Alberghetti, Anna Maria (1936—)
Alberghetti, Anna Maria (1936—)
Italian singer and actress. Born on May 15, 1936, in Pesaro, Italy; eldest of three children of Daniele (a cellist) and Vittoria Alberghetti (a pianist); married Claudio Guzman (a producer-director; now divorced); children: Alexander and Pilar.
As a child, Anna Maria Alberghetti sang for candy from American troops who were marching through Italy in 1944. At age 12, she made her first European concert tour. Two years later, she made her U.S. debut at Carnegie Hall (1950). "When it was over, the audience stood up and cheered," wrote Time, "famous singers stepped forward to congratulate her, and surprised music critics for the Manhattan press dashed off to write enthusiastic pieces for the morning papers."
That same year, she made her film debut as Monica in Gian-Carlo Menotti's opera The Medium. Groomed by Paramount for parts once played by Deanna Durbin , Alberghetti gave a "standout" rendition of the "Caro Nome" aria from Rigoletto in Here Comes the Groom (1951), which featured Bing Crosby. Her other films include The Stars Are Singing (with Rosemary Clooney , 1953), The Last Command (1955), 10,000 Bedrooms (1957), Duel at Apache Wells (1957), and Cinderfella (1960). After starring on Broadway in the musical Carnival, for which she won a Tony Award, Alberghetti retired in 1961.