Swedish Royal Opera | July 31, 2021, 1:00 pm
This historic broadcast of Il Trovatore was recorded at Jussi Björling’s last performance at the Swedish Royal Opera House in 1960, the scene where he made his opera debut in 1930. His counterpart was the legendary Hjördis Schymberg performing the role Leonora. In 1934, she sang with Björling in Puccini’s La Bohème and they sang over 100 performances together over the years.
Manrico in Il Trovatore was one of Jussi Björling’s parade roles. Kerstin Meyer, who was 17 years younger than Björling, sings the role of Manrico’s mother Azucena. Hugo Hasslo is in the role of Count Luna. Herbert Sandberg conducts the Swedish Royal Opera Orchestra and Chorus.