Any unknown recording of Bjorling is a treat. This was a superb performance in an opera not usually associated with Bjorling. He was excellent.

This is a live performance from Sweden in 1939. I am giving some leeway to the sound due to it's vintage but I must say the sound is much better than I expected. Schymberg is a bit shrill for my taste but she is an effective actress. Of course, one buys this set to hear the young Bjorling. I was not disappointed in that respect. Bjorling is excellent as Alfredo and it is a pleasure to hear him so early in his career. I did not have a problem with the opera in Swedish; the performers were confident in their native language so that's good enough for me. I do not know the conductor but he leads a lively performance. I am happy to have this performance.

I love "wrong" language opera and this famous recording is one of the best. Bjoerling sings very beautifully, adding a number of interpolated high notes along the way (a top C in his offstage serenade during "Sempre libera", a B-flat at the end of Act Two, scene one). He is not the only reason to treasure this recording though. Schymberg was a much bigger star in Sweden than the was in the West, but she did make several appearances at the Met after WWII. She sang Gilda and Susanna; broadcasts of both survive to show what a charming, lovely singer she was. Her Gilda employs all the usual high interpolations expected at the time. Her Violetta is sweetly sung and if she doesn't really plumb the depths of this complex woman, she is most sympathetic. "Follie" is accurately articulated (with an extra breath or two) and "Sempre libera " is capped with the obligatory and traditional E-flat (a very good note too!) Molin sings most sympathetically as Germont though his intonation isn't always spot-on.There are some performance variants here and there. Two solo voices open the opera instead of a chorus. "Amami, Alfredo" is followed by an orchestral recapitulation of the main theme. This is a feature of the French version of this opera; how it ended up in Sweden is anyone's guess. All the usual other cuts are made.The overall performance make this recording worth having. The sound is incredibly good for 1939. All Bjoerling and (why not?) Schymberg fans should have this.

Great opportunity to hear the great Jussi Bjorling sing Alfredo. Schymberg is wonderful, as well. Slightly uneven performance overall.

What and amazing performance. The sound for its age is SO GOOD and Bjoerling sings like a God. What a gem of a recording. Ms Schymberg is VERY fine as Violetta.Strong yet fragile and holds her own with Bjoerling in their Duets.Any recording of Bjoerling is a joy to find,but this one far exceeded my expectations. The Legato and that honeyed tone is SO wonderful to hear. There are so few complete opera records by Mystro Bjoerling that I snap them up when ever I find them. Unfortunately most are not good sound. This one is really excellent though.A wonderful addition to a sadly small discograhy of a phenominal Artist.