A note on Willy Alberti (1926-1985)

Most Dutch classical music lovers would raise eyebrows at seeing Willy Alberti included in this discography of Dutch Divas of opera and classical song. In The Netherlands, Alberti is primarily remembered as a singer of 'smartlaps,' the Dutch equivalent of the American tearjerker. However, from his earliest days on, Alberti had a keen interest in Italian canzone. He felt a link with the Naples of Caruso, and Neapolitan song defined much of the style that was developed in his native Amsterdam district, De Jordaan. Alberti also took some serious vocal coaching, and had a genuine High C. His 78RPM catalogue reveals that nearly half of it consisted of Italian canzone. In his earliest beginnings he also started listing himself as 'Willy Alberti, tenore.' Post his 78RPM years, he went on to record at least 2 long play albums with genuine opera arias; the most renowned of them is depicted here. Dutch opera lovers aren't always appraciative of his style, since in his operatic output, he maintained the larmoyant stylistic features of his tearjerk repertoire, most notably Gigli's excessive sobbing. Less prejudiced American opera friends, however, were amazed by his clear top notes. Alberti never appeared in a real opera, and sang only with microphone. Career wise one might compare him with Mario Lanza. Vocally, he was closer to, say, Joseph Schmidt. Life propelled him to become The Netherland's leading exponent of the 'smartlap' genre from the 1940's to the late 1970's. Regardless, we are sure that he would be very happy if he could see himself presented to an international audience as the opera singer that he always wanted to be.

DISCOGRAPHY

	City‑theater, Amsterdam, voorjaar 1941
WILLY ALBERTI met orgelbegeleiding [door Cor Steyn]
(De) F 42162	Grosford / Goeth / Reumer	Alleen	AM 717
(De) F 42162	Chris Reumer	Mijn Sprookjesboek	AM 718
		(Ik heb een heel mooi sprookjes boek)
	Brussel, ca. 1948
WILLY ALBERTI met Martin Erich en zijn Ballroom Orchestra
(Ol) 5483	Kees Manders / Hermany / Van Parys	Vaarwel - (ik moet je verlaten) – Marsch	17892
(Ol) 5483	Kees Manders / Hermany / Van Parys	Ja jou beminnen – Fox	17893
	Hilversum, ca. januari 1950
ANS HEIDENDAAL en WILLY ALBERTI met orkestbegeleiding o.l.v. Gerard van Krevelen
(Ph) PH 5251 / (De) M 32819	J.S. Fearis /J. Ditel =Johny Ditch	Droomland	AM 1981-A
(Ph) PH 5251 / (De) M 32819	Chris Reumer	Sprookjesboek	AM 1982-1B
	Het Hof van Holland,Hilversum, 27 september 1950
WILLY ALBERTI (zang) met orkestbegeleiding o.l.v. Jan Corduwener
(Ph) P 15321 H / (De) M 33021	R. Berthélemy/Roberto Marvasi/ (Ph) P 15321 H	Chi se nne scorda cchiu	XQ 1027‑NL
(Ph) P 34166 H	arr. Corduwener	Idem	AA 34166.1H
(Ph) P 15321 H / (De) M 33021	Vincenzo di Chiara / arr. Corduwener	La Spagnola	XQ 1028‑NL
(Ph) P 34166 H / (Ph) P 15484 H		Idem	AA 34166.2H
	Hilversum, 13 december 1950
WILLY ALBERTI (zang) met orkestbegeleiding o.l.v. Jan Corduwener
(Ph) P 34156 H / (De) M 33066	E. Taghaferri / Murolo	Piscatore 'e pussilleco	XQ 1088‑NL
		[sung in Italian]
(Ph) P 34156 H / (De) M 33066	G. Benavoloriz / F. Manlio	Nonna, nonna a surriento	XQ 1089‑NL
		[sung in Italian]
	Hilversum, 29 maart 1951
WILLY ALBERTI (zang) met orkestbegeleiding o.l.v. Jan Corduwener
(Ph) P 34102 H / (De) M 33128	F. P. Tosti	Marechiare	AA 34102‑1H
		[sung in Italian]
(Ph) P 34102 H / (De) M 33128	Guiotte	Canzone a possilipo	AA 34102‑2H
		[sung in Italian]
	Hilversum, 11 juli 1951
WILLY ALBERTI (zang) met orkestbegeleiding o.l.v. Jan Corduwener
(Ph) P 15484 H / (Ph) P 34249 H / (De) M 33245	Lacalle	Amapola	AA 34249‑1H
		[Gezongen in het Spaans]
(Ph) P 34249 H / (De) M 33245	E. Taghaferri / Murolo	Mandulinata a napule	AA 34249‑2H
		[Gezongen in het Napolitaans]
	Hilversum, 8 november 1951
WILLY ALBERTI (tenor) with orchestral accomp. directed by Jan Corduwener
(Ph) P 17033 H	de Curtis	Carmela	AA 17033.1H
		(Canto Serrentino)
		[sung in Italian]
(Ph) P 17033 H	C. A. Bixio / B. Cherubini	Mamma	AA 17033.2H
		[sung in Italian]
	Hilversum, 21 augustus 1953
WILLY ALBERTI (tenor) with Jan Corduwener and his orchestra
WILLY ALBERTI, Gesang, JAN CORDUWENER u.s. Orchester
(Ph) P 17209 H	Vian / de Crescenzo	Luna  rossa – Biguine	AA 17209.1H
		[sung in Italian]
(Ph) P 17209 H	Concina / Cherubini	Vola, colomba – Serenata	AA 17209.2H
		[sung in Italian]
	Hilversum, 14 mei 1954
WILLY ALBERTI (tenor) with Jan Corduwener and his orchestra
(Ph) SE 18 / (Ph) P 17319 H	C. A. Bixio	Vivere	AA 17319‑2H
		[Sung in Italian]
	Hilversum, 25 mei 1954
(Ph) SE 18 / (Ph) P 17319 H	Salve D 'Esposito / Tito Manlio	Anema e core	AA 17319‑1H
		[Sung in Italian]
	Hilversum, 15 september 1954
WILLY ALBERTI(tenor) with Jan Corduwener and his orchestra
(Ph) P 17362 H	Zmigrod / Poletto	Mantiglie rosse	AA 17362.1H
		[Sung in Italian]
(Ph) P 17362 H	Mangieri	Suonno d'ammore	AA 17362.2H
		[Sung in Italian]
	Hilversum, 11 oktober 1954
WILLY ALBERTI (zang) met orgelbegeleiding van Jan Corduwener
(Ph) SE  62  / (Ph) P 17367 H	Chris Reumer	Mijn sprookjesboek	AA 17367.1H
(Ph) SE  62  / (Ph) P 17367 H	Willy Rex	Ik hou van jou, mooi Amsterdam	AA 17367.2H
	Hilversum, 25 januari 1955
WILLY ALBERTI (zang) metorgelbegeleiding van Jan Corduwener
(Ph) SE  63 / (Ph) P 17411 H	Willy Rex	Ik voel me een Koning	AA 17411.1H
(Ph) SE  63 / (Ph) P 17411 H	Willy Rex	Mijn mooi Holland klein	AA 17411.2H
	Hilversum, 12 april 1955
WILLY ALBERTI (zang) met orkestbegeleiding o.l.v. Jan Corduwener
(Ph) P 17443 H	Willy Rex	Moeder	AA 17443.1H
(Ph) P 17443 H	Tom Erich / Joop Korver	Tabé, ouwe Wester	AA 17443.2H
	Hilversum, 19 juni 1955
WILLY ALBERTI (vocal) with Lex Karsemeyer's Girls‑Choir “Sweet Sixteen” and orchestral accompaniment directed by Jan Corduwener
(Ph) P 17485 H	S. Seracini / Minoretti	Ci‑cìu‑cì	AA 17485.1H
		(cantava un usignol...)
		[sung in Italian]
(Ph) P 17485 H	Fuccilli / Fanciulli	Arriva il direttore	AA 17485.2H
		[sung in Italian]
	Hilversum, 18 juli 1955
WILLY ALBERTI (zang) met orkestbegeleiding o.l.v. Jan Corduwener
(Ph) P 17499 H	Willy Rex	Als een wilde Orchidee	AA 17499.1H
(Ph) P 17499 H	Louis Noiret / Henvo	Ik maak van je leven een sprookje	AA 17499.2H
	Hilversum, 26 augustus 1955
WILLY ALBERTI (zang) met orkestbegeleiding o.l.v. Jan Corduwener en zang van de Aethergeuzen o.l.v. Lex Karsemeyer
(Ph) P 17510 H	Dick Valentijn	Mijn Amsterdam	AA 17510.1H
(Ph) P 17510 H	Louis Noiret / Henvo	Aan 't Amsterdamse IJ	AA 17510.2H
	Hilversum, 13 april 1956
WILLY ALBERTI (zang) met orkestbegeleiding o.l.v. Jan Corduwener
(Ph) P 17581 H	Willy Rex	Elke dag... zonder jou	AA 17581.1H
(Ph) P 17581 H	Jan van Laar / Joop Korver	Heimwee	AA 17581.2H
	Hilversum, 11 juli 1956
WILLY ALBERTI(zang) with orchestral directed by Jan Corduwener
(Ph) P 17626 H	Panzuti / Pinchi	Aprite le finestre	AA 17626.1H
		[sung in Italian]
(Ph) P 17626 H	Calcagno / N. Oliviero	La vita e' un paradiso di bugie	AA 17626.2H
		[sung in Italian]
	Hilversum, 9/14 oktober 1956
WILLY ALBERTI with Lex Karsemeyer's Girls‑Choir “Sweet Sixteen” and orchestral accompaniment directed by Jan Corduwener
(Ph) P 17652 H	Van Wood / Pisano	Mia cara Carolina	AA 17652.1H
		[sung in Italian]
(Ph) P 17652 H	Savona / Giacobetti	Ricordate marcellino?	AA 17652.2H
		[sung in Italian]
	Hilversum, 24 maart 1957
WILLY ALBERTI (vocal) with Lex Karsemeyer's Girls‑Choir “Sweet Sixteen” and orchestra directed by Jos Cleber
(Ph) P 17730 H	Monreal / Currito	Tani	AA 17730.1H
		[sung in Spanish]
(Ph) P 17730 H	Malgoni / Perrone / Biri	Scusami	AA 17730.2H
		[sung in Italian]
	Hilversum, 12 juli 1957
WILLY ALBERTI met orkest  o.l.v. Jos Cleber
(Ph) P 17761 H	Young / Adamson / Stan Haag	De wereld rond	AA 17761.1H
		(Around the world)
(Ph) P 17761 H	Willy Rex	Twee lippen zo rood	AA 17761.2H
	Hilversum, 25 oktober 1957
WILLY ALBERTI (vocal) with Lex Karsemeyer's Girls‑Choir “Sweet Sixteen” met orkestbegleiding o.l.v. Jan Corduwener
(Ph) P 18001 H	Pazzaglia / Modugno	Lazzarella	AA 18001.1H
		[sung in Italian]
(Ph) P 18001 H	Fred. Albano / P. Vento	Scapricciatiello	AA 18001.2H
		[sung in Italian]
	Hilversum, oktober 1957
WILLY ALBERTI met orkestbegeleiding van Jos Cleber
(Ph) P 18007 H	A.V. Savona / G. Giacobetti / Marijke van Demer	Tikkido	AA 18007.1H
		(Pikisò)
		(uit de Standaard-film: “De betovering van het woud”)
(Ph) P 18007 H	F. Lavagnino / G. Giacobetti / Marijke van Demer	Troemba	AA 18007.2H
		(L'Incanto Della Foresta)
		(uit de Standaard-film: “De betovering van het woud”)
	Hilversum, 11 september 1958
Willy Alberti with Orchestral accompaniment
(Ph) P 18064 H	Panzori / Taccani / Di Paola	Come prima
		[sung in Italian]
(Ph) P 18064 H	G. D. Anzi / A. Bracchi	Ti dirò...
		[sung in Italian]
	- Info.: vermoedelijk niet op 78 toeren uitgebracht
	Hilversum, eind 1959
Willy Alberti with orchestra directed by Jack Bulterman
(De) F 11191 / (Lo) AB 422390 / (Ph) PS 121	Rocco Granata	Marina	AA 18292.1F
(De) F 11191 / (Lo) AB 422390 / (Ph) PS 121	Sciorilli / Pirro / Bonagura	Cerasella	AA 18292.2F
		(Canzone Allegra)
	Hilversum, eind 1959
Willy Alberti with orchestra directed by Jack Bulterman
(Ph) PS 118	Capotosti / Gentile	Julia	AA 318295‑1F
(Ph) PS 118	Malgont	Guarda che Luna	AA 318295‑2F
		Info.: De Philips platen zijn ook uitgebracht in het BUITENLAND,
		labels Philips - SE, PS, Londen - AB op Decca - F.