This Is Your Life: Alberto Semprini

Alberto SEMPRINI (1908-1990)

THIS IS YOUR LIFE – Alberto Semprini, pianist, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews while launching a new recording at Chappells in Bond Street, London.

Alberto, who was born in Bath, moved to Milan in 1919, where he was later appointed assistant to Toscanini. Dedicated to the piano, he graduated in conducting and composition and was then invited to make a record – became one of Italy's first recording stars, before forming a popular piano-playing duo with Bormeoli – and became famous throughout Europe.

He became a piano-playing star on transatlantic liners to America but spent the Second World War trapped in Italy, where he refused to play. Once the Allies arrived, he entertained troops with ENSA. In 1948, he moved to UK and appeared in cabaret and the following year made his first radio programme, and later went on a nationwide tour of variety halls. In 1959, Semprini Serenades radio show.

programme details...

Edition No: 466
Subject No: 462
Broadcast live: Wed 20 Apr 1977
Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
Recorded: Wed 6 Apr 1977
Venue: Euston Road Studios
Series: 17
Edition: 26
Code name: Caravan

on the guest list...

Kikko - son
Leylo - son
Consuelo - wife
Chris - son
Chevi - son
Hayley - daughter-in-law
Victor Smith
Tino - brother
Eva Turner
Walter Landauer
Jon Pertwee
Beryl Reid
Ian Wallace
Dr Nicholas Palmer
Gracie Fields
Giorgio - son
Ann Margrita - daughter-in-law
Tatina - granddaughter
Elizabeth - granddaughter
Olive Dutton

production team...

Researchers: Marilyn Gaunt, Tony Lee
Writers: Tom Brennand, Roy Bottomley
Directors: Terry Yarwood, Anthony Parker
Executive Producer: Jack Andrews
Producer: Jack Crawshaw

names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life

related pages...

A Musical Life

blowing a trumpet for the musicians

Screenshots of Alberto Semprini This Is Your Life

Giorgio Semprini, son of Alberto Semprini, recalls his experience of This Is Your Life in this exclusive contribution to the BigRedBook website...

Giorgio was living in Italy at the time of the tribute and received a telephone invitation from London to appear on the programme.

He insisted on bringing his whole family to London for the show, despite the production team initially only inviting him. This was because his father had never met his Norwegian wife and two little daughters.

Before the show, in the hotel, Giorgio remembers that none of the Semprinis were registered by their own surnames but by the name of a local town. This was a way of concealing the visitors, keeping prying journalists away and maintaining Alberto's surprise.

Giorgio's two daughters remember the event as very exciting and glittering. Although they remember little of the actual details, it is still an unforgettable childhood memory.

After the recording, the whole family went out for dinner. Giorgio recalls that the whole gathering was very hearty, happy, and full of humour. The family became rather loud with their laughter and talk, so much so that the "pater familias," Alberto, almost felt a little embarrassed. The same thing happened in the taxi back to the hotel.

Sebastian Lassandro recalls this edition of This Is Your Life in his book, Pride Of Our Alley The Life of Dame Gracie Fields Volume II: 1939-1979...

On April 11, Gracie flew in to England specially to appear as a surprise guest on Alberto Semprini's This Is Your Life, spending nine days in London.

In the edition, broadcast on April 20, Gracie enters singing "Sally" and recalls how Gracie ruined Semprini's act at the opera house in Rome during the war.

"We had a little rehearsal in some little room, and I didn't know who it was. I just thought it was some other ENSA pianist, as I had one everywhere I moved, but when he started to play, I thought, 'This fella can play better than I can sing!'"

Series 17 subjects