In opera circles everyone knows about Jussi Bjorling. But, I am writing this for the many people who never heard of him. He died in 1960 at the age of 49 so he hasn't been around for 46 years. Thus, the younger generation have only heard of Pavarotti, Domingo, Correras and some newer fellows. Believe me, the sweet, honeyed, golden voice of Bjorling will impress you. His voice..his "instrument".....is...is....what can I say, it's "beautiful". If you haven't heard him before you have an enormous treat ahead of you! If you love the beautiful sound of a "trained" voice, you'll love this guy! Enjoy!
(Some guy below is comparing Bjorling to DeStefano and Corelli and some others and was critical of Bjorling. The guy who wrote that must be suffering from hearing loss! ALL the tenors he mentioned are/were great artists. DON'T BELIEVE HIM...BELIEVE ME! :o) Email:boland7214@aol.

I used to buy two separate CDs for people I was introducing to Bjoerling - the Pearl Fishers one, and the one with the Nessun dorma on it... So I was delighted when this 2 CD set came out.

To me, NO other tenor I've ever heard matches Bjoerling. His voice is one of the few that reduce me to tears just trying to EXPLAIN it to people. I've loved classical music since childhood but was never able to get into opera until I heard Jussi ... all the tenors alive today - feh, sorry, but to me they just sound like guys taking deep breaths and singing loud, not like "the voice of God" ...

For anyone who has for some reason fallen in love with some other tenor voice, the discovery of Jussi Bjoerlings voice may be heartbreaking. This is not a tenor who can only sing superbly in lyric opera or only in dramatic opera, or only in song and lieder. This singer can sing whatever he wants and more; he does it equally brilliant whatever to the vocal demands may be. That, more than anything makes him absolutely unique in the record history.
In the opening selection of this compilation; "Celeste Aida", this essentially lyric voice demonstrates for every heroic and dramatic tenor how to sing dramatic opera. It is a sheer singing lesson. In the strenuous recitative, he does not shout or use other non-musical effects, but shows that true dramatic expression is characterized by tonal intensiy and not by volume, although he had plenty enough of that. The beautiful and incredibly free flow of lyric tones in the Pearlfishers duet, the Faust cavatina and in the gorgeous "Che gelida manina" is absolutely exemplary. Yet, who could replicate the beauty of those effortless high C`s? I cannot think of anyone.
The only thing that could better this and give the set 5 stars in the book, is a compilation of the same selections, transferred from the original tapes and not excessively remastered as on this occasion. The sound is at times overly bright and the voice sounds thin and even sharp. But the singing is so far unmatched.

This tenor is a tiny patch if compare to Corelli or Del Monaco, not to even mention Pavarotti. His high notes are strain to the max and he sounds like he's singing in half falsetto.
A total disappointment. I recommend Gigli and Del Monaco instead.

I have and always will be grateful for the unmatched voice of the great tenor Jussi Bjorling. However, what astounds me in this recording is not only the performance of Bjorling as well as other stellar artists, but the quality of the recording itself.

I am of the age to well remember "High Fidelity," but never imagined how well it was developed in the 50's until I heard this recording. Thanks to recording techniques at that time, one is now treated to the true quality of the artist's voice.

Jussi Bjorling, in my humble opinion, surpasses Caruso as well as Pavorotti in purity, delivery, artistry and strength. It has been a long time since I have heard a worthy recording of this great tenor. Having heard this recording I feel as though I am, once again, a youth exposed for the first time to the beauty of such a powerfully magnificent and vibrant voice.

I shall treasure my copy of "Artists of the Century - Jussi Bjorling - The Ultimate Collection" for years to come and be most grateful every time I hear it that finally I have a worthy recording of this great tenor. There is but one word for me when the name Jussi Bjorling is mentioned and that word is incomparable

This is a nice collection and probably works as an introduction to newcombers of Jussi Björling.

His voice is unmatched and my advice is that you also buy his Turandot with Nilsson and Leinsdorf and Tosca too.

His Nessum dorma beats them all... even Pavarottis.

Great buy.

EMI have surpassed themselves with this selection. The four CD set is the one to have for a complete view of Bjoerling, but this is outstanding value and shows the great tenor in his most famous roles. Bjoerling was the tenor that defines what it is to be a spinto (pushed) tenor. Between lyrical (Pavarotti) and dramatic (Domingo) his was the ideal voice for Puccini and the middle Verdi roles. He was the greatest stylist of his time which is why it is so easy to listen to him for a whole afternoon. For every one of these tracks, as his friend Nils Grevillius once said, when you hear Bjoerling sing it you hear it again for the first time. Bravo.

Here's a true story: 40 years ago a man's driving his car,; "The Pearl Fisher" duet comes on the radio; the man pulls over and is brought to tears. 30 years later the same thing happens to that man's son - by the same song, same singer.

Jussi Bjorling (and Robert Merrill) sing in this first duet about putting aside their contest over a woman to remain friends. I know of no other two men singing that can create more sublime music than this. Also transcendent is the third song ("Io l'ho perduta" from Don Carlo). I don't have translated lyrics but when they get to "liberta" - that leaves me in a puddle.

I recommend this two CD set over Bmg/Rca Victor - #7799 which is only a single CD package ....

I don't care what you normal musical preference is for; if you are unaffected by Jussi Bjorling, sell your ears to someone who'll use them

In my opinion, Jussi Bjorling has the best tenor voice for which we have, at least, acceptable quality recordings. Some might argue that Enrico Caruso had a better voice but any recordings of Caruso are of such poor quality that you can't appreciate his instrument.

If you love listening to the operatic tenor repertoire then treat yourself to this CD set.

I might add that my opinion is based upon having studied as an operatic tenor for more years than I care to think about.

This collection from BMG offers over 2 and a half hours from his recordings of the 1950s. The sound of the CD transfers is outstanding. In addition to the usual solo arias, there are duets with Robert Merrill, Licia Albanese, and Zinka Milanov. Bjorling's voice was one of a kind, almost patrician in tone, but never cold or lacking in expression. This set is indispensable, as well as a great value. My only complaint is the packaging: the cover photo is very dated and would lead one to think the recordings were from the 40s, and the notes are skimpy, with BMG's usual footnotes to give information about the various tracks. But these are minor when compared to the hours of beautiful singing you get when you buy this set.