Forgotten Opera Singers

Forgotten Opera Singers

Aug 28, 2011

Werner Alberti (Tenor) ( Gnessin 1863 - Berlin 1934)


The real name of this german tenor is Werner Krzywonos. He was born in Gnesen, Poland. He worked as a bank employee in Berlin, later he studied with Martin Roder in Berlin and with Mariano Padilla y Ramos, the husband of Desiree Artôt. In 1887 Alberti made his debut as a concert singer in Berlin, In the 1887-88 season he took a concert tours through completely Germany and through Switzerland. In 1888 he was engaged by Angelo Neumann to the German Theater in Prague. Here he made his debut as Manrico in ‘’Il Trovatore’’. From Prague he guested in 1889 at  the Vienna State Opera, he also appeared in St. Petersburg and Moscow. He remained till 1894 in Prague. In 1895 Alberti made very successful guest performance at the Teatro Margherita in Genoa and at the Teatro Lirico in Milan under the direction of Pietro Mascagni. From 1900 to 1902 he was engaged by the National Opera Theatre of Budapest. Later he lived in Berlin where he was often appeared at the Kroll Opera. In 1903 Alberti guested at the Vienna State Opera as Wilhelm Meister in ‘‘Mignon’’ of A. Thomas, in 1905 as Arnoldo in Rossini’s ‘’Guglielmo Tell’’. In 1907 he performed at the State Opera of Dresden. In 1917 he made guest performances in Bucharest and at the Teatro San Carlo, Lisbon. Laler he worked as a pedagoge in Berlin. Critics admired with metallic shine of his timbre and his 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.


I wish to thank David Martin for providing me this information

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)

8 comments:

  1. MOLTO BELLO!!! Thank you for sharing this valuable biographical information.

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  2. Werner Alberti was my maternal grandmother's uncle. It was very interesting to hear this as I had only ever heard him singing The Flying Dutchman on a single-sided shellac 78rpm record that I have inherited.

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    1. Dear friend thank you for your comment. Alberti was one of the best german tenors.
      All the best
      Ashot

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  3. A story told in my family that does not appear in the official biography:

    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.

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    1. Thanks David, I'm going to write in the bio section your text.
      All the best
      Ashot

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  4. Dear Ashot !
    In the early ninethies I found in Prague a record of Werner Alberti on
    the "Union Record" label. I never saw this label before! Between two crossed flags the is an Eagel. Is it possible that Alberti recorded this record in New York ??
    On it is the "Peitschenlied" aus der "Postillion von Lonjumeau" Union Record
    R 4808 - in ythe shellac is the number 14283.Hope you can tell me something about this record !

    With best wishes and greetings from Holland !

    Daniel.

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    1. Dear Daniel in 1912 Werner Alberti made his last recordings for the company Beka in Berlin. These recordings were published later also as Allegro and Union records and of course they are very rare. My best wishes to your family.

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  5. Here is the link to the 1909 filmed aria "O wie so trügerisch" from Rigoletto that used Werner Alberti's recording.
    https://www.filmportal.de/video/rigoletto-o-wie-so-truegerisch-1909

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