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- Title
The Vocal Persona of Jussi Björling.
- Authors
Williams, Simon
- Abstract
Jussi Björling's voice was not particularly suited for opera. It did not convey internal conflict well and was not suited to the depiction of character. Nevertheless, Björling, along with Maria Callas, was the singer who most attracted audiences to opera in the 1940s and '50s. The appeal of Björling's voice may be understood effectively by contrasting it to the voices of Carlo Bergonzi, Franco Corelli, and Giuseppe di Stefano, singers who placed greater emphasis on depicting character, emotional strife, and even existential revolt. In contrast to them Björling's voice articulated a negative energy that invited audiences to occupy imaginatively the roles he played and to find themselves within them.
- Subjects
BJOERLING, Jussi, 1911-1960; BERGONZI, Carlo, 1924-2014; CALLAS, Maria, 1923-1977; CORELLI, Franco; DI Stefano, Giuseppe, 1921-2008
- Publication
Word & Music Studies, 2014, Vol 13, p29
- ISSN
1566-0958
- Publication type
Article