Björling, Jussi, << bih EHR lihng, YOOS see >> (1911-1960), was a Swedish operatic tenor who was famous for the elegance of his light, lyrical voice. His name is sometimes spelled Bjoerling. Björling was a leading tenor at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City for more than 20 years.
Björling was born on Feb. 5, 1911, in Stora Tuna, Sweden, near Borlange. He began his career as a child singing with his father and two brothers in a group that was called the Björling Male Quartet. He first studied singing with his father and then at the Royal Opera School in Stockholm. Björling made his professional operatic debut in 1930 at the Royal Swedish Opera in Stockholm as Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni. He made his debut at the Metropolitan Opera in 1938 as Rodolfo in La Bohème. He died on Sept. 9, 1960.
