Artists Of The Century: Mario Lanza Music

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by: Nicholas Brodszky, Sigmund Romberg, Giuseppe Verdi, Irish Traditional, Agustin Lara, Charles Gounod, Jose Padilla, Irving Aaronson, Nikolay Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov, Guy d' Hardelot

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Customer Reviews
Average Rating: Rating: - THE GREAT MARIO SINGS BEAUTIFULY! THIS IS A WINNER THE MUSIC GREAT! THIS IS A REALY GREAT CD! HE SINGS SO WELL IN ALL THE MUSIC. I GAVE IT 4 STARS. ENJOY! Rating: - The good and the bad in one collection This is (unintentionally, I'm sure) a warts-and-all illustration of Mario Lanza. True, there are magnificent recordings scattered throughout (Serenade, Beloved, E Lucevan Le Stelle, Passione, etc) but the impression one is left with is of a sloppy and undisciplined singer who just happened to possess a great voice. The fault lies squarely with BMG and their predilection for selecting the very worst of Lanza, and placing it next to the best. Many of the inferior choices come from Lanza's Coca-Cola radio show, recorded between 1951 and 1952, and are featured on Disc Two. (Disc One is a more consistent selection, and repeats the same tracks from the British one-CD set "The Ultimate Collection", reviewed elsewhere on this site.) The "Coke" shows were largely rushed and under-rehearsed, with the emphasis on arrangements that showcased the tenor's remarkable high notes, often to the detriment of the musical content. Don't blame Lanza - he never intended for these recordings to be heard beyond their initial broadcast. They were supposedly "once-off" affairs. Sometimes the results WERE magnificent, but one needs to look elsewhere for examples of these. The three big exceptions on this set are the gloriously romantic If I Loved You & One Night of Love and the poignant Memories. Danny Boy also deserves honorable mention, although there should have been a retake on the ending. O Paradiso, Somewhere a Voice is Calling, Core 'Ngrato, Deep in My Heart and With a Song in My Heart represent low points from the Coke Shows. Other poor choices include And This is My Beloved, from the disastrous Lanza on Broadway LP, a rough-as-old-boots Una Furtiva Lagrima and an off-pitch Cielo E Mar (ironically the ONE studio recording on this set that IS inferior to Lanza's Coke Show rendering). Mario Lanza was blessed with the most dazzling tenor voice of the 20th century. Is it too much to expect for BMG to honor his memory more selectively? Yes, Lanza did make a number of bad recordings, but like the man himself, the great moments more than compensated. Any CD purporting to be the "Ultimate Collection" should demonstrate the singer at his very best. This CD does not. It only tells part of the story. Where are Lanza's sublime recordings of Che Gelida Manina from "La Boheme", his M'appari, the Improvviso from Andrea Chenier and his unsurpassed Otello Monologue? Or the fabulous Some Day, the gorgeous A Vucchella and Lanza's own favorite recording, the haunting Voce E Notte? For the very best of Mario Lanza, buyers should look elsewhere. This will do in the meantime, but BMG - PLEASE be more selective with your future Lanza releases! Rating: - New Fan I am an 18-year old student. I bought this album after I heard a few of Lanza's songs in the Peter Jackson film, "Heavenly Creatures" and I must say that it is one of the best albums I have ever bought. Lanza was a master of his vocal instrument, drawing every ounce of feeling and energy from the notes and words to create a masterpiece of every song. The resulting pieces in this album combine to make up a beautiful and varied work, with something for every mood you may be in. The classics (such as "Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life"), are obviously appealing, but the lesser-known pieces (my favourite: "Una Furtiva Lagrima") make this a wonderfully enlightening experience. This is a truly Great album.

Artists Of The Century: Mario Lanza Music

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