Description

CARL JOHAN JACOB FORSELL (STOCKHOLM, 6 NOVEMBER, 1868 – STOCKHOLM, 30 MAY, 1941)

He made his operatic debut at the Royal Swedish Opera, Stockholm, in 1896 as Figaro in Il barbiere di Siviglia. He would remain its premiere baritone for some 30 years. He would also establish an international career, singing for example at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City in 1909/1910, performing such parts as Tonio in Pagliacci, Amfortas in Parsifal, Figaro in Il barbiere di Siviglia, Telramund in Lohengrin, Germont in La traviata and Yeletsky in The Queen of Spades. The title role in Mozart’s Don Giovanni was probably his most famous interpretation. He sang the part numerous times, including during the 1909 season at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London, and at the 1930 Salzburg Festival. Among the other major European cities in which Forsell sang the Don and various leading parts were Copenhagen, Berlin, Amsterdam and Vienna. Forsell become the Director (Intendant) of the Royal Swedish Opera in 1923/24, and performed less frequently on stage as a consequence. His voice, however, remained in fine condition. As late as on his 70th birthday, he sang Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro by Mozart. He retired from his director’s position in May 1939 and died in Stockholm two years later. In addition to his administrative duties at Stockholm’s opera house during the 1920s and ’30s, Forsell taught voice as a professor of singing at the Stockholm Conservatory of Music. His pupils included Jussi Björling, Hjördis Schymberg, Joel Berglund and Set Svanholm.

Chronology of some appearances

1896-1918 Stockholm Royal Swedish Opera

TRACKLIST

1. Faust (Gounod) Bön (Avant de quitter) 2-82528 10277u  G&T, Stockholm 1907-02-16/17
2. Faust (Gounod) Invocation (Avant de quitter) (Fr) 82702 609z G&T, Stockholm 1903-03
3. Favorita (Donizetti) Så mycken kärlek (A tanto amor) 082066 450ac Gramophone, Stockholm 1912-08-23
4. Finska rytteriets marsch (Den snöiga Nord) (trad) 2-82597 7036e G&T, Stockholm 1907-10
5. Föresats (A F Lindblad) 7-82029 13494o(sm) Gramophone, Stockholm 1916-12-28
6. Fridolins lustgård (Peterson-Berger) Böljebyvals 7-82002 13493o(sm) Gramophone, Stockholm 1916-12-28
7. Fylgia (Stenhammar) 082010 851f G&T, Stockholm 1904-10
8. Guillaume Tell (Rossini) Bön (Sois immobile) 2-82534 10278u G&T, Stockholm 1907-02-16/17
9. Hvil over Verden (Sjögren) 82776 413e G&T, Stockholm 1904-02
10. Hvita rosor (Körling) 100853 Dansk Fonograf Magasin (Pathé) cylinders & discs, København
11. Hytten er lukket (Serenade ved strandbredden) (Kjerulf) (soloist with Grammophonkvartetten) 67846-B 67846B Victor, USA
12. I seraillets have (Sjögren) V79 679Am Gramophone, Stockholm 1920-09-01
13. I skogen (Stenhammar) 2-82880 777ah Gramophone, Stockholm 1910-10-13
14. Ich möchte schweben (Sjögren) 2-42839 438e G&T, Stockholm 1904-02
15. Jahrlang möcht’ ich dich so halten (Sjögren) 2-42551 611z G&T, Stockholm 1903-03
16. Jeg giver mit digt till vaaren (Sjögren) 7-82033 13505o(sm) Gramophone, Stockholm 1916-12-29
17. Källan (Svedbom) 7-82001 13517o(sm) Gramophone, Stockholm 1916-12-30
18. Kungssången (O Lindblad) 67937-B 67937B Victor, USA
19. Melodi (Rangström) V86 676Am Gramophone, Stockholm 1920-09-01
20. Mignon (Thomas) Svalduetten (Légères hirondelles) (w. Hesse) 84086 10279u G&T, Stockholm 1907-02-16/17