Il trovatore
Björling made his debut at the Royal Opera House in London in 1939 as Manrico in "Il trovatore". The war confined his appearances to Europe. He appeared in opera in Copenhagen, Helsinki and Budapest and made his Italian debut at the Teatro Comunale, Florence, in 1943 in "Il trovatore". In 1944 Björling was appointed "hovsångare" (i.e. "Royal Court Singer") by the Swedish King, Gustaf V.