Jussi Björling and the Royal Theatre,
Copenhagen
H. A. Brønsted
| There were all too few occasions on
which we at the Royal Theatre enjoyed the good fortune of being able to persuade Jussi Björling to
sing on our stage. In return, though, these guest appearances became memorable events in our
theatre’s little history. During the Royal Swedish Opera’s guest performances in Copenhagen in 1933
he sang the roles of Vladimir in Prince Igor and Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni. In 1942 he brightened
the dark period of occupation as the Duke in Rigoletto and Rodolfo in La bohème. And he was with us
in our joy at the liberation when, in September 1945, he sang Gustav III in Un ballo in maschera.
Many remember these performances, and all his stage colleagues recall a wonderful and inspiring
collaboration, as well as a pleasant spirit of comradeship. Jussi Björling was greatly loved by the
Danish public and a significant reason for this was undoubtedly his unrivalled ability to
give—although with his voice alone—full life to the characters he portrayed on stage. In this
respect he was supreme and we are fortunate that this ability has been preserved on countless
gramophone records. Jussi Björling will stand, for all time, as an example of the best in Swedish
art and as a distinguished representative of Sweden’s rich operatic culture. |
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