Jussi Bjorling - Bizet: "The Pearl Fishers" Duet / Puccini & Verdi: Duets and Scenes

What can one say about this album? To my ears, Jussi Bjoerling ranks as the greatest tenor who ever stood before a microphone. Robert Merrill was certainly the leading American baritone of his time. Their duets together, especially the famous one from "The Pearl Fishers" are models of their kind. Soprano Zinka Milanov, one of the great dramatic sopranos of the twentieth century, is heard with Bjoerling in the Act I duet from "Tosca", which is beautifully vocalized, and in the Tomb Scene from "Aida" (from the complete recording they made), which might well qualify as one of the most beautiful vocal documents ever preserved on records. The "Manon Lescaut" duet with Licia Albanese is exciting and pulsates with drama. Finally, the "Turandot" scene - in addition to Bjoerling, features the sublime Tebaldi in her most creamy vocal estate. To go into great detail about ANY of the items on this recording is very difficult. It is far easier to sit back, relax, and to experience this feast of vocal riches.

The duets with Merrill are the heart of this disc; though they are probably not the most subtle performances of this music ever recorded, for beauty of timbre they are I think unsurpassed. The excerpts from the complete studio recordings of Aida, Tosca, Turandot, and Manon Lescaut are to my ears a cut below; it's too bad the splendid highlights from Il Trovatore, contained on the vinyl ancestor of this compilation, are not included here.

I am not familiar enough with the rating system. I was dissappointed in the cover--it was a library copy but "you get what you pay for". The CD itself seems to be in good condition, I gave my good copy away at Christmas. This is the first time I am playing it through. As I say I wasn't sure how to rate it as I don't even remember what condition it said it was in.

The singing is gorgeous. Robert Merrill is also wonderful. Sound quality a bit dated, but the artistry makes up for it.

My husband, who was an opera singer himself, was very fussy about his music. He very much enjoyed the voice of Jussi Bjorling. And I personally believe that the Pearl Fisher's duet is one of the most beautiful and stirring pieces of music available. I was thrilled to find this DVD and it does not disappoint!

Not my favorite tenor of all times, but this album also enabled me to assist a friend (and Mr. Bjorling [i]was[/i] very good...) - it was worth it!

I can hardly tell you how much I loved this CD when musicologist David St. George gavegave me a copy of it. Each time I hear the CD, Bjoerling's singing astounds me, becausedepsite his age, he was in excellent voice when he recorded the "Pearl Fishers Duet."My only complaint about Bjoerling is that a year before my birth, he died. :)

Jussi Bjorling was one of the great tenors of the 20th century. Jussi died prematurely after deep personal problems.This collection of Jussi with other contemporary singers of renown offers a great collection and tribute to a singer who should not be forgotten.

Jussi Bjorling is rightly regarded as one of the greatest tenors of all time and his duets with Robert Merrill are particularly memorable, my favourite being the Otello duet. My only negative point stems from the recording quality which suffers from the limitations of producing fine recordings from 1950 masters. However, this is to be expected when dvds are produced from dated recordings.

JUSSI BJÖRLING-- ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL VOICES EVER. HIS TENOR AND ROBERT MERRILL'S BARITONE IS STILL AFTER 50 YEARS THE BEST.

Excellent.

excellent thanks