Director Torbjörn Lindqvist presents an affectionate tribute here to Swedish tenor Jussi Björling, a man—once called a second Caruso—with a rich, smooth, wide-ranging voice, whose death at 49 in 1960 was a great loss to the operatic world. Archival material including film footage/stills, promotional advertisements, and newspaper articles is interspersed with recollections from relatives, friends, and colleagues, as well as commentary from music critics. The filmmaker also employs some dramatic re-creations, particularly in sequences depicting Jussi touring as a young boy—in Europe and the United States—with his two brothers as part of a singing trio under the guidance of their father. But the documentary makes clear that Björling did not hail from a privileged background, forced to perform menial work after he'd left home until he was discovered and groomed by perceptive patrons for a singing career that would take him not only to the Stockholm Opera but also to the most prestigious international companies, including the Metropolitan in New York, where he was on the roster from 1938 until his death. The documentary covers Björling's domestic life without whitewashing the bumps in his marriage, and viewers will hear numerous (if also fairly short) clips of his singing. A fine personal portrait of a magnificent tenor whose recordings continue to be cherished by opera buffs around the world, this is recommended. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)
Jussi Björling: He Sang with a Tear in His Voice
(2013) 77 min. In Swedish w/English subtitles. DVD: $24.99. Kultur International Films (avail. from most distributors). ISBN: 978-0-7697-5026-2. Volume 28, Issue 6
Jussi Björling: He Sang with a Tear in His Voice
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