Jussi Bjorling : Sibelius Memorial Concert : 1957 : Five Songs : Newly remastered, colourized photos

Jean Sibelius (8th Dec 1865 to 20th Sept 1957) was a Finnish composer and Jussi Bjorling's grandmother was also Finnish. This concert was given at New York's Carnegie Hall on the 8th December 1957, exactly 92 years after the date on which Sibelius was born. The New York Philharmonic Orchestra is conducted by Martti Siliä.
The full concert, or at least, the part that was recorded was, of course, all music written by Sibelius and started with the complete symphony No 4 in A minor followed by the five songs on this video then En saga, Op.9 and Finlandia, Op. 26.
The recording was made by the Carnegie Hall administration presumably with the intention of broadcasting it at a later date but, apparently, that never happened. Just to give a flavour of the full concert I have started the video with the conclusion of Sibelius's Symphony No. 4 and ended with his Finlandia. If you you don't want to listen to the orchestral pieces just skip to Jussi's songs that start at 4:48.
The music on the video, all written by Sibelius, is as follows;
0:00 Symphony No. 4 (conclusion)
4:48 Säv, säv, susa, (Reed, reed, rustle)
7:48 Flickan kom ifrån sin älsklings möte (The maiden came from her lover's tryst)
12:00 Var det en dröm? (Was it a dream)
14:54 Svarta rosor (Black roses)
18:06 Demanten på marssnön (The diamond on the March snow)
22:30 Finlandia
Translations to English;
1. Säv, säv, susa, (Gustaf Fröding)
Reed, reed, rustle,
Wave, wave, play,
You tell me where Ingalill,
The young one, may go?
She screamed like a wingbroken duck, when she sank in the lake,
It was, when the last Spring was green.
They spent their wrath on her at Östanlid.
For which she felt ill at ease.
They spent their wrath on her for goods and for gold
And for the sake of her young love.
They stuck a gemstone with a thorn,
They threw dirt in the dew of a lily.
So sing, sing a mournful song,
Ye sorrowful little waves,
Reed, reed, rustle,
Wave, wave, play!
2. Flickan kom ifrån sin älsklings möte (Johan Ludvig Runeberg)
The maiden came from her lover's tryst,
Once she came home with red hands,
Since they had reddened between her lover's hands.
Once she came home with red lips,
Since they reddened under her lover's lips.
Lastly she came home with pale cheeks,
Since they had paled with her lover's unfaithfulness.
Came with red hands. The mother said:
"Whence redden your hands, maiden?"
The maiden said: "I have picked roses
And stung my hands on the thorns."
Again she came from her lover's tryst,
Came with red lips. The Mother said:
"Whence redden your lips, maiden?"
The maiden said: "I have eaten raspberries
And with the juices painted my lips."
Again she came from her lover's tryst,
Came with pale cheeks. Her mother said:
"Whence pale your cheeks, maiden?"
The maiden said: "Make me a grave, o mother!
Hide me there and put a cross on top,
And on the cross carve, what I say:
Once she came home with red hands,
Since they had reddened between her lover's hands.
Once she came home with red lips,
Since they reddened under her lover's lips.
Lastly she came home with pale cheeks,
Since they had paled with her lover's unfaithfulness.
3. Var det en dröm? (Josef Julius Wecksell)
Was it a dream, that once upon a blissful time
I was your heart’s friend?
I remember it like a silent song
Whose melody still lingers on.
I remember you gave me a rose
With a look so shy and tender,
I remember the glistening of a parting tear.
Was it all just a dream?
A dream like a wildflower's life,
So brief in the verdant meadow,
Whose beauty quickly withers away
Within an ocean of new flowers
But on many a night I hear a voice
Through a stream of bitter tears.
Hide this memory deep in your heart
For this was your best dream.
4. Svarta rosor (Black roses) (Ernst Josephson)
Say, why are you so sad today,
You, who are always so happy and glad?
I am sad no more today
Than when I think of you happy and glad;
For sorrow has roses black as night.
In my heart there grows a tree,
Which never grants me rest,
upon its stems hangs thorn after thorn,
it causes me endless suffering and pain;
For sorrow has roses black as night.
But there is a whole treasure of roses,
Some white as death, some red as blood.
It grows and grows. I believe I pale,
in my heart-tree’s roots it tugs and pulls;
For sorrow has roses black as night
.
5. Demanten på marssnön (The diamond on the March snow) (Josef Julius Wecksell)
Upon the driven snow there glitters
a diamond so clear.
Never was a tear, or pearl
That had a greater shine.
Out of a secret longing
she sparkles like the heavens:
she looks up to the sun
the moment it ascends.
At the foot of its beam
Adoringly she stands
and kisses it in passion
and melts it in a tear.
O, fairest fate to love
The highest that life brings,
to glisten in its radiance,
and die, amid its smile.

[@goranandersson]

I think he is among the best if not the best one, the beauty of sound and his immediately recognizable voice. Swedish television was going to make a series of programs with Jussi but unfortunately he died before this happened.

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

Thanks for listening and for your comment Goran.

[@mariantaylor7109]

That was amazing-l have over the years collected and listened to hours and hours of his work but l don’t think l’ve heard Bjoerling sound so heroic before- always a first time - Thank you so much for the opportunity to add this to my list.

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

It's my pleasure Marian, thank you for listening, I'm glad that you like the video, It's certainly a great performance by Jussi.

[@susanflaster8900]

Check out the Jussi Bjorling Society-USA for much much more!

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

@@susanflaster8900 Thanks for listening Susan.

[@Situnadei]

AMAZING AND WONDERFUL. - Schauwecker described Jussi Björling’s programmes in an interview. They followed a fixed pattern: ”He’d start off with a classic group of songs. Handel, Mozart, old English airs or Beethoven’s ‘Adelaide’, a particular favorite. Then came a German group: Schubert, Brahms, Wolf or Strauss. He didn’t have too big a lieder repertory, actually; just those that suited his particular talents. Then he’d do an Italian or French aria. Or maybe Lenski’s aria from Onegin; he was very fond of that. After intermission came the Scandinavian stuff: Swedish or Norwegian selections, or Sibelius songs. He often ended with Stephen Foster, or English songs that weren’t out of the top drawer but were things he loved to do and did wonders with. ‘Ah, Love but a Day,’ ‘Spirit Flower.’ Encores? He was generous with them - sometimes he’d give half a dozen or more.” (p. 30, Opera News, Feb. 26, 1972)

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

Thanks for listening and for your interesting comment, I'm glad that you enjoyed the video.

[@megansjoquist459]

Thanks so much Michael for this wonderful concert. It was interesting to hear some folk songs and I love Finlandia so that was a special treat, too,😍

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

It's my pleasure Megan, thank you for listening, I'm glad that you enjoyed it

[@barbaraprest783]

Just what l needed before bed 🛌

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

Thanks for listening Barbara, glad you like the video.

[@hrbooksmusic7878]

The perfect video for a lovely Sunday morning! I love Jussi Björling‘s excellent voice and singing, and I like the Swedish language very much! ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Several of the musical selections I knew, but others were new to me. Great discoveries! 🌹🌹🌹 The sound quality is amazing, and the photo gallery is a real treat… 🌟 Thank you, Michael, for this beautiful musical and vocal gift! 🙏🍀

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

It's my pleasure Harriet, I'm really pleased that you like the video. Enjoy your Sunday, I hope that you are having the same sort of nice weather that we are having here at the moment.

[@hrbooksmusic7878]

@@michaelmcgrailengland Thank you, Michael, the weather was pleasant today, some clouds, but also sunshine! 🌞 The video is truly lovely, something different entirely. But your videos are always great, so I actually enjoy all of them! Warm regards, and have a beautiful Sunday evening! 🌅☘️🌅 🍀 🌅☘️🌅

[@yabella2all]

This is very nice, I had no idea that a recording of the complete concert existed! I too felt as if I were at the concert. Thanks very much.

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

It's my pleasure, thank you for listening, I'm glad that you enjoyed the video. The full concert, or at least, the part that was recorded was, of course, all music written by Sibelius and started with the complete symphony No 4 in A minor followed by the five songs on this video then En saga, Op.9 and Finlandia, Op. 26. The recording was made by the Carnegie Hall administration presumably with the intention of broadcasting it at a later date but, apparently, that never happened..

[@patriciagordon160]

Michael, you do such wonderful work! Thank you so much for this. I adore Bjoerling. He could sing just about anything, couldn’t he! Thank you again. ❤

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

It's my pleasure Patricia, thank you for listening and for your kind words, I'm glad that you like the video.

[@patriciagordon160]

@@michaelmcgrailengland ❤️😊

[@elenajha4357]

Dear Michael, thank you very much for this wonderful video! A very good start for a new day!

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

Hello Elena, thanks for listening, I'm glad that you like the video but I'm confused, you've changed your name to Faysah!!

[@soavemusica]

Jussi Björling, a great operatic tenor, was also a great Sibelian singer. This is astonishingly beautiful.

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

Thanks for listening and for your comment I'm glad that you enjoyed it.

[@MountainwalkwithMusic]

Thank you for inviting me to Sibelius memorial concert. This video seems to one of my music libraries. All of these songs are firt time to me except Filandia. I could see Bjorling voice stronger and smarter than the other time. Good night Michael!

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

Thank you for coming to the concert Chang, I'm glad that like the video. I shall be catching up on your videos very soon. Enjoy the rest of the day.

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

Hello Chang, all your recent videos are brilliant with beautiful flowers and mountain scenery, not forgetting your city walk. You picked some of my favourite music in You are my heart's delight, Morning and What a wonderful world, Louis Armstrong's recording of that one is one of my top favourites. It was Louis's wonderful old jazz recordings that inspired me to try to play the trumpet. Your city walk was probably best how you did it, without music. Enjoy whatever is left of your day Chang and keep walking!!

[@MountainwalkwithMusic]

@@michaelmcgrailengland Thank you for always being interested in my videos. I think I made a good choice of music because Michael likes Louis Armstrong's music and Griegs'. The walking video in Busan without music is a view of my neighborhood. June and July are the season of hydrangeas, so I plan to see hydrangeas often in the future. Good night Michael!!

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

Hello Chang, I've enjoyed your flower garden videos, especially the latest with those beautiful Lotus blooms and Mozart was a good choice of music.. Is it too hot for mountain climbing at the moment or are you just having a break?

[@MountainwalkwithMusic]

@@michaelmcgrailengland Long time no see Michael!! How have you been? You are right! We have Monsoon season in summer and so hot. Lotus garden I visited yesterday is fantastic. See you Michael!!

[@Rosangela161]

Welcome! Precious job. Congratulations. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

Thanks for listening Rosa, I'm glad that you like the video ana I hope that your health is improving. Would you do me a favour Rosa. I uploaded a compilation video a few weeks ago but it was blocked in the USA by a copyright claim. I appealed and as the claimants didn't respond in 28 days the video then became watchable in the USA but, I don't seem to have had comments from there. Perhaps it's because the singers are baritones rather than tenors but would you mind clicking the link below to see if it is visible. Don't feel obliged to watch the video if it's not your "cup of tea". Thanks. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aJKlk5JtmbqNpcU

[@Rosangela161]

Everything's fine? I already entered the address you gave me. It's beautiful work. Congratulations. Be careful with KZbin rules. I have seen other channels that I follow suffer.

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

@@Rosangela161 Thanks again Rosa for your help and for your kind words. I did lose one of my three KZbin lives so I am more careful now

[@Rosangela161]

Move forward cautiously. Your work is magnificent.

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

@@Rosangela161 You exaggerate Rosa but thank you anyway.

[@twraven1]

My grandfather sang with the Met Chorus for 40 years during the golden age of opera. I was born into singing and Jussi has been in my life for my entire life. I have never heard this concert. I can’t make out from the photo who the conductor is. Thanks for this enlightening video,

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

It's my pleasure, thank you for listening and for your interesting comment. The photo is of the NYPO playing at Carnegie Hall but it's not the orchestra that played at the Sibelius Memorial Concert, it's just to give an indication of how things would have looked at the concert. The conductor on 8th Dec 1957 was Martti Siliä. The full concert included a complete performance of Symphony No4 and another piece, E Saga, Op.9.

[@olofalriksson2464]

Just beautiful!! Thank you! for posting this!!🥰

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

It's my pleasure Olof, thanks for listening, I'm glad that you enjoyed it.

[@sheilamillar]

So different, what drama and tragedy in these songs. Finally sat down to watch on tv KZbin, the photos are terrific. Incidentally, was about to send you a wee message to say I had heard something by Tito Schipa which reminded me of all the lovely compilations you make for us. Don’t often hear him on R3. Thankyou so much for this latest offering and especially for the translations and photos, a lot of work I guess!👏👏

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

It's my pleasure Sheila, thank you for watching/listening, I'm glad that you like the video. It does involve quite a bit of work but I enjoy it and the new eyes help a a lot, just need some new ears now!!! I used to listen to the radio a lot and recorded some great music over the years. Not just classical but loads of Folk, Country and Jazz mostly from Radio 2 but also a lot from the Irish radio. Terry Wogan's breakfast show sent me off to work with a smile for many years. I seldom listen to the radio now, there's so much music on the internet but in some ways it's not quite the same, it was nice to hear the announcers like Allan Keith on Your Hundred Best Tunes, I listened to it just about every week until he retired at about age 90.

[@sheilamillar]

@@michaelmcgrailengland yes Sunday night used to be a great radio night , I think David Jacobs took over from Allan Keith. I love KZbin and Spotify and with my fancy hearing aids can listen directly into my ears when I’m out with the 🐶! But Radio 3 still delivers, however I access it. After I listened to your JB, KZbin popped up with an amazing Stockholm 1985 concert with some of the greats paying tribute to him. Mostly past their best but still wonderful!

[@EElgar1857]

This is tremendous; the sound is even good! Can this be bought as a CD, or in some downloadable format? Thank you for posting this important recording!

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

It's my pleasure, thank you for listening, I'm glad that you like the video. I don't think that the CD is available to buy but there is a download available and I've put a link below. It will have the original sound quality but that was very good as it was recorded on the Carnegie Hall in-house equipment.

[@hornshrink]

Michael McGrail, my cup runneth over !! I have for some time looking to revisit this famous concert with its prime 1957 Jussi, but to have your hand upon it, and replete with lyrics and photo gallery is just incredible. I went first to "Flicken kom ..." and am listening to the whole concert as I write. What a document! (One ??: I was always under the impression that it was Mitropoulos conducting the NYPhil on this occasion. I guess I stand corrected.) No words suffice to thank you for this extraordinary contribution to the Bjorlling legacy, Michael. And for those just becoming acquainited with this part of the Sibelius repertoire, I do strongly recommend the 'definitive performances' of Jorma Hynninen recorded in the original piano version (complete), and the selections of the orchestrated versions. They are remarkable documents.

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

It's my pleasure Marc, thank you for listening, I'm really pleased that you like the video. I'm pretty sure that the conductor was Martti Siliä as his name is given on the Carnegie Hall performance history and I've put a link below to the web page. I'm not familiar with Jorma Hynninen and I'll have a listen later. The Carnegie Hall page is at www.carnegiehall.org/About/History/Performance-History-Search?q=&dex=prod_PHS&page=2&event=11185&pf=Jussi%20Bj%C3%B6rling_

[@danielshea2676]

Thanks for these comments hornshrink, especially your mention of Jorma Hynninen I heard him several times in Finland, also at Chicago Lyric (Don Carlo, as I recall) and have many of his CDs. Also am glad that I heard Björling 4 times in NYCity: first as a teenager (1955 duets with Tebaldi at Carnegie Hall0, then Ballo at the Met '56, also recitals in '56 and '59). Dan Shea, JB Society member.

[@lauralauren6432]

Oh great. Where was this performance? He sings in Swedish so i get what he sings about. A Forgotten NATIONAL TREASURE. Thank you. Shared .

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

It's my pleasure Laura, thank you for listening and for sharing the video. The concert was actually recorded in New York's Carnegie Hall on 8th Dec 1957 which would have been Sibelius's 92nd birthday.

[@shicoff1398]

@@michaelmcgrailengland This Dec. 8th Concert was his last concert that year on his 1957 USA. Tour. The sound quality is excellent and singing as you'd expect from Jussi of high polished musical perfection. Carnegie Hall is also very good as for acoustics also, as I have heard several different singers there, when I attended concerts in NYC. making special trips to N.Y.C to hear them.

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

@@shicoff1398 Thanks for listening and for your comment, I hope that you're still coping OK with your health problems.

[@shicoff1398]

@@michaelmcgrailengland Thank you, I'm getting along the best I can!

[@scwtenor]

oops, I think he was born in 1865 :)

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

Good man, thanks for that, I'll kick myself later!!