ALVAREZ, ill'vfi'rte, ALBERT RAYMOND (18G0 -). A French vocalist. He was born at Bor deaux. He was first in the army as a musical conductor: afterward he studied at the Conserva toire, Paris, and appeared as an operatic tenor. Ile first sang at the Paris Opera in 1892, and soon became the leading tenor of the Opera. In 1893 he appeared in Covent Garden, London. He visited the United States in 189S-99 and 1900. The unanimous approval with which he met, in Europe was not wholly confirmed in this country. His repertoire includes no less than forty-five operas, in eleven of which he created the prin cipal parts.
ALVAREZ, 5.1-viiWth, Jost (1768-18271. A Spanish sculptor. He was born April 23. 1768, at Priego, in the province of Cordova. Dur ing his youth he labored with his father, a stone mason. and when twenty years old began to study drawing and sculpture in the Academy of Gra nada. His early essays in sculpture soon at tracted attention, and in 1794 he was received into the Academy of San Fernando, at Madrid. Where, in 1799. he gained the first prize in the first class. A royal pension having enabled him
to pursue his studies at Paris. lie gained the second prize for sculpture in the Institute, and in 1804 increased his celebrity by a plaster model of Ganymede, which proved that he could rival Canova in gracefulness of style. Having re moved to Rome. he was employed by Napoleon to design has-reliefs for the Quirinal Palace on Monte Cavallo; but on account of political changes. his works were not allowed to occupy the places for which they had been destined. In Rome, where he lived on terms of friendship with Canova and Thorwaldsen, lie executed, among other works, his colossal group, now in the Royal Aluseum of Madrid. representing a scene in the defense of Saragossa. This work alone is suffi cient to establish Alvarez's fame. Clearness of design, dignified simplicity in execution. true ness to nature. and deep sentiment mark the sculptures of Alvarez. who, next to nature and classical antiquity, studied most the works of Michelangelo. He died in Madrid, November 1827.