Jussi Björling, Swedish operatic tenor, 1911-1960

In 1928, Björling auditioned for John Forsell and was admitted to the Opera School and the Royal Swedish Academy of Music. One of the leading operatic singers of the 20th century, he appeared for many years at the Metropolitan Opera in New York and less frequently at the major European opera houses, including the Royal Opera House in London and La Scala in Milan. He sang many major tenor roles in operas in the French and Italian repertoire, including "Il trovatore", "Rigoletto", "Aida", "Un ballo in maschera", "Cavalleria rusticana", "Faust", "Roméo et Juliette", "La bohème", "Madama Butterfly", "Tosca", and "Manon Lescaut".