THEATRICAL OPERATIC TENOR ALBIN WERNER BRONX NY PHOTO ALBUM & VINYL RECORD COLLECTION
Item #1663
Remarkable mid-20th century archive relating to operatic tenor Albin Werner of Northampton, Massachusetts, later active in New York performance circles. Werner’s name appears in contemporary programs and records as “Alan,” “Allen,” or “Allan” Werner, though family provenance identifies his given name as Albin. The album cover page is inscribed, “This book belongs to Alan Werner.”
The group centers on a 13” x 10” photograph album containing 77 photographs across 38 leaves / 76 pages, documenting Werner and fellow performers in a wide range of staged operatic and theatrical productions, apparently in the Bronx, New York area. Thirteen photographs, including performance stills and headshots, are loose. Seven leaves at the back are blank. The original covers are removed, with the album block remaining; the black paper pages show heavy edge chipping, tears, flaking, detached/loose leaves, and general fragility from age.
Werner appears prominently throughout, often in costume, singing or acting with choruses and fellow cast members. Nearly all of the photographs are carefully captioned by hand with the names of roles, performers, and lines from the scenes depicted. Many captions are in Italian or French and appear to quote directly from the opera or play shown. Photographers represented include Albert Cambetes of Bronx, New York, Ellen Chilton, Henk Moonen, Universal Newspix Service, and Perez of New York.
Productions represented include ROMEO AND JULIET, LA TRAVIATA, DON GIOVANNI, PAGLIACCI, RIGOLETTO, LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR, THE MAGIC FLUTE, OTHELLO, IL TROVATORE, FAUST, MANON, THE BARTERED BRIDE, THE ABDUCTION FROM THE SERAGLIO, LES CONTES D’HOFFMANN, and others. Several pages are especially striking, including masked figures from DON GIOVANNI, multiple staged scenes from PAGLIACCI, a large ensemble scene with orchestra visible below the stage, scenes from RIGOLETTO, and a dramatic studio-style portrait from LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR.
Included with the archive is a program for The Lauritz Melchior Show, which contains a biographical write-up on “Alan Werner, Tenor.” The biography notes that Werner had earlier worked as a popular singer and soloist with name bands including Ray Noble, Jack Donahue, Freddie Grofe, and Glen Gray; appeared at venues such as the Rainbow Room atop New York’s RCA Building, the Paramount and Capitol Theatres; and sang in Paramount and Warner Brothers motion picture shorts. It further states that he later transitioned to classical music, performing with major orchestras including the NBC Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony, Detroit Symphony, and Toronto Philharmonic, and appearing in 23 operas. On December 13, 1952, Werner reportedly sang the leading tenor role in the first American performance of Smetana’s THE KISS. The write-up also notes that he was a graduate of the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music and a linguist fluent in no fewer than sixteen languages.
Also preserved with the album are 17 records, including commercial pressings and personal/audition recordings connected to Werner. Several are Harmonia Records Corp. pressings, including Allan Werner singing the Polish National Anthem, “The Song of the Polish Underground,” “The Cosaque,” “Umarł Maciek,” “Szumiał Jodły Na Gór Szczycie” from HALKA, and “Kujawiak” by Henryk Wieniawski. Other records include polkas, works by H. Leopold Spitalny and his orchestra, Enrico Caruso’s “Nina,” orchestral pieces, and choral arrangements.
The personal recording discs are especially interesting, including Soundcraft and Audiodisc recording blanks with handwritten labels. One Soundcraft audition record “For Barbara” is inscribed, “What this tune is all about — A.” Other handwritten notes appear to identify operatic material, including “O paradiso,” “singing a ballad,” and “taken during operatic performance.” Some notes evaluate the voice as “good voice” or “fair.” One record is housed in a Bluebird Records sleeve, with a Decca label for “Two Guitars” by H. Leopold Spitalny and His Orchestra. The records show visible handling wear, scuffs, dust, and sleeve wear, and have not been play-tested.
A substantial and unusual archive documenting a working mid-century operatic tenor, with performance photographs, handwritten theatrical captions, program biography, and associated recordings. Strong Bronx/New York theater, opera, Polish-American music, and performer-history interest.
Price: $995.00