Description

WERNER ALBERTI (GNESSIN, 21 JANUARY, 1860 – BERLIN, 29 NOVEMBER, 1934)

 

 

 

 

Werner Alberti (real name Werner Krzywonos) was born in Gnesen, Poland. Initially working as a bank employee in Berlin, he later pursued his musical studies with Martin Roder in Berlin and Mariano Padilla y Ramos, the husband of Désirée Artôt.

He made his debut as a concert singer in Berlin in 1887 and spent the 1887-88 season touring Germany and Switzerland. In 1888, he was engaged by Angelo Neumann at the German Theater in Prague, where he made his operatic debut as Manrico in Il Trovatore.

From Prague, Alberti made guest appearances at the Vienna State Opera in 1889, and he also performed in St. Petersburg and Moscow. He remained in Prague until 1894. In 1895, Alberti achieved notable success with guest performances at the Teatro Margherita in Genoa and the Teatro Lirico in Milan, where he performed under the direction of Pietro Mascagni.

From 1900 to 1902, he was engaged by the National Opera Theatre of Budapest. Afterward, he resided in Berlin and frequently appeared at the Kroll Opera. In 1903, he was a guest at the Vienna State Opera, performing as Wilhelm Meister in Mignon by Ambroise Thomas, and in 1905, he sang as Arnoldo in Gioachino Rossini’s Guglielmo Tell. In 1907, he performed at the State Opera in Dresden.

In 1917, Alberti made guest appearances in Bucharest and at the Teatro San Carlo in Lisbon. After his performing career, he worked as a pedagogue in Berlin.

Critics admired his voice for its metallic sheen and ringing top notes. Werner Alberti died in Berlin.

At the height of his popularity Werner Alberti got a contract for an American tour and arrived in New York to begin it. He then received a telegram that his mother was quite ill, broke his contract and immediately returned to Germany. He never got another chance to come to the United States.

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1895 Genova Teatro Margherita Trovatore (Manrico)

1896 Lisbona Teatro San Carlos Lohengrin (Lohengrin)

1896 Lisbona Coliseo Recrejos Cavalleria Rusticana (Turiddu)

1897 Genova Teatro Carlo Felice Lohengrin (Lohengrin)

1897 Milano Teatro Lirico Cavalleria Rusticana (Turiddu)

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Vesti la giubba B. 3563-II  14285 Beka, Berlin 1912-07

Postillon de Longjumeau (Adam) Freunde, vernehmet die Geschichte 50168 xB1642 Odeon, Berlin 1906 (autumn)

Postillon de Longjumeau (Adam) Postillionslied 1-15352 1126-o- Favorite, Berlin 1906-01-13

Postillon de Longjumeau (Adam) Postillonlied 1044 Homokord, Berlin 1906-05-14

Postillon de Longjumeau (Adam) Postillonlied 34283 xB671 Odeon, Berlin 1905-09

Postillon de Longjumeau (Adam) Täubchenlied 14284 14284 Beka, Berlin 1912-07

Prophète (Meyerbeer) Triumphgesang 15072 Edison cylinders, Berlin 1904-03

Rigoletto (Verdi) Ach wie so trugerisch 50160 xB1646 Odeon, Berlin 1906 (autumn)

Rigoletto (Verdi) O wie so trügerisch 21025 2467 Polyphon, Berlin 1910-10

Sag’ mir nur einmal ja! (Herrmann) 34286 xB666 Odeon, Berlin 1905-09

Tosca (Puccini) Und es blitzten die Sterne A43339 Odeon, Berlin 1910-08

Traviata (Verdi) Parigi, o cara with Frau Heymann- Engel 1-39001 1220-o- Favorite, Berlin 1906-01

Trovatore (Verdi) Einsam steh’ ich (Ständchen) 12276 Edison cylinders, Berlin 1904-08

Trovatore (Verdi) Einsam steh’ ich (Ständchen) 50152 xB1641 Odeon, Berlin 1906 (autumn)

Trovatore (Verdi) Mein letzter Hauch noch sage dir 34282 xB670 Odeon, Berlin 1905-09

Trovatore (Verdi) Miserere with Frau Heymann- Engel 1-39001 1221-o- Favorite, Berlin 1906-01

Trovatore (Verdi) Ständchen 34281 xB668 Odeon, Berlin 1905-09