Rome has its beauteous women, Florence its priceless art and Venice its graceful gondolas. But far to the south, Naples possesses everything else that makes life worth living. For centuries, the aesthetic Neapolitans have created a remarkable portion of Italy's — and the world's — best music and musicians. Nor is it difficult to find, in old Napoli, women, art and gondolas comparable to those boasted by the three rival cities to the north.

Every year, as summer nears its end, the artistic folk of Naples enthusiastically celebrate their world-renowned "Piedigrotta," a gala festival dedicated to the presentation of new songs—the best are awarded coveted prizes—and featuring Italy's most popular singers and orchestras to insure top-drawer presentations of each new composition entered in the frenzied competition.

And that, as the celebrating paesani say, is where Sergio Bruni comes in.

Bruni is the Neapolitans´ favorite, an idol with an emotional tenor voice and a knack for phrasing lyrics which makes even mediocre songs sound good. Napoli-born Giuseppe Anapeta conducts the accompanying orchestra for Sergio, as he does on all of Brunt's records and most of his radio and television appearances. Together, the Signori Bruni and Anapeta have become a vital part of the annual "Piedigrotta" festivities, and music publishers long ago learned that when Bruni introduces an untried new song in Naples, it will become a hit.

As recently as 1955, Bruni made great European successes out of "Ddoje Stelle so´ Cadute" and "0 Ritratto ´e Nanninella" from his "Piedigrotta" appearances. Both are included in the Long Playing Version of this album and in Part 3 of Capitol´s 45 r. p.m. Extended Play version of "Neapolitan Songs."

Naples, set in one of the most attractive physical locations on the globe — as the photograph on the cover of this album only partially demonstrates — is dominated by the azure bay of the brilliant Mediterranean, wooded hills and once - mighty Vesuvius. Its history is tragic. As recently as World War II it was heavily bombed by the Americans, razed by the Nazis, and before that was conquered by Greeks, Goths, Lombards, Byzantines and the Normans. But its great medieval castles (Castel dell'Oro, Castel Nuovo and Castel Sant 'Eimo) are still proudly standing, and the far-famed San Carlo Opera House (which opened its doors in 1737) is yet presenting the world's finest classical music with only the most renowned singers, musicians and conductors programmed.

And along the Galleria Umberto the native Neapolitan is almost without exception of light, gay heart in this comparatively peaceful era of the late 1950´s. Some of the best of Europe´s pop mucic is being conceived and launched on the long and difficult road to international "hit" status in old Napoli. On the steamers to Capri—90 minutes' away—and at nearby Pompeii, Sorrento and Positano—two hours´ distance—one will hear the boatmen (Giuseppe Scarola is famous throughout the Continent as a sailor-singer), the flower vendors, the bellboys at the Excelsior and Vesuvio all whistling the very songs that the favored Signer Bruni sings so effectively in this album.

These are, truly and with no effort made to "adapt" them for North American appeal, Neapolitan Songs sung by a prime Naples favorite. Capitol is privileged to present them through the talents of Signori Bruni and Anapeta.

Guglieimo Chianese, until he was 16, was an obscure Italian youngster studying clarinet and voice with Viltorio Parisi in his native Italy.

Came 1945, and Guglieimo Chianese became Sergio Bruni. Adjudged winner of a regional singing competition sponsored by the Italian Government Radio, young Bruni began a series of broadcasts (with Gino Campese´s orchestra) that led to personal appearances in theaters throughout Italy. His first records, in 1948, established him further, and by 1949 he had achieved wide-spread fame as a result of his first appearance at the Naples "Piedigrotta."

In Naples, Bruni also met Maestro Giuseppe Anapeta, and together they scored enviable successes on broadcasts and scores of "La Voce del Padrone" records. Today, Bruni is one of Italy´s most popular tenors, and his fame is apparent throughout the Continent and Great Britain.

Maestro Anapeta is a native Neapolitan, a prominent piano and violin soloist and renowned as a composer. He studied at the San Pietro Conservatory (Maiella) and lists as his most popular compositions "Roselline," "A Mezzanotte," "T´aggia Parla" and "Banane Gialle." His accompaniments for Signor Bruni are famous not only in Naples but throughout Italy.