A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Randegger, Alberto

by George Grove

RANDEGGER, Alberto, composer, conductor, and singing-master, was born at Trieste, April 13, 1832. He began the study of music at the age of 13, under Lafont for the PF., and L. Ricci for composition, soon began to write, and by the year 1852 was known as the composer of several masses and smaller pieces of Church music, and of two ballets—'La Fidanzata di Castellainare' and 'La Sposa d'Appenzello,' both produced at the Teatro grande of his native town. In the latter year he joined three other of Ricci's pupils in the composition of a buffo opera to a libretto by Gaetano Rossi, entitled 'Il Lazzarone,' which had much success, first at the Teatro Maurona [App. p.766 "Mauroner"] at Trieste, and then elsewhere. The next two years were occupied as musical director of theatres at Fiume, Zera [App. p.766 "Zara"], Sinigaglia, Brescia, and Venice. In the winter of 1854 he brought out a tragic opera in 4 acts called 'Bianca Capello' at the chief theatre of Brescia. At this time Signor Randegger was induced to come to London. He gradually took a high position there, and has become widely known as a teacher of singing, conductor, and composer, and an enthusiastic lover of good music of whatever school or country. He has resided in England ever since, and is one of the most prominent musical figures in the metropolis. In 1864 he produced at the Theatre Royal, Leeds, 'The Rival Beauties,' a comic operetta in 2 acts, which has had much success in London and many other places. In 1868 he became Professor of Singing at the Royal Academy of Music, and has since been made a director [App. p.766 "an honorary member and director"] of that institution and a member of the Committee of Management. In the autumn of 1857 he conducted a series of Italian operas at St. James's Theatre, and in 1879–80 the Carl Rosa company at Her Majesty's Theatre. [App. p.766 "for 1879–80 read 1879–85, omitting the words Her Majesty's Theatre from the next line. He superintended the productions and conducted the performances of the following operas, produced for the first time in English:—'Carmen,' 'Taming of the Shrew,' 'Lohengrin,' and 'Tannhäuser,' besides 'Esmeralda' and 'Nadeschda' by A. Goring Thomas."] He has recently been appointed conductor of the Norwich Festival vice Sir Julius Benedict resigned.

Mr. Randegger's published works are numerous and important. They comprise a large dramatic cantata (words by Mad. Rudersdorff), entitled 'Fridolin,' composed for the Birmingham Festival, and produced there with great success, Aug. 28, 1873 (Chappell); two soprano scenas—'Medea,' sung by Mad. Rudersdorff at the Gewandhaus, Leipzig, in 1869, and 'Saffo,' sung by Mad. Lemmens at the British Orchestral Society, March 31, 1875; the 150th Psalm, for soprano solo, chorus, orchestra and organ, for the Boston Festival, 1872; Funeral Anthem for the death of the Prince Consort, twice performed in London; and a large number of songs and concerted vocal music for voice and orchestra or PF. [App. p.766–7 "A scena by him, set to words from Byron's 'Prayer of Nature,' for tenor and orchestra, was given at a Philharmonic Concert in 1887."] He is also the author of the Primer of Singing, in Dr. Stainer's series (Novello). As a teacher of singing Mr. Randegger has a large number of pupils now before the English public as popular singers.

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