Young bel canto singing at Skansen
This year's Jussi concert at Skansen August 8 had an altered concept. Now it was not just about Jussi's heritage but also about Jenny Lind's deed and the concert was headlined "Jenny & Jussi. Concert in the Jenny Lind & Jussi Björling spirit of a new generation of opera stars. "
The new "stars" were Sara Swietlicki, soprano, who received this year’s Jenny Lind scholarship, Hannes Öberg, baritone, who toured with Sara, Markus Pettersson, this year's recipient of Jussi Björling Society's price and pianist Markus Kvint.
Markus Kvint, Pernilla Eskilsdotter, Hannes Öberg, Markus Pettersson, Sara Swietlicki
Radio Sweden's Pernilla Eskilsdotter was a well-prepared presenter who charmingly conveyed interesting facts and details and talked with the performers.
To be sitting on the Solliden stage is something special. It is the foremost outdoor stage in Sweden, and you can see Stockholm lying beneath your feet. The weather was fine and when you will soon be able to listen to young musicians at the beginning of their career you have a very positive attitude from the start. You wish them well!
When asked if they were nervous: "No, not really because we know each other since we were at the Vadstena Academy, it makes us feel secure."
Sara Swietlicki was first in line and started with Stenhammar's Dottern sade, and then sang Italian, solo and in duet. She had power, security and ability to color the voice. Sentimental without exaggeration. In a conversation with Pernnilla she said that "she has a lot to live up to." Maybe so, but she has come a very long way!
Sara Swietlicki and Pernilla Eskilsdotter
Baritone Hannes Öberg has charisma. He sang with a beautiful, soft voice. He executed Forskarlens sång from the opera Kronbruden by Ture Rangström melancholy. He showed in the duets a great ability to balance his voice with the others. His goal is to "just sing".
Hannes Öberg
Markus Kvint played Busoni’s Carmen fantasy for piano and alternated pace and expression effortlessly. In conversation with Perrnilla he said about interaction with the singers that "the pianist is a reflex image of the singer".
Markus Kvint
Pernilla told about Jussi's last concert on Skansen, his very last, and said that Jussi "is in the air here at Skansen". Then the award ceremony took place. The chairman of Jussi Björling Society Bengt Krantz read a vivid prize motivation and presented the award to Markus Pettersson, 30 000 SEK and a unique, engraved vase from Kosta.
The Society’s secretary, Stefan Olmårs, gave a brief account about the Society and the prize sponsors.
Bengt Krantz, Markus Petersson och Stefan Olmårs
Markus chose as his first piece Summer of M. Schrader, one of Jussi's showpieces. A song that might sound best if you sing it very lyrical. His next pieces were more dramatic and he sang with greater aplomb. His fine diction was striking and you really could perceive the words! He and Sara performed the duet O soave Fanciulla sweetly and beautifully. The same can be said about Pärlfiskarduetten together with Hannes. Till sjöss he made really good!
Markus Pettersson
The last piece was Libiamo, from Verdi’s La Traviata, with Hannes as the chorus!
The new concept, not only Jussi, but also Jenny, worked well. In that way a female singer participates in a natural way in a partly Jussi concert. The crowd was big, at least 1 000 listeners, and satisfied. Many had arrived in quite early!
Pernilla told us that Sveriges Radio P2 often receives requests to play Jussi, remarkably often from young people! This kind of concerts preserves the memory of Jussi, some recordings were also played before the start of the concert.
Hans Thunström
Translation: Per Bäckström
Pictures
Lars Björling and Hannes Öberg
JBS sales table
Pelle Jansson, Hanna Hedman, Stefan Olmårs
