Una Furtiva Lagrima - L'Elisir d'Amore -Donizetti - Mario Lanza

[LanzaFan1948]

This is one great recording, although only half of the aria is sung this is Mario Lanza the greatest tenor (ever) and gives us the very best. As a fan for almost fifty years each time I listen to this man sing I get goosebumps. I cannot imagine never having Mario in my musical life, he has been there for almost fifty years and still brings me joy. Thanks Linz this was great. Ed

[1906sfjd]

Mind boggling. The more one listens to Mario Lanza, the more one is convinced that he is one of the greatest voices ever recording. That emotional, a capella ending is flawless, powerful, musical. Great, great rendition of one Donizetti's masterful aria.

[varadero1839]

@1906sfjd Wonderful to hear from you! Thanks so much for your learned remarks. Mr. Lanza holds a place in music, and voice, that will never be equaled. I think we're all in his debt.

[NemEsisTHEoPeration]

Excellent, it gave me goosebumps :)

[varadero1839]

@NemEsisTHEoPeration Think we're in the same situation! It's so thrilling to hear him at his very best. I'm so grateful for your comment, and wish you best regards!

[jhunbea79]

love...it!



[varadero1839]

@jhunbea79 You're right! There never was, nor ever will be anyone like him. Thanks so much for your message, Happy New Year, and please pardon me for this late response!

[vborto09]

Lanza is the best!!

[varadero1839]

@vborto09 Sorry for the long delay! Happy New Year, and Mario is the "Very Best!" Thanks for your message!

[MrSkylark1]

Lanza STUDIED with ENRICO ROSATI, teacher of BENIAMINO GIGLI

[ellicantropos]

Mario es mi Idolo..

[varadero1839]

@ellicantropos Muchas gracias por su comentario tan amable! Sr. Lanza nunca será olvidado!

[gnossticc]

Jesus Christ in heaven'sm what a voice!

[varadero1839]

@gnossticc He really was amazing, wasn't he? He was on this earth so briefly, but touched so many lives with "that voice!" Thank you so much for your comment!

[varadero1839]

@gnossticc Even today, after having heard him for more than 1/2 my life, my jaw still drops open sometimes with disbelief! It's almost incomprehensible that someone could actually sound like that! So glad you wrote, and THANKS!

[gnossticc]

@varadero1839 Domingo, Pavarotti and Carreras are great but they don't have the charisma of a Mario Lanza. He was one of a kind!

[varadero1839]

@gnossticc You're absolutely right! I sometimes think talent, abilities and charisma, all belonging to Mr. Lanza come around once in a century. Suggest we're lucky to have been born during a time when we heard this genius! Once more, I'm in your debt for having written. Best to you!

[SHICOFF1]

I knew Mario's parents very well and in the early 60's Mary his mom and Terry Robinson his friend where guests in my parents Chicago home when they came to hear Art Perry a Baritone pal perform at the Drake Hotel. I put on a Schmidt record but Terry guessed it right off and said Mario loved Schmidt's high notes. Joseph Schmidt he was only 4 ft.10 and 100 pounds and died also at age 38 in and internment camp in 1942 in Swiss. because of the war. He had a great high C , also in German film.

[SHICOFF1]

Yes the 1945 film Mildred Pierce with Crawford and Blyth as the spoiled rotten daughter that won Joan Crawford best actress of the year. Ann also was wonderful as a young beauty in our very own in 1949 with her young sister natalie wood at about age 10. Sje always had that winning smile like in the Lanza film Caruso not long after that and released in 1951. She was a guest in a great hitchcock mystery on the old TV series also. Lanza of course lived a faster life then Gershwin, both sad.

[SHICOFF1]

@varadero1839 Thank you and Blyth was excellent always and beautiful, with Lanza as caruso and also Joan A big part in mildred pierce. I saw her in a play in chicago many years ago and went backstage , met her and her husband who was a dentist I think. She was friendly and very petite and beautiful. The play was wait until dark. Gershwin had he lived would have wrote so much more music and feinstein the pianist with brother Ira carried on his name also . Maybe today could have been saved.

[SHICOFF1]

@VARADERO 1839 Anytime! Actually they did a good dubbing of His voice in the 1954 release of The Student Prince film with Edmund Purdom,  a tall good looking British actor and for back then the dubbing worked well. Lanza and the studio had had some conflicts so they used Purdom but in Serenade and Seven Hills of Rome (from 1957) and his last film (For The First Time) he appeared in them all. Yes Gershwin had a Brain Tumor and died at age 39, just a year older then Lanza, also too soon

[varadero1839]

@SHICOFF1 I remember that one because it also starred another of my favorites, Ann Blyth. Not 3 days ago they showed a film on TV starring Robert Alda, as George Gershwin. I believe it was "Rhapsody in Blue." Like most Hollywood bio-pics I'm sure much of it was inaccurate, but still good music. How could it help but be? Sad, but true, it relates how George never really got to see the beautiful "Love Walked In" on film. He died before the movie was completed. Always good hearing from you!

[SHICOFF1]

Actually the movie was shot in 1948 I believe, perhaps it came out in 1949. He made several films after this one which is the midnight kiss, then the toast of new orleans 1950, the great caruso 1951, because your mine 1952, the student prince 1954 was released but his voice was dubbed in he did not appear in that one and then Serenade in 1955, 7 hills of Rome 195 and last ," For the first time" in 1958 8 films with his appearance in 7 of them. He died oct. 7 1959, at age 38.

[varadero1839]

@SHICOFF1 Thank you for clarifying the release year, and the balance of the information. Just saw "Serenade" a few days ago and enjoyed it very much. Losing Mr. Lanza at that age was akin to losing Mr. George Gershwin at about the same age. These were two geniuses gone from us way too soon. Thank you for your kind message.

[HeardThatSongBefore]

Wide shoulders, big chest, wide nostrils, its no surprise he sang this great.

[mauriciomille]

it is from 'the great caruso' movie?

[varadero1839]

@mauriciomille This is from Mario's 1st movie, from 1949, "That Midnight Kiss!" Hope you enjoyed! Thanks!

[mauriciomille]

@varadero1839 If i enjoyed it????... I loved it!

[varadero1839]

@mauriciomille Thank you! Mil gracias! Mario never ceases to amaze; his voice and presence are like miracles!

[mauriciomille]

@varadero1839 always be a miracle, will never died... also Pavarotti

[mauriciomille]

@varadero1839 first movie??...how many movies he did?, i thought was only great caruso

[varadero1839]

@mauriciomille Hola amigo! Estas bromeando conmigo? Mario made so many films in his short life as a singer/movie star! This is only one of them! Escribame por favor! Tenemos que hablar sobre este asunto. Un abraco! Otra cosa; hazme el favor de no tratar de "volar" otra vez como en su video! Yo, y el mundo completo estamos bastante preocupado pensando en ti!

[mauriciomille]

@varadero1839 cuál asunto?.... sobre las peliculas que hizo?.... a que te refieres en tratar de volar otra vez?...

[McElvis1948]

Thank you Varadero, I watched this in 1963 and almost 50 years later still a devoted fan, there will never be another Mario. I listen to him all the time. Peace!

[varadero1839]

@McElvis1948 I've got a couple of years on you, but recall the 1st time I saw and heard Mr. Lanza. It actually was from this movie! Delighted to know you, and grateful, once again for your comment! Thanks!

[McElvis1948]

I watched this movie when I was 15 and the rest is history I was and became a Lanza fan for life. God blessed us and gave us Mario.

[varadero1839]

@McElvis1948 Grateful to hear from you, and agree that once seen and heard, Mr. Lanza will never be forgotten! Thanks again.

[barryoderfer]

Simply fantastic.

[varadero1839]

@barryoderfer Thank you barryoderfer! You're very knowledgeable, and kind! Grateful to hear from you!

[jkilmon]

I think this Una Furtiva Lagrima is the best example of Lanza's youthful voice, unaffected by weight fluctuations. His voice darkens a bit in his later films.  Give me the voice of Lanza with the discipline and vocality of Caruso and I would be set for eternity. Interesting that Lanza was born in the same year that Caruso died (1921).

[varadero1839]

@jkilmon Hi jkilmon, wonderful to hear from you and delighted that you liked Mr. Lanza in this brief clip. Live and learn it's said. I never knew the connection between the death of Caruso and birth of Mr. Lanza. What's that old saying about "passing the torch?" Who knows! Thanks again.

[krajo38]

tanx!

[varadero1839]

You're welcome! glad you liked!

[acla9000]

Just look at Mr. Iturbi's expression at 2:20 ... (LAUGH!)

[acla9000]

One of the most beautiful voices in the lyrical cant world... Actually, I think Placido Domingo's voice timbre is more alike to Mario's than the others. Attention: I said alike, not equal.

[stephenjoeagi]

Beautiful timeless video as usual from Indigo 1045, with the great Mario Lanza, accompanied by José Iturbi.

Thanks for posting.