When my Father Jussi was chosen as the 20th century’s leading male opera singer by English music critics at the turn of the century, we felt great joy and pride in the family. From my very early age I experienced singing and music at home, but most of all, I remember visiting the Opera house when Father sang. A strong memory was La bohème. I tried to hide my tears trickling down the cheek in the last act. Usually it was very exciting to sit in the orchestra seats and keep up with everything that happened on stage. Everyone wore make-up and strange costumes, but as soon as Father began to sing, I recognized him. It was easy. He sounded ‘different’ than the rest of the ensemble. My Father was in his early 30s and had then been singing for 25 years. Already at the age of four to five, my Father and his brothers began to learn the essentials of the art of singing under my grandfather David’s solid guidance.
I have spent a great deal of my life exploring the secrets of the Italian bel canto, conveyed by David and my Father, and I have reached the conclusion that there are no secrets; it is just the natural voice that has to be heard, free from settings and so-called tone formation. There is only one problem; it takes time. Manipulation of the voice in different ways to achieve quick results is doomed to fail. If I can contribute to pass the Björling singing tradition on to future generations of singers, I will be more than pleased. [Lars Björling]

• Tchaikovsky, Pyotr
  Eugene Onegin - Lensky aria, Op.24
  
  
• Verdi, Giuseppe (1813-1901)
  Rigoletto, Act II: Ella mi fu rapita!
  Rigoletto, Act IV: La donna e mobile
  
  La forza del destino, Act III Scene 1: La vita e'inferno all'anfelice
  
• Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus (1756-1791)
  Die Zauberflöte, Act I - K.620: Dies Bildnis ist bezaubernd schön
  La Clemenza di Tito, Act II - K.621: Se all'impero, amici Dei
  Così fan tutte, Act I K.588: Un'aura amorosa
  
  
• Gounod, Charles (1818-1893)
  Faust, Act I: Prologue
  Faust, Act III: Salut! demeure chaste et pure
  
  
• von Flotow, Friedrich (1812-1883)
  Martha, Act III: M'Appari Tutt'Amor
  
  
• Bizet, Geroges (1838-1875)
  Les pecheurs de perles, Act I: A cette coix quel trouble
  
  
• Puccini, Giacomo (1958-1924)
  Manon Lescaut, Act I: Donna non vidi mai
  
  
• Meyerbeer, Giacomo (1791-1864)
  L'Africaine, Act IV: Mi batte il cor … O paradiso!
  
  
• Giordano, Umberto (1867-1948)
  Andrea Chenier, Act I: Un di all'azzurro spazio
  
  
• Cilea, Francesco (1866-1950)
  L'arlesiana, Act II: E la solita storia
  
  
• Rossini, Gioacchino (1792-1868)
  Il barbiere di Siviglia: Se il mio nome saper
  
  
• Korngold, Erich (1897-1957)
  Die tote Stadt, Act III: (Marietta's Lied, Op. 12
  
  
• Rachmaninov, Sergei (1873-1943)
  6 Songs, Op.4:No.4. Ne poy, krasavitsa, pri mne (Chanson Georgienne)
  14 Songs, Op.34:No.4. Veter perelyotniy (The Wind whispered)
  12 Songs, Op.21:No.6. Otrivok iz A. Myusse (Loneliness)
  12 Songs, Op.21:No.7: Zdes' khorosho (How Fair this spot)
  12 Songs, Op.21:No.4. Oni otvechali (They Answer)
  6 Songs, Op.4:No.3. V molchan'i nochi taynoy (In the silence of the night)
  
  
• Alfven, Hugo (1872-1960)
  7 Dikter, Op.28:No.6. Skogen sofver (The Forest sleeps)
  10 Sånger, Op.4:No.2. Serenad
  Marias sanger, Op.21:No.1. Ved huset
  2 Lyriska stämningar, Op.8:No.2. Sommardofter
  Aftonen (Evenings), R.187
  Saa tag mit hierte (So Take My Heart), R.203
  Jag langtar efter dig (I long for you), Op.28:No.5
  
  
• Boldemann, Laci (1921-1969)
  Mopsen
  Den gröna hagen
  Tanten och Papegojan
  Purjo och Rädisa
  
  
• Obradors, Fernando (1897-1945)
  Corazon, porque pasais
  Con amores, la mi madre (With Love in my heart, mo
  Del Cabello mas sutil (Of the softest hair)
  
  
• Bellini, Vincenzo (1801-1835)
  Malinconia, ninfa gentile
  Dolente immagine di Fille mia
  
  
• Stenhammar, Wilhelm (1871-1927)
  Visor och stamningar, Op.26:No.8. Lycklandsresa
  5 Visor till text av Johan Ludvig Runeberg, Op.8: No.1 - Lutad mot gärdet
  4 Dikter av Verner von Heidenstam, Op.37:No.4 - Vore jag ett litet barn
  I skogen
  4 Stockholmsdikter, Op.38:No.4. En positivvisa
  
  
• Körling, August (1842-1919)
  Aftonstämning (Evening Mood)
  
  

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