[.ca] The Mario Lanza Collection (3CD)

One of greatest tenors of the recorded era.:
Mario Lanza was one of the gretest tenors of the recorded era. In my opinion, only Fritz Wunderlich was his equal. If you are a fan of Domingo or Pavorotti -- both of whom are fine tenors -- listen to Mario Lanza and hear how a truly great tenor sounds. Unfortunately, many people -- including critics -- don't take Lanza seriously because they believe MGM's publicity from his movie making days that he was a talented but untrained amateur. While Lanza was indeed extremely talented, he also had extensive formal training. But all this becomes immaterial when you hear this man's glorious voice. If you love great singing please treat yourself to this excellent set which covers a wide range of music from classical through popular.

Mario Lanza the Singer:
Lanza did have the same voice teacher as Gigli whose name was Enrico Rosatti (sp?.Lanza had a radio show and became very popular and with his big ego,he walked out on his voice teacher who filed a law suite for Breach of Contract.Don't remember how that came out.No doubt that Lanza had a beautiful voice,but he was never an accomplished singer.He had too much of a tendency to force his voice.An example would be his recording of Non Ti Scordar Di Me,which IMO should be sung as a love song alla Gigli and di Stefano and not like a forceful version of Otello.I believe that Lanza was blessed with a beautiful voice but did not take the time to learn how to use it correctly. Fratello

Great love songs; pity about the arias!:
This is a good introduction to Lanza, albeit an incomplete one. Its pluses are the well-written (and largely accurate) liner notes, and often-excellent sound. If you're looking for Lanza's recordings of love songs, then this is the place to start. Beloved has never sounded better, and the tenor's incomparable recordings of Serenade and Drink! Drink! Drink! from The Student Prince are included. Other highlights include the perfectly recorded and sublimely sung The Song Angels Sing (inexplicably rare on CD); Love is the Sweetest Sing (sung by a tenor who knew all about the subject); If I loved You; One Night of Love; and many other stand-outs. The downside is that operatic selections are limited to just seven in a 61-track collection. Neapolitan Songs - a huge and important part of the Lanza legacy -are similarly under-represented. I feel that BMG has squandered an opportunity to present a fuller picture of the tenor, especially when one considers the care that has gone into the sound mastering and liner notes. By Disc Three, I found myself a little weary of minor songs such as A Night To Remember, Never Till Now and Come Dance With Me, and longed for "meatier" selections that showed Lanza at the height of his powers. A fourth disc given over to opera and Neapolitan/Italian song would have made all the difference, I feel. Overall verdict: all in all a good release, but newcomers to Lanza take note - there is more to the guy than just love songs.

A Gift That Is Most Rare:
If I am not mistaken, Mario was taught by Gigli's teacher and Gigli was the greatest tenor since Caruso. There is a report that his teacher even preferred him to Gigli and his teacher refused to teach eversince... It doesn't matter much after all. Wasn't Pavarotti a primary school teacher before he started his singing career? Note Mario's voice and particularly his diction ( e.g., I am delighted by Richard Tauber, but his English diction just puts me off) : the result, so evocative that he is simply unsurpassed. He certainly outshone Domingo, Jose Cura or any other living tenor today. The only criticism is an irony by itself: Mario made classical music so popular that some no longer know whether he is a pop or classical opera singer. We have to come to terms with this fact: never was English taken to such a height of potency and beauty before, so much so that the English speaking people in general don't want to believe it!

A "must have" for any true Lanza fan:
I have loved Mario Lanza since I was a child. How can one not! That voice can make you cry, make you happy, make you feel emotions you didn't think possible to feel just from listening to music. It was actually listening to Mario Lanza, that made me appreciate opera and the classics. Something that otherwise I may never have bothered listening to. This collection of 3cds deserves 10 stars. Disc one has his Legendary Hits and his most romantic love songs. Disc 2 has his more exotic songs like 'Lygia' and 'Lady of Spain'. Then there are some terrific rarities from 'The Mario Lanza Show'. Disc 3 features some movie songs and then some fantastic Opera arias. This collection is also all digitally remastered, so the sound quality is wonderful. If you are a fan of Lanza, please, you need this collection. It is wonderful. And the 20 page booklet is packed with photos and an insightful essay on Lanza's life.

• Be My Love - Jeff Alexander Choir, Mario Lanza
• I'll Never Love You
• Because You're Mine - Jeff Alexander Choir, Mario Lanza
• Song Angels Sing - Jeff Alexander Choir, Mario Lanza
• Drink, Drink, Drink - Jeff Alexander Choir, Mario Lanza
• Serenade
• Loveliest Night of the Year
• Donna E Mobile \oRigoletto: Act IV\c
• Because
• For You Alone
• Golden Days
• Deep in My Heart, Dear
• If I Loved You
• Yours Is My Heart Alone
• One Night of Love
• Beloved
• Beautiful Love
• With a Song in My Heart
• You Are My Love
• Call Me a Fool
• All the Things You Are - Mario Lanza, Henri René & His Orchestra,
• My Song, My Love
• Love Is the Sweetest Thing
• Will You Remember? - Jeff Alexander Choir, Mario Lanza, Henri René & His Orchestra,
• Granada
• Lolita
• Serenade
• Temptation
• Lygia
• Lady of Spain
• This Land - Jeff Alexander Choir, Mario Lanza, Henri René & His Orchestra,
• Lee-Ah-Loo
• Tina-Lina - Jeff Alexander Choir, Mario Lanza
• Boom Biddy Boom - Jeff Alexander Choir, Mario Lanza
• Bayou Lullaby - Jeff Alexander Choir, Mario Lanza
• Lord's Prayer - Jeff Alexander Choir, Mario Lanza
• And Here You Are
• Song of Songs
• Somewhere a Voice Is Calling
• I Never Knew
• Ciribiribin
• Wonder Why
• Come Dance With Me - Mario Lanza, Henri René & His Orchestra,
• O Sole Mio - Mario Lanza, Carlo Savina
• Younger Than Springtime
• Come Prima - Mario Lanza, Carlo Savina
• Never Till Now \oFrom "Raintree County"\c
• Arrivederci Roma
• If You Were Mine - Mario Lanza, RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra
• Behold! - Mario Lanza, RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra
• Night to Remember - Mario Lanza, RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra
• Love in a Home - Mario Lanza, RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra
• Do You Wonder - Mario Lanza, RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra
• Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise - Mario Lanza, RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra
• One Alone - Mario Lanza, RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra
• Celeste Aida - Mario Lanza, RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra
• Flower Song - Mario Lanza, RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra
• Brindisi \oLA Traviata: Act I\c - Mario Lanza, RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra
• Questa O Quella \oFrom Rigoletto\c - Mario Lanza, RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra
• Vesti la Giubba \oFrom Pagliacci\c - Mario Lanza, RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra
• Cavalleria Rusticana \oAddio Alla Madre\c - Mario Lanza, RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra