The San Francisco call., 1910-08-07
SINGERCHAMPIONS
AMERICAN MUSIC
italian Artist Espouses Cause of
Native Composer and
Offers Advice
By WALTER ANTHONY

Achille Alberti, barytone, actor and
one of the stars of the Bevani grand
opera company at Idora park. told me
some interesting truths during a short
interview last Friday night. He scores
with good natured energy our native
complaisance with foreign operas and
wonders why we have no translatio
worthy of the name.
Alberti knows what he's talking
about. He is a fine English scholar
His vocabulary is rich with unusual but
idea. inspiring words and expr essions.
His lexicon has been made UP from the
language of our best prose and poetry
makers. If it is not colloquial-it is
picturesque. In spirit he is a citizen
of the world. as any man might be who
is as much at home in Alexandria
Egypt, as in Bogota or New York or
Moscow or Milan.
He scolds US because we do not in
sist on translations into our own lam
guage of the libretti that France and
Germany and Italy make.
Alberti was formerly star in Saw
ages English grand opera company.
"Bonci," said he. agrees with me in
this He hopes to see the time when
the Metropolitan will echo to English
words. Bonci is a fellow townsman
of mine and a fine artist. I saw him
lately in New York, juse before he
started for Italy. When you see me
again. said he to me, I will be an
English scholar Bonci is a great
student"
Alberti is emphatic in his insistence
that English is a musical language and
easily sung. AT first" said he, while
with the Savage company, l found it
awkward to sing in English. Study,
however. overcame the difficulties and
now 1 enjoy singing in English, though
naturally I prefer TO sing in. my own
tongue.
One will have to spend the after
noon as well as the evening at Idora
park today in order to accomplish a
visit to all that is spread for the en-
joyment of amusement seekers and
music lovers.
The Bevani grand opera company
will be heard this afternoon, in a per-
formance of "Pagliacci." The Leonca-
vallo masterpiece will be repeated in
the evening with an alternating cast
and will be continued through the
week with a matinee next Saturday
Preceding the two act opera there
will be presented the third act of Doni-
zetti's immortal Lucia which con-
tains the ever popular sextet and the
climax of the opera.
The Navassars girls band, which ar
rived at the park last Thursday, Will
play their first Sunday concert in the
band pavilion today.
The cast for "Pagliaci" is as fol-
lews:
For this afternoon, Monday, Wednes-
day, Friday and Saturday night
Canio, Umberto Sacchetti; Tonic,
Achille Alberti; Media, Regina Vica-
rino. For Sunday night, Tuesday,
Thursday and Saturday matinee
Canio, Eugenio Battain; Tonic. Ettore
Campana, Media, Guiditta Francini.
At all performances-Silvio c. Swick-
ard; Beppe, Edmee de Dreux.
In Lucia" Miss Vicarino will sing
the titular role Sunday afternoon,
while Miss Francini will take the part
Sunday night. Edgardo will be sung
by Sacchetti at the afternoon per-
formance and Battain at the evening
The following will sing throughout the
week: Alice. Miss A Tully; Ashton, C.
Swickard; Norman, A. Messmer, and
Bide the Best, Joseph Florian. The
musical director is Roberto Francini.