I heard this version of O Holy Night on the radio once about 10 years ago. Never forgot it since, even if I don't know Swedish. Bjorling rocks.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvMQlMgjoPY
It is powerful even though I didn't understand a word he said. Music does have that ability to transcend language barriers.
That's the power of a trained operatic voice. You should become acquainted with others as well. I won't say I like all opera since I'm very selective there, but there are many good things. It's not "What can I record to sell a million copies?" type project.
I heard this version of O Holy Night on the radio once about 10 years ago. Never forgot it since, even if I don't know Swedish.
A Swedish classic (though I just found out it's originally French). We ended Midnight Mass with it yesterday. Most Swedish churches that can come up with a good enough soloist probably includes it in that Mass. For a male Swedish [church] singer it's probably the solo piece; like the Exsultet for a Catholic, the Kol Nidre for a Jew, Hamlet for an actor, Swan Lake for a ballet dancer...
I see YouTube have English versions with Susan Boyle and Sarah Brightman. In Sweden that simply isn't done. I'm not sure I have ever heard it sung in Swedish by a woman. (OK, I just found a couple of female Swedish versions on iTunes, so I guess it is done. Somewhere.)
Bjorling rocks.
Those who can hear such things generally seem to consider Jussi Björling our best male opera singer ever.
I didn't understand a word he said
Well, that can be remedied. Wikipedia has three different English versions, but all of them have little more than the theme in common with the Swedish text, so here's a completely un-poetic and un-idiomatic, but as literal as I can make it, translation in parallel with the Swedish text:5543.O helga natt.docx
Thank you Kenneth. Beautiful.
so here's a completely un-poetic and un-idiomatic, but as literal as I can make it, translation in parallel with the Swedish text
Yes! Thank you! Incredibly beautiful! *smile*
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