Arias and Duets (rec 1949)

'This hour is yours' the announcer tells us at the opening of this CD, a pleasing hour indeed, in the company of the finest tenor of his day and his wife Anna-Lisa, a Conservatory-trained lyric soprano. The programme consists of favourite arias from Bjorling's operatic repertory, two duets with Anna-Lisa, three soprano solos and two numbers from the lively San Francisco Opera orchestra.

Bjorling's admirers will be familiar with his winning Rodolfo in La Boheme; here in gloriously fresh voice, he reminds us of his life as a poet in the Parisian garret. Other tenors have given the words more attention, but few can ever have sung such a ravishing, ringing 'speranza' and so sublime a closing diminuendo to the aria. But the Massenet and Gounod items are even more appealing, taken from the only two French operas that remained in Bjorling's repertory at this stage of his career. The opening of Ah fuyez, douce image from Manon is properly introspective, sympathetically capturing Des Grieux' renunciation of his 'sweet vision'. Bjorling was a superb stylist in this music, in a way that few non-French singers could (or can) emulate, and he is heard at his very best here. Then listen to his wishful insistence that it is the nightingale, not the lark, that Romeo and Juliette can hear in Gounod's duet; how could any Juliette resist his passionate persuasion to remain with him a little longer? These performances clearly illustrate why Bjorling was such an admired interpreter of these roles. Anna-Lisa does not share Jussi's self-assurance in this concert. In her solos the tone is fragile, her delivery energetic but not always accurate; it is good nevertheless to have the opportunity to hear husband and wife teamed together in one of the 'Radio Hours' that were a feature of Bjorling's recital career in the United States.

Gaetano Merola conducts the overture to Semiramide and the intermezzo from Goyescas most agreeably and gives good support to the singers in their contributions; but it is, of course, the priceless performance of Jussi Bj5rling that makes one grateful for the survival of this "anything but 'Standard' " hour.