm, Royal Palace. JB memorial concert in the "Music at the Royal Palace" series. Singers: Claes-Håkan Ahnsjö, Daniel Johansson, Daniel Svenson, Ingrid Tobiasson, Paulina Pfeiffer, Agneta Eichenholz, Marcus Jupither, Michael Weinius, Mats Carlsson, Lars Cleveman, Katarina Karnéus, Mario Malagnini, Petri Lindroos & Fredrik Zetterström. Stockholm Ensemblen, cond. Mats Liljefors. Presentation: Kerstin Meyer. Excerpts from the concert broadcast 28 November by Swedish Television.

August 28, Stockholm, Skansen, Solliden. JB memorial concert with tenors Mats Carlsson, Nils Olsson (JB-society prize winners) & Raymond Björling. Accompanists: André Baraula & Love Derwinger (piano) & Sone Banger (accordion). Folk music performed by Matts Arnberg & Ulf Störling. Presentation: Stefan Olmårs; introductory JB presentation: Bertil Bengtsson.

September 9, Borlänge, Stora Tuna Church. JB memorial concert with the Falun Conservatory Choir and the Borganäs Choir, Borlänge. Soloists: Carolina Bengtsdotter Ljung (alto), Raymond Björling (ten). Conclusion at Jussi Björling's gravesite with the chorus and speech by County Governor Maria Norrfalk.

September 10, Rättvik, Ovanmyra Mission Hall. "A Life as Björling". JB memorial programme by Raymond Björling (ten).

September 26, Borlänge, Mission Church. JB memorial concert by Fredrik de Jounge (ten). Includes Erik Odde songs.

December 12, Örebro, Trinity Church. Concert with The New Björling Quartet, Stockholm Boy's Choir and Raymond Björling (ten) in memory of Jussi's debut at the church in 1915. Presentation: Calle Friender.

2011

January 13, Vienna, Grosser Festsaal der Industriellen Vereinigung. JB memorial gala including tenors Piotr Beczala and Lars Björling. Presentation: Rudolf Wallner.

January 22, Malmö, Palladium. JB memorial concert with Raymond Björling & Rickard Söderberg (ten) & Karin O Bäckström (mezzo); Joakim Andersson, piano. Introductory talk by Raymond Björling about his grandfather.

January 28, Stockholm, Italian Cultural Institute. JB memorial concert with Raymond Björling (ten), Anna-Lena Engström (sop), Antonio Sarnelli da Silva (bar) & Elisabeth Wärnfeldt (sop); Paolo Scibilia (piano).

January 30, Stockholm, Högalid Church. "Life Ethics in Opera Literature". JB memorial concert with Raymond Björling (ten), Anna-Lena Engström (sop), Antonio Sarnelli da Silva (bar) & Elisabeth Wärnfeldt (sop); Paolo Scibilia (piano).

February 5, Borlänge, Mission Church. JB memorial concert by Mats Carlsson (ten); Love Derwinger (piano). The concert is preceded by the Scandinavian Jussi Björling Society's annual meeting at the JB Museum.

February 5, London (UK), Ulrika Eleonora Swedish Church. JB memorial concert by Raymond Björling (ten).

February 5, Pointe-Claire (Quebec, Canada), Stewart Hall. "Evening at the Opera: Happy Birthday Jussi Björling!" Memorial concert hosted by Manrico Tedeschi (ten) with Franco Perrotta (ten), Makiko Awazu (sop) & Pamela Jones (sop); Jacques Saint-Jean (piano).

February 6, Oslo (Norway), Arie Opera Club. "We celebrate the centenary of the world's greatest tenor". JB memorial programme including the concert by Andreas Hoff Eriksen (ten).

February 26, Västervik, S:t Petri Church. JB memorial concert by Mats Carlsson (ten); Bo Ingelberg (piano & organ).

February 26, Ånge, Torp Church. JB memorial concert by Nils Olsson (ten).

March 3, Uppsala, Alfvén Hall. JB memorial concert by Mats Carlsson (ten) and the Manifestum male chorus; Love Derwinger (piano). With JB presentation by Bertil Bengtsson.

March 4, Strängnäs, Paulinska Aulan. JB memorial concert by Mats Carlsson (ten) and the Manifestum male chorus; Love Derwinger (piano). With JB presentation by Bertil Bengtsson.

March 5, Mariehamn (Åland, Finland), Margaretagården.JB memorial concert by Mats Carlsson (ten) and the Manifestum male chorus; Love Derwinger (piano). With JB presentation by Bertil Bengtsson.

March 12, Aalborg (Denmark), Utzon Center. "Tonerna". JB memorial concert (during Aalborg Opera Festival) by Mats Carlsson (ten); Anders Ahnfelt-Ronne (piano). JB presentation by Ahnfelt-Ronne.

March 13, Berlin (Germany), Staatsoper (Schillertheater). JB memorial concert with Zoran Todorovich (ten) and lecture by Juergen Kesting.

April 1, Helsinki/Helsingfors (Finland). JB memorial concert by Mats Carlsson (ten) and the Manifestum chorus. With JB presentation by Bertil Bengtsson.

April 16, Degerfors, Församlingshemmet. JB memorial concert with Kent Lundberg (ten) & Sören Ågren (piano).

April 27, Helsingfors, Dunkers Kulturhus. "In Jussi's Footsteps". Memorial concert by Joachim Bäckström (ten); Joachim Thomas Darelius (piano).

May 8, Karlskoga, Musikpalatset. "Jussi Björling 100". Memorial concert with Kent Lundberg (ten) & Sören Ågren (piano).

May 14, Borlänge, Haga School. Spring Festival, "In memory of Jussi" with Anna Eklund-Tarantino (sop), Carolina Bengtsdotter Ljung (alto), Gwyn Hughes Jones (ten, 2nd prize winner in the JB Tenor Competition 1994) & Tobias Nilsson (bar), Borganäskören, Borlänge kammarkör & Borlänge orkesterförening; cond. Mario Gropsianu.

May 25, Österåker, Church. JB memorial concert by Raymond Björling (ten) & Åkersberga Chamber Choir.

June 9, Helsinki/Helsingfors (Finland), Hanaholmen. JB memorial programme with lecture by Yrsa Stenius and song by Mats Carlsson (ten).

June 11, Riga (Latvia). JB memorial concert by Mats Carlsson (ten). JB presentation by Bertil Bengtsson.

June 17, Stockholm, Eric Ericsonhallen. JB memorial concert with The New Björling Quartet and Raymond Björling (ten).

June 18, Hamar (Norway), Cathedral Ruin. International JB memorial tenor concert as part of Kirsten Flagstad Festival. Participants: Henrik Engelsviken & Thomas Ruud (Norway), Markus Pettersson (Sverige), Peter Lodahl (Denmark), Gardar Thor Cortes (Island) & Gong Yinjia (China); Helg Evju (piano). Introductory presentation of JB.

June 18, Löfsta Bruk Church. "Jussi Björling 100 år!" Memorial opera concert with JB theme by Con Voce chorus & soloists.

June 19, Borlänge, Stora Tuna Church. JB memorial concert with The New Björling Quartet & Raymond Björling (ten).

June 30, Katrineholm, Hanebergs Säteri. "Jussi in Our Hearts". Memorial concert by Mats Carlsson (ten); Johan Ullén (piano). Presentation by Bertil Bengtsson.

July 9, Höganäs, Krapperup Concert Hall. "In JB's Footsteps". Memorial concert with Katarina Dalayman (sop), Thomas Sunnegårdh (ten) & Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra, cond. Stefan Solyom.

July 10, Borlänge, Haga School. JB memorial concert with soloists from the Opera på Skäret Carmen production: Stuart Neill (ten) & Sandra Lopez (sop).

July 17, Mariefreds Church. "Jussi Björling in Our Hearts". Memorial concert with Ulrika Tenstam (mezzo) & Mats Carlsson (ten); Suzanne Kroon-Hahr (piano).

July 28, Stockholm, Concert Hall. Jussi Björling memorial concert with Michael Weinius (ten) & Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, cond. Tobias Ringborg.

July 29, Gagnef Church, Dalarna. "In memory of JB". Concert by Patrik Sandin (bar) & Ann-Sofi Klingberg (piano).

August 3, Rättvik Church. Jussi Björling memorial concert by Raymond Björling (ten), who also talks about his grandfather.

August 5, Kopparberg, Opera på Skäret. Jussi Björling memorial concert with tenors Stuart Neill & Kristian Benedikt, sopranos Sandra Lopez & Yana Klein, chorus & orchestra; Marcello Mottadelli & Erik Jakobsson (dir).

August 6, Ljusterö, Kyrkan. "Jussi Björling Memorial: An Evening "At Sea" with the Community's Great Son".

August 11, Gnesta, Elghammar. JB memorial concert by Mats Carlsson (ten) & musicians from Scenkonst Sörmland.

August 13, Stockholm, Skansen, Solliden. JB memorial concert with tenors Gwyn Hughes Jones, Joachim Bäckström & Markus Pettersson.

August 13, Linköping Castle, Courtyard. "Jussi Lives!" Memorial concert with Karl-Magnus Fredriksson (bar) & Östergötland Symphonic Wind Band.

August 14, Strängnäs, Mälsåker Palace. JB memorial concert by Mats Carlsson (ten) & musicians from Scenkonst Sörmland.

Other memories

Stockholm Alley Named after Jussi Björling

On 10 March 1998, one of the two alleys in the central Stockholm park Kungsträdgården was officially named ”Jussi Björlings Allé” (Jussi Björling Alley), following a decision on 16 February by the City Council. This alley has an end near the Royal Opera House and the Jussi Björling bust by Pieter de Monchy which was placed in the adjacent square Jacobs Torg in 1994.

After the signposts had been set up, Jussi’s widow Anna-Lisa, his children Lars, Ann-Charlotte and Kickie, his grandson Raymond and members of the Scandinavian Jussi Björling Society gathered at the nearby restaurant Victoria. Among those present was the tenor Ragnar Ulfung, who had on the preceding day celebrated his 40th anniversary as an opera artist. Lars and Raymond joined in singing ”För dig allén”, the Swedish version of ”For You Alone”, one of the popular songs in Jussi Björling’s repertoire. There was a special reason that this song was chosen: the Swedish words ”För dig allén” happen to have a double meaning, not only ”For You Alone” but also ”For You the Alley”!

No street or place in Stockholm, where Jussi Björling lived from 1928 when he began his education as an opera singer to his death in 1960, has earlier been named after him. However, there are other examples in Sweden, among them Jussi Björlings Väg (JB Road) and Jussi Björlings Torg (JB Square) in Borlänge and Jussi Björlings Plats (JB Square) in Gothenburg.

Jussi Björling on a Swedish stamp

In 1999, Jussi Björling was for the first time represented on a Swedish stamp (already in 1975, he appeared in the Nicaraguan series "Grandes Cantantes de Opera).

The new stamp, issued on 11 March, is in rectangular format and shows on the left the Swedish jazz singer Alice Babs (b. 1924). One of her films was "Resan till dej" (The Journey to You) 1953, where Jussi also took part. On the right, Jussi Björling is shown during his recital on 28 July 1960 at the Gröna Lund amusement park in Stockholm, his last appearance there.

This stamp is generally sold in a booklet with nine others, but at the museum separate stamps are available at the price of 5 SEK. The ten stamps with different motives constitute a series called "Vårt nittonhundratal 2" (Our 20th Century 2). The price for the booklet is 50 SEK.

Jussi Björling Tenor Competition

The Jussi Björling Tenor Competition was held for the first time in Borlänge in 1994. 125 tenors from 38 countries entered their names for the competition. At the finals in the Kupolen Arena on 23 October, the Chinese Deng Xiao-Jun won before the Welshman Gwyn Hughes Jones.

The event was an artistic success and it was originally thought to be repeated in 1997 or 1998. These plans have been revised but the City of Borlänge still hopes to arrange another Jussi Björling Tenor Competition in the future.

Archive

Links to Jussi of the Month.

The Jussi Björling Magazine (only in Swedish)

The Board Members’ Jussi Favourites

Annual meetings

Miscellaneous

A Statistical survey of Jussi Björling's Memory 2010-2011

Memorial concerts

Other memories

Stockholm Alley Named after Jussi Björling

Jussi Björling on a Swedish stamp

Jussi Björling Tenor Competition

New website for the Jussi Björling Society

The Jussi Björling Society

Join the Society

Welcome to the American and British Jussi Björling Societies

Please click the banner.

Jussi Favourites of the Board Members

The former Jussi

Björling Museum

Archive

Links to Jussi of the Month.

The Jussi Björling Magazine (only in Swedish)

The Board Members’ Jussi Favourites

Annual meetings

Miscellaneous

A Statistical survey of Jussi Björling's Memory 2010-2011

Memorial concerts

Other memories

Stockholm Alley Named after Jussi Björling

Jussi Björling on a Swedish stamp

Jussi Björling Tenor Competition

New website for the Jussi Björling Society

The Jussi Björling Society

Join the Society

Welcome to the American and British Jussi Björling Societies

Please click the banner.

Jussi Favourites of the Board Members

The former Jussi Björling Museum

The former Jussi

Björling Museum