The Bjorling Sound by Stephen Hastings
A half century after his death in 1960, Swedish tenor Jussi Bj rling remains one of the most beloved singers in the world. He spent forty-five of his forty-nine years performing in public, rapidly conquering opera-house and concert stages on both sides of the Atlantic. Along the way, he left a vast recorded legacy that continues to enchant lovers of vocal music and inspire young singers. In this ground-breaking book, Stephen Hastings analyzes more than four hundred of the great tenor's recordings, comparing them with the output of a hundred other tenors, from Caruso to Alagna. The repertoire ranges from brief art songs by Schubert and Sibelius to entire opera recordings--some made in the studio, others captured live. What emerges is a richly layered portrait of this most musical of singers. As Hastings's comparisons demonstrate, Bj rling left his unique imprint on all the scores he sang, combining a perennial freshness of approach with the richly inflected phrasing made possible by a perfectly honed technique.
I devoured The Björling Sound with unashamed greed and great pleasure-- F. Paul Driscoll, editor in chief, Opera News
His passages on Gounod's Faust and Roméo et Juliette are a masterpiece of sensitive analysis. -- Stefan Johansson * NEWSLETTER OF THE SWEDISH JUSSI BJOERLING SOCIETY *
Remarkable new book. . . . Insightful scholarship and freshly evocative writing that will send Bjo'rling's fans back to their favourite recordings and will win the tenor many admirers. ***** [Highest ranking, and book of the month] -- John Allison * BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE *
[Hastings's] analyses are detailed, well written, and clear. . . . _The Björling Sound: A Recorded Legacy has become a standard work, like The Callas Legacy of John Ardoin. * OPERA NEDERLAND Full review at http://www.operanederland.nl/Boeken%20Bjoering.htm *
Comparison between recordings and live performances . . . give great insight into the reasons why particular interpretations of the same piece can vary to an enormous degree. . . . Listing the recordings by composer is a stroke of genius and means that the reader can dip in and out without losing any continuity to the progression of Björling's career. . . . Should be devoured by anyone interested in the art of singing. Full review at http://vocalimages.com/?page_id=1097 * VOCALIMAGES Full review at http://vocalimages.com/?page_id=1097 *
An impressive documentation of Björling's sound. . . . Lively language gives good flow to the many details in the book. -- Ida Habbestad * KLASSISK MUSIKKMAGASIN *
Uncommonly successful. . . . Hastings is always specific, never resorting to vague poetics in passages of praise to describe work he likes, . . . Enrich[es] his findings by comparison with recordings of the same material from all ages[, e.g., Caruso, Pavarotti, and Alagna]. -- Mike Ashman noted opera director * GRAMOPHONE *
An exciting read about a beloved artist. . . .For the neophyte, it supplies an education in vocal terminology and history, and an unerring understanding of the voice and how it functions. . . . Compelling. -- Ira Siff * OPERA NEWS *
By a long way the best critical discography of anyone I have encountered. . . Eloquent, jargon-free and incisive prose. Many acute remarks about conductors. . . . Illuminating [on Schubert songs]. . . . Truly an education. -- Michael Tanner * OPERA *
His passages on Gounod's Faust and Roméo et Juliette are a masterpiece of sensitive analysis. -- Stefan Johansson * NEWSLETTER OF THE SWEDISH JUSSI BJOERLING SOCIETY *
Remarkable new book. . . . Insightful scholarship and freshly evocative writing that will send Bjo'rling's fans back to their favourite recordings and will win the tenor many admirers. ***** [Highest ranking, and book of the month] -- John Allison * BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE *
[Hastings's] analyses are detailed, well written, and clear. . . . _The Björling Sound: A Recorded Legacy has become a standard work, like The Callas Legacy of John Ardoin. * OPERA NEDERLAND Full review at http://www.operanederland.nl/Boeken%20Bjoering.htm *
Comparison between recordings and live performances . . . give great insight into the reasons why particular interpretations of the same piece can vary to an enormous degree. . . . Listing the recordings by composer is a stroke of genius and means that the reader can dip in and out without losing any continuity to the progression of Björling's career. . . . Should be devoured by anyone interested in the art of singing. Full review at http://vocalimages.com/?page_id=1097 * VOCALIMAGES Full review at http://vocalimages.com/?page_id=1097 *
An impressive documentation of Björling's sound. . . . Lively language gives good flow to the many details in the book. -- Ida Habbestad * KLASSISK MUSIKKMAGASIN *
Uncommonly successful. . . . Hastings is always specific, never resorting to vague poetics in passages of praise to describe work he likes, . . . Enrich[es] his findings by comparison with recordings of the same material from all ages[, e.g., Caruso, Pavarotti, and Alagna]. -- Mike Ashman noted opera director * GRAMOPHONE *
An exciting read about a beloved artist. . . .For the neophyte, it supplies an education in vocal terminology and history, and an unerring understanding of the voice and how it functions. . . . Compelling. -- Ira Siff * OPERA NEWS *
By a long way the best critical discography of anyone I have encountered. . . Eloquent, jargon-free and incisive prose. Many acute remarks about conductors. . . . Illuminating [on Schubert songs]. . . . Truly an education. -- Michael Tanner * OPERA *
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9781580464062 |
| ISBN 10 | 1580464068 |
| Title | The Bjorling Sound |
| Author | Stephen Hastings |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Boydell & Brewer Ltd |
| Year published | 2012-05-30 |
| Number of pages | 424 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |