Cultural achievement with international compass

The fifteenth (doubled) concert in honour of Jussi Björling was presented at Voxna Church on Monday 6 July. An impressive event in every respect! Artistically and practically (coach transport from Bollnäs railway station was a new feature this year). A buffet at Voxnabruk Manor provides opportunities for the participants to meet and get to know each other before the request concert where we were treated to recordings with Jussi, under guidance from Lars Hemmingsson, John-Erik Eleby and Stefan Olmårs.

That Jussi Björling still is “great” worldwide (not least in the US) is testified every year in different ways – this year there were visitors from Wales.

Of the participating singers this year – who all captured us with their joy, charm and charisma – Malin Hartelius is probably best known in the German speaking world, where she has had her career primarily in Zurich and Vienna, rather than in Sweden. A luminous star, no doubt!


Karii Mobacke makes an entry the other way round
Katin Mobacke from Bollnäs – in the very beginning of her career – should also, with her lovely voice, have good prospects for the future.

Tenor Per-Håkan Precht, who among other songs with the utmost ease performed the allegedly difficult aria from Turandot, Nessun dorma, and the impressive bass John-Erik Eleby represented the male part of the programme.

 

 

Responsible for the accompaniments – on piano and organ – was Lennart Eng as usual – one of the two mainstays of the concerts – and besides Lena Rieback.

Many travel long ways for this event, and also the second day offers an interesting programme. This year the singer Jan Hammarlund presented recordings with Hjördis Schymberg, who was the one who sang the most times with Jussi Björling. This second day usually includes “In the footsteps of the Björlings”. Thus it was also this year: Anna-Lena Carlsson told the history of Voxnabruk and how it is interwoven the Björling family.

After lunch we had opportunities to visit Stefan Olmårs’ family house in Alfta, which evoked great admiration from the visitors – in these times of hälsingegårdar (the specific building styles in the province of Hälsingland).

In short, this is something utterly impressive! For every year the arrangements are developed, and one can only imagine the enormous work that lies behind: thoughts, journeys, contacts with singers and sponsors etc. It is a question of finding and presenting worthy heirs to Jussi and entice them to a concert “far away in the forest”. It is not only a great interest in music and love to our Swedish music phenomenon Jussi Björling, but also generosity and love to music lovers that makes someone spend so much energy on the programme we were able to enjoy. Thanks, Jussi Björling Society, and in particular, thanks, fiery-spirit, Stefan Olmårs!

Author: Christina Berg-Tylöskog

Translation: Göran Forsling

 

New website for the Jussi Björling Society

We would like to wish you a warm welcome to the Jussi Björlingsällskapet's new website: www.jussibjorlingsallskapet.se Here you are given good opportunities to delve into the life and work of the singer Jussi Björling. But this website will just be in Swedish.

The old website: www.jussibjorlingsallskapet.com, which you are reading now, will remain as a comprehensive archive and will be able to be visited as usual and you can read it in English, click on the British flag.

The new website is intended to be a more up-to-date place for current information from August 2023. 

 

The Jussi Björling Society

The Jussi Björling Society was founded on January 7, 1989. Its task is to promote interest in and spread knowledge about Jussi Björling, his vocal art, life and career.

More about The Society


Join the Society

HERE you can quickly become a member of The Jussi Björling Society. You will receive our magazine, newsletters and invitations to events and gatherings. The annual fee for 2022 is 275 SEK.

More about the membership


Welcome to the American and British Jussi Björling Societies 

 

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Jussi Favourites of the Board Members

Hans Thunström presents his favourite recording.

Read about and listen to the favourite


The former Jussi

Björling Museum

Jussi Björling Museet

The museum officially closed on January 1, 2021 and is now vacant. We hope that it will later be replaced by a museum in another location.