Jussi Bjorling in Two Puccini Operas (1948, 1956)

1 La bohème, Act I: Questo Mar Rosso (Marcello, Rodolfo) Jussi Björling Mimi Benzell Francesco Valentino George Cehanovsky Nicola Moscona Salvatore Baccaloni Anthony Marlowe Lawrence Davidson Metropolitan Opera Chorus Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Giuseppe Antonicelli 4:22

2 La bohème, Act I: Pensier profondo! (Colline, Marcello, Rodolfo) Jussi Björling Mimi Benzell Francesco Valentino George Cehanovsky Nicola Moscona Salvatore Baccaloni Anthony Marlowe Lawrence Davidson Metropolitan Opera Chorus Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Giuseppe Antonicelli 1:17

3 La bohème, Act I: Legna! … Sigari! (Rodolfo, Marcello, Colline, Schaunard) Jussi Björling Mimi Benzell Francesco Valentino George Cehanovsky Nicola Moscona Salvatore Baccaloni Anthony Marlowe Lawrence Davidson Metropolitan Opera Chorus Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Giuseppe Antonicelli 3:30

4 La bohème, Act I: Si puo? … Che e la? (Benoit, Marcello, Schaunard, Colline, Rodolfo) Jussi Björling Mimi Benzell Francesco Valentino George Cehanovsky Nicola Moscona Salvatore Baccaloni Anthony Marlowe Lawrence Davidson Metropolitan Opera Chorus Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Giuseppe Antonicelli 5:22

5 La bohème, Act I: Io resto per terminar (Rodolfo, Marcelo, Colline, Schaunard) Jussi Björling Mimi Benzell Francesco Valentino George Cehanovsky Nicola Moscona Salvatore Baccaloni Anthony Marlowe Lawrence Davidson Metropolitan Opera Chorus Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Giuseppe Antonicelli 0:57

6 La bohème, Act I: Non sono in vena (Mimi, Rodolfo) Jussi Björling Mimi Benzell Francesco Valentino George Cehanovsky Nicola Moscona Salvatore Baccaloni Anthony Marlowe Lawrence Davidson Metropolitan Opera Chorus Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Giuseppe Antonicelli 2:42

7 La bohème, Act I: Oh! Sventata, sventata! (Mimi, Rodolfo) Jussi Björling Mimi Benzell Francesco Valentino George Cehanovsky Nicola Moscona Salvatore Baccaloni Anthony Marlowe Lawrence Davidson Metropolitan Opera Chorus Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Giuseppe Antonicelli 1:18

8 La bohème, Act I: Che gelida manina (Rodolfo) Jussi Björling Mimi Benzell Francesco Valentino George Cehanovsky Nicola Moscona Salvatore Baccaloni Anthony Marlowe Lawrence Davidson Metropolitan Opera Chorus Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Giuseppe Antonicelli 5:01

9 La bohème, Act I: Si. Mi chiamano Mimi (Mimi, Rodolfo) Jussi Björling Mimi Benzell Francesco Valentino George Cehanovsky Nicola Moscona Salvatore Baccaloni Anthony Marlowe Lawrence Davidson Metropolitan Opera Chorus Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Giuseppe Antonicelli 4:48

10 La bohème, Act I: Ehi! Rodolfo! (Schaunard, Colline, Marcello, Rodolfo, Mimi) Jussi Björling Mimi Benzell Francesco Valentino George Cehanovsky Nicola Moscona Salvatore Baccaloni Anthony Marlowe Lawrence Davidson Metropolitan Opera Chorus Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Giuseppe Antonicelli 0:48

11 La bohème, Act I: O soave fanciulla (Rodolfo, Mimi) Jussi Björling Mimi Benzell Francesco Valentino George Cehanovsky Nicola Moscona Salvatore Baccaloni Anthony Marlowe Lawrence Davidson Metropolitan Opera Chorus Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Giuseppe Antonicelli 5:13

12 La bohème, Act II: Aranci, datteri! (Street Sellers, Students) Jussi Björling Mimi Benzell Francesco Valentino George Cehanovsky Nicola Moscona Salvatore Baccaloni Anthony Marlowe Lawrence Davidson Metropolitan Opera Chorus Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Giuseppe Antonicelli 2:46

13 La bohème, Act II: Chi guardi? (Rodolfo, Colline, Mimi, Schaunard, Marcello, Chorus, Parpignol) Jussi Björling Mimi Benzell Francesco Valentino George Cehanovsky Nicola Moscona Salvatore Baccaloni Anthony Marlowe Lawrence Davidson Metropolitan Opera Chorus Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Giuseppe Antonicelli 3:04

14 La bohème, Act II: Viva Parpignol! (Chorus, Marcello, Mimi, Schaunard, Colline, Rodolfo) Jussi Björling Mimi Benzell Francesco Valentino George Cehanovsky Nicola Moscona Salvatore Baccaloni Anthony Marlowe Lawrence Davidson Metropolitan Opera Chorus Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Giuseppe Antonicelli 2:57

15 La bohème, Act II: Domandatelo a me (Marcello, Musetta, Alcindoro, Colline, Mimi) Jussi Björling Mimi Benzell Francesco Valentino George Cehanovsky Nicola Moscona Salvatore Baccaloni Anthony Marlowe Lawrence Davidson Metropolitan Opera Chorus Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Giuseppe Antonicelli 2:33

16 La bohème, Act II: Quando men vo (Musetta, Marcello, Alcindoro, Mimi, Rodolfo, Schaunard, Colline) Jussi Björling Mimi Benzell Francesco Valentino George Cehanovsky Nicola Moscona Salvatore Baccaloni Anthony Marlowe Lawrence Davidson Metropolitan Opera Chorus Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Giuseppe Antonicelli 4:31

17 La bohème, Act II: Chi l'ha richiesto? (Colline, Schaunard, Rodolfo, Chorus, Marcello, Musetta, Mimi) Jussi Björling Mimi Benzell Francesco Valentino George Cehanovsky Nicola Moscona Salvatore Baccaloni Anthony Marlowe Lawrence Davidson Metropolitan Opera Chorus Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Giuseppe Antonicelli 3:24

1 Brief intro by Milton Cross 0:12

2 La bohème, Act III: Ohe, la, le guardie Aprite! (Chorus) Jussi Björling Mimi Benzell Francesco Valentino George Cehanovsky Nicola Moscona Salvatore Baccaloni Anthony Marlowe Lawrence Davidson Metropolitan Opera Chorus Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Giuseppe Antonicelli 3:33

3 La bohème, Act III: Sa dirmi, scusi, qual' e l'osteria (Mimi, Sergeant) Jussi Björling Mimi Benzell Francesco Valentino George Cehanovsky Nicola Moscona Salvatore Baccaloni Anthony Marlowe Lawrence Davidson Metropolitan Opera Chorus Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Giuseppe Antonicelli 1:29

4 La bohème, Act III: Mimi! … Speravo di trovarvi qui (Marcello, Mimi) Jussi Björling Mimi Benzell Francesco Valentino George Cehanovsky Nicola Moscona Salvatore Baccaloni Anthony Marlowe Lawrence Davidson Metropolitan Opera Chorus Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Giuseppe Antonicelli 4:13

5 La bohème, Act III: Marcello. Finalmente! (Rodolfo, Marcello, Mimi) Jussi Björling Mimi Benzell Francesco Valentino George Cehanovsky Nicola Moscona Salvatore Baccaloni Anthony Marlowe Lawrence Davidson Metropolitan Opera Chorus Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Giuseppe Antonicelli 1:40

6 La bohème, Act III: Mimi e una civetta (Rodolfo, Marcello) Jussi Björling Mimi Benzell Francesco Valentino George Cehanovsky Nicola Moscona Salvatore Baccaloni Anthony Marlowe Lawrence Davidson Metropolitan Opera Chorus Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Giuseppe Antonicelli 1:20

7 La bohème, Act III: Mimi e tanto malata! (Rodolfo, Marcello, Mimi) Jussi Björling Mimi Benzell Francesco Valentino George Cehanovsky Nicola Moscona Salvatore Baccaloni Anthony Marlowe Lawrence Davidson Metropolitan Opera Chorus Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Giuseppe Antonicelli 2:55

8 La bohème, Act III: Addio … D'onde lieta usci al tuo grido (Mimi, Rodolfo) Jussi Björling Mimi Benzell Francesco Valentino George Cehanovsky Nicola Moscona Salvatore Baccaloni Anthony Marlowe Lawrence Davidson Metropolitan Opera Chorus Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Giuseppe Antonicelli 3:27

9 La bohème, Act III: Dunque e proprio finita! (Rodolfo, Mimi, Marcello, Musetta) Jussi Björling Mimi Benzell Francesco Valentino George Cehanovsky Nicola Moscona Salvatore Baccaloni Anthony Marlowe Lawrence Davidson Metropolitan Opera Chorus Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Giuseppe Antonicelli 6:28

10 Brief intro by Milton Cross 0:29

11 La bohème, Act IV: In un coupe? (Marcello, Rodolfo) Jussi Björling Mimi Benzell Francesco Valentino George Cehanovsky Nicola Moscona Salvatore Baccaloni Anthony Marlowe Lawrence Davidson Metropolitan Opera Chorus Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Giuseppe Antonicelli 1:23

12 La bohème, Act IV: O Mimi, tu più non torni (Rodolfo, Marcello) Jussi Björling Mimi Benzell Francesco Valentino George Cehanovsky Nicola Moscona Salvatore Baccaloni Anthony Marlowe Lawrence Davidson Metropolitan Opera Chorus Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Giuseppe Antonicelli 5:32

13 La bohème, Act IV: Gavotta (Colline, Marcello, Rodolfo, Schaunard) Jussi Björling Mimi Benzell Francesco Valentino George Cehanovsky Nicola Moscona Salvatore Baccaloni Anthony Marlowe Lawrence Davidson Metropolitan Opera Chorus Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Giuseppe Antonicelli 1:40

14 La bohème, Act IV: C'e Mimi (Marcello, Musetta, Rodolfo, Mimi) Jussi Björling Mimi Benzell Francesco Valentino George Cehanovsky Nicola Moscona Salvatore Baccaloni Anthony Marlowe Lawrence Davidson Metropolitan Opera Chorus Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Giuseppe Antonicelli 5:48

15 La bohème, Act IV: Vecchia zimarra (Colline, Schaunard) Jussi Björling Mimi Benzell Francesco Valentino George Cehanovsky Nicola Moscona Salvatore Baccaloni Anthony Marlowe Lawrence Davidson Metropolitan Opera Chorus Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Giuseppe Antonicelli 2:24

16 La bohème, Act IV: Sono andati? Fingevo di dormire (Mimi, Rodolfo) Jussi Björling Mimi Benzell Francesco Valentino George Cehanovsky Nicola Moscona Salvatore Baccaloni Anthony Marlowe Lawrence Davidson Metropolitan Opera Chorus Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Giuseppe Antonicelli 6:06

17 La bohème, Act IV: Dorme? … Riposa (Rodolfo) Jussi Björling Mimi Benzell Francesco Valentino George Cehanovsky Nicola Moscona Salvatore Baccaloni Anthony Marlowe Lawrence Davidson Metropolitan Opera Chorus Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Giuseppe Antonicelli 6:53

1 Radio commentary by Milton Cross 2:15

2 Manon Lescaut, Act I: Ave, sera gentile (Edmondo, Chorus, Des Grieux) Jussi Björling Frank Guarrera Fernando Corena Thomas Hayward George Cehanovsky Rosalind Elias Alessio De Paolis Calvin Marsh James McCracken Osie Hawkins Metropolitan Opera Chorus Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Dimitri Mitropoulos 4:44

3 Manon Lescaut, Act I: L'amo? … L'amor?! (Edmondo) Jussi Björling Frank Guarrera Fernando Corena Thomas Hayward George Cehanovsky Rosalind Elias Alessio De Paolis Calvin Marsh James McCracken Osie Hawkins Metropolitan Opera Chorus Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Dimitri Mitropoulos 0:58

4 Manon Lescaut, Act I: Tra voi, belle, brune e bionde (Des Grieux, Chorus) Jussi Björling Frank Guarrera Fernando Corena Thomas Hayward George Cehanovsky Rosalind Elias Alessio De Paolis Calvin Marsh James McCracken Osie Hawkins Metropolitan Opera Chorus Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Dimitri Mitropoulos 1:23

5 Manon Lescaut, Act I: Ma bravo! (Edmondo, Chorus) Jussi Björling Frank Guarrera Fernando Corena Thomas Hayward George Cehanovsky Rosalind Elias Alessio De Paolis Calvin Marsh James McCracken Osie Hawkins Metropolitan Opera Chorus Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Dimitri Mitropoulos 1:53

6 Manon Lescaut, Act I: Discendono, vediam! (Chorus, Edmondo, Lescaut, Des Grieux, Geronte) Jussi Björling Frank Guarrera Fernando Corena Thomas Hayward George Cehanovsky Rosalind Elias Alessio De Paolis Calvin Marsh James McCracken Osie Hawkins Metropolitan Opera Chorus Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Dimitri Mitropoulos 2:11

7 Manon Lescaut, Act I: Cortese damigella, il priego mio acettate (Des Grieux, Manon, Lescaut) Jussi Björling Frank Guarrera Fernando Corena Thomas Hayward George Cehanovsky Rosalind Elias Alessio De Paolis Calvin Marsh James McCracken Osie Hawkins Metropolitan Opera Chorus Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Dimitri Mitropoulos 4:14

8 Manon Lescaut, Act I: Donna non vidi mai (Des Grieux) Jussi Björling Frank Guarrera Fernando Corena Thomas Hayward George Cehanovsky Rosalind Elias Alessio De Paolis Calvin Marsh James McCracken Osie Hawkins Metropolitan Opera Chorus Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Dimitri Mitropoulos 3:03

9 Manon Lescaut, Act I: La tua ventura (Chorus, Edmondo, Geronte, Lescaut) Jussi Björling Frank Guarrera Fernando Corena Thomas Hayward George Cehanovsky Rosalind Elias Alessio De Paolis Calvin Marsh James McCracken Osie Hawkins Metropolitan Opera Chorus Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Dimitri Mitropoulos 6:23

10 Manon Lescaut, Act I: La tua Propsperina (Edmondo, Des Grieux) Jussi Björling Frank Guarrera Fernando Corena Thomas Hayward George Cehanovsky Rosalind Elias Alessio De Paolis Calvin Marsh James McCracken Osie Hawkins Metropolitan Opera Chorus Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Dimitri Mitropoulos 2:13

11 Manon Lescaut, Act I: Vedete? Lo'son 'fedele (Manon, Des Grieux) Jussi Björling Frank Guarrera Fernando Corena Thomas Hayward George Cehanovsky Rosalind Elias Alessio De Paolis Calvin Marsh James McCracken Osie Hawkins Metropolitan Opera Chorus Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Dimitri Mitropoulos 5:50

12 Manon Lescaut, Act I: Di sedur la sorellina (Geronte, Edmondo) Jussi Björling Frank Guarrera Fernando Corena Thomas Hayward George Cehanovsky Rosalind Elias Alessio De Paolis Calvin Marsh James McCracken Osie Hawkins Metropolitan Opera Chorus Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Dimitri Mitropoulos 5:11

13 Radio commentary by Milton Cross 4:11

14 Manon Lescaut, Act II: Dispettosetto questo riccio! (Manon, Lescaut) Jussi Björling Frank Guarrera Fernando Corena Thomas Hayward George Cehanovsky Rosalind Elias Alessio De Paolis Calvin Marsh James McCracken Osie Hawkins Metropolitan Opera Chorus Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Dimitri Mitropoulos 5:35

15 Manon Lescaut, Act II: In quelle trine morbide (Manon) Jussi Björling Frank Guarrera Fernando Corena Thomas Hayward George Cehanovsky Rosalind Elias Alessio De Paolis Calvin Marsh James McCracken Osie Hawkins Metropolitan Opera Chorus Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Dimitri Mitropoulos 2:50

16 Manon Lescaut, Act II: Poiche … Tu vuoi saper (Lescaut, Manon) Jussi Björling Frank Guarrera Fernando Corena Thomas Hayward George Cehanovsky Rosalind Elias Alessio De Paolis Calvin Marsh James McCracken Osie Hawkins Metropolitan Opera Chorus Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Dimitri Mitropoulos 3:02