John Forsell

The Last Singing Despot

John Forsell is portrayed in full on 4 CDs and a book in the 6th volume of the Caprice Collector’s Classics series.

In addition to the recording of Le Nozze di Figaro from 1937, there are 48 opera arias and songs from recordings made between 1903 and 1922, selected from a total of 270 gramophone recordings.

The first session, from March 1903, forms a little concert on its own; The accompanist on that occasion was none other than Wilhelm Stenhammar, whose piano-playing had previously only been documented on piano rolls for player-piano. Here his musicianship truly lives up to its posthumous renown.

The world’s oldest Mozart recording (the only recording with non-legato singing), made by a fellow student of Forsell’s teacher Peder Schram (1819–1895), is included as a bonus, as well as the oldest Swedish Mozart recording from 1900, which may be an imitation of Carl Johan Uddman.

Selection, technical processing and commentaries are made by the chief editor of the series, Carl-Gunnar Åhlén.

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    • CD 1
      • 1.
        Så strålar du... Music: Richard Wagner
        3'12
      • 2.
        O hör nattens tystnad Music: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
        1'56
      • 3.
        Avant de quitter ces lieux Music: Charles Gounod
        3'34
      • 4.
        Vallarelåt Music: Ivar Widéen Text: Fröding Gustaf
        1'57
      • 5.
        Den nalkande stormen Music: Erik Gustaf Geijer Text: Erik Gustaf Geijer
        2'01
      • 6.
        Skärslipargossen Music: Erik Gustaf Geijer Text: Erik Gustaf Geijer
        2'48
      • 7.
        Jahrlang möcht'ich dich Music: Emil Sjögren Text: Julius Wolff
        2'13
      • 8.
        Ich möchte scheben Music: Emil Sjögren Text: Julius Wolff
        3'06
      • 9.
        Dryckesvisa Music: Emil Sjögren Text: Souchay, Theodor
        1'32
      • 10.
        Fylgia Music: Wilhelm Stenhammar Text: Gustaf Fröding
        1'33
      • 11.
        Hennes skönhet överstrålar (Il balen del suo sorriso) Music: Giuseppe Verdi
        3'22
      • 12.
        Du bör ej fruktan bära (La ci darem la mano) Music: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Text: Da Ponte
        3'21
      • 13.
        Ser du, av tårar ska en flod...Han är fri (Mira da'cerbe...Vivrà) Music: Giuseppe Verdi
      • 14.
        Skall jag då ej längre vänta (Toreadorarian) Music: Geroges Bizet
        2'43
      • 15.
        Håll dig blott stilla (Preghiera) Music: Giacomo Rossini
        2'32
      • 16.
        Du svala som dig svingar (Légères hirondelles) Music: Ambroise Thomas
        2'52
      • 17.
        Till dig mig föra skäl av vikt Music: Giuseppe Verdi
        3'21
      • 18.
        Jag är faktotum (Largo al factotum) Music: Giacomo Rossini
      • 19.
        Skall jag förgäves brinna (Vedro mentr'io) Music: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Text: Da Ponte
        2'42
      • 20.
        Hvil over verden Music: Emil Sjögren
        2'55
      • 21.
        En vårdag Music: Adolf Fredrik Lindblad Text: Adolf Fredrik Lindblad
        3'16
      • 22.
        Skymning Music: Armas Järnefelt Text: Stjärne, Oscar
        1'53
      • 23.
        Svarta Rosor Music: Jean Sibelius Text: Josephson, Ernst
        2'00
      • 24.
        Säv säv susa Music: Jean Sibelius
        2'15
      • 25.
        I skogen Music: Wilhelm Stenhammar Text: Gellerstedt, A T
        2'31
      • 26.
        Så mycken kärlek bör Ni väl besvara (A tanto amor) Music: Gaetano Donizetti
        3'45
      • 27.
        Der Augen Leuchtendes Paar Music: Richard Wagner
        4'26
    • CD 2
      • Le Nozze di Figaro Music: W. A. Mozart Text: Da Ponte
        • 1.
          Ouverture
          3'53
        • 2.
          Nr.1 Cinque, dieci, venti, trenta (Figaro, Susanna)
          2'30
        • 3.
          Nr.2 Duettino: Se a caso madama (Figaro,Susanna)
          2'30
        • 4.
          Nr.3 Cavatina: Se voul ballare (Figaro)
          3'13
        • 5.
          Nr 4. Aria: La vendetta, oh la vendetta (Bartolo)
          2'50
        • 6.
          Nr.5 Duettino: Via resti servita! (Marcellina, Susanna)
          2'02
        • 7.
          Nr.6 Aria: Non so più cosa son! (Cherubino)
          2'02
        • 8.
          Nr.7 Terzetto: Cosa sento! tosto! andate!
          4'07
        • 9.
          Nr.8 Coro: Giovani lieti,fiori spargete!
          0'59
        • 10.
          Nr.9 Aria: Non più andrai farfallone! (Figaro)
          3'49
      • 11.
        Böjlebyvals Music: Wilhelm Peterson-Berger Text: Karlfeldt, E A
        3'06
      • 12.
        Den Skeppsbrutne Music: Adolf Fredrik Lindblad Text: Adolf Fredrik Lindblad
        4'15
      • 13.
        Föresats Music: Adolf Fredrik Lindblad Text: Adolf Fredrik Lindblad
        2'16
      • 14.
        Til majdag Music: Wilhelm Peterson-Berger Text: Jens Peter Jacobsen
        2'36
      • 15.
        Det far ett skepp Music: Wilhelm Stenhammar Text: Bergman, Bo
        1'55
      • 16.
        Lycklandsresan Music: Wilhelm Stenhammar Text: Bergman, Bo
        2'23
      • 17.
        Jeg giver mit Digt till Vaaren Music: Emil Sjögren Text: Björnstjerne Björnson
        1'34
      • 18.
        Vi äro lika (Pari siamo) Music: Giuseppe Verdi
        4'04
      • 19.
        Om ödet mig behagat giva (Onegins aria) Music: Pjotr Tjajkovskij
        3'56
      • 20.
        a) Fritt må champagnen Music: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
        1'10
      • 21.
        b) Fich'han dal vino Music: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
        1'08
      • 22.
        Sverige Music: Wilhelm Stenhammar Text: Verner Von Heidenstam
        3'04
      • 23.
        Ro, ro, ögonsten Music: Emil Sjögren Text: Gellerstedt, A T
        3'06
    • CD 3
      • Le Nozze di Figaro Music: W.A. Mozart Text: Da Ponte
        • 1.
          Nr.10 Cavatina: Porgi amor
        • 2.
          Nr.11 Canzona: Voi che sapete (Cherubino)
          3'00
        • 3.
          Nr.12 Aria: Venite inginocchiatevi (Sunanna)
          2'48
        • 4.
          Nr 13. Terzetto: Susanna or via sortite? (Il conte, la contessa, Susanna)
        • 5.
          Nr.14 Duettino: Aprite, presto aprite!!
          0'52
        • 6.
          Nr.15 Finale: Escio mai, garzon malnato!
      • 7.
        Melodi Text: Bo Bergman
        1'40
      • 8.
        Sommarnatten Music: Rangström Ture Text: Johan Ludvig Runeberg
        2'44
      • 9.
        I Seraillets have Music: Emil Sjögren Text: J.P Jacobsen
        2'57
      • 10.
        De fångna Music: Ture Rangström Text: Johan Ludvig Runeberg
        3'52
      • 11.
        Den svernske Celadons klagovisa Music: Josef Eriksson Text: Gustaf Fröding
        2'03
      • 12.
        Det vare nog (it is enough) Music: Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy
        4'06
      • 13.
        Alt vandrer Maanen Music: Emil Sjögren
        3'13
      • 14.
        Ballad Music: Ture Rangström
        3'55
      • 15.
        Ett Helicons blomster Music: Ture Rangström Text: Gustaf Fröding
        2'31
      • 16.
        Sjaelden Penge (Notte giorno faticar takt 10-70) Music: W. A. Mozart
        1'43
      • 17.
        Listearian: (Madamina, takt 2-37) Music: W.A Mozart
        0'53
      • 18.
        Bartolos aria ”La vendetta”
        2'21
    • CD 4
      • Le Nozze di Figaro, akt 3 Music: W.A. Mozart
        • 1.
          Akt 3 Le nozze di Figaro Music: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Text: Da Ponte
          46'00
        • 2.
          Nr.16 Duetto: Crudel! perchè finora? (Il Conte, Susanna)
          2'35
        • 3.
          Nr.17 Recitativo ed Aria: Hai già vinta la causa!..Vedro..
          5'31
        • 4.
          Nr.18 Sestetto: Riconosci in questo amplesso
          4'48
        • 5.
          Nr.19 Recitativo ed Aria: E Susanna non vien!..Dove...
          6'08
        • 6.
          Nr.20 Duettino: Che soave zefiretto
          2'35
        • 7.
          Nr. 21 Coro: Ricevete, o padroncina (soprano I II)
          1'08
        • 8.
          Nr.22 Eccola la marcia! (Figaro, Susanna, Il Conte, La Contessa ...)
          7'40
        • 9.
          Nr.23 Cavatina: L'ho perduta, me meshina! (Barbarina)
          1'28
        • 10.
          Nr.26 Recitativo ed Aria: Tutto è disposto...(Figaro)
          3'73
        • 11.
          Nr 27 Recitativo ed Aria: Giunse al fin il momento...Dèh..
          4'73
        • 12.
          Nr. 28 Finale: Pian pianin le andrò più presto! Gente...
  • Total playtime 238'34

Compact Disc // CAP 21586 // Collector’s Classics // Classical/Opera // Releasedate: 1 January, 1998