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From: DiPlacido71
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  • His English diction is certainly perfect.

  • I would give anything to sing like Lanza just for a few seconds, just to feel the ecstasy of such a huge and pure sound coming out of my body.

  • That's a great E Lucevan. His calling was opera.

  • For me personally, this is a top ten performance for all time, closer to ten than to one. I must keep mindful that it is far simpler to go on stage and sing an aria wonderfully (which is what he did) than it is to go through the rigors of an entire performance and sing it this well. To be included with the greats of all time without having a career as an opera singer is a major compliment to Mr. Lanza. He is truly incredible and for me, the greatest overall entertainer of all time.

  • @Nello7 Name the other 7, 8 or 9 that are better. I'm curious to hear them. I know of Del Monaco's version which is pretty good.

  • @crapfacejoe

    Caruso, Corelli, Del Monaco,Di Stefano, Carreras, Giacomini, Gigli, Bjorling, and that's only off of the top of my head. With that being said, this is only my opinion and NOT FACT, as this is all subjective to the listener. For Mario to be included on a list with the all time great voices of opera singers is a testament to the man who made a career on the big screen and concert halls. I only wish he had gone the way of the stage.

  • @Nello7 I know it's an opinion, but it's quite a stretch to place Carreras and some of the others ahead of Lanza on this aria. I've heard them all with the exception of Giacomini and think Lanza's performance is superior. Only Caruso's is on the same level.

  • @Nello7

    We disagree, like I said it is subjective. I cannot prove that you are wrong, and nor can you make me believe any differently. But we both agree that Lanza was excellent.

  • the greatest by far

  • a few people in this world can bring show to another level,that level of near perfection,of pure show i may say.Mario was sure one of them,trained or no trained.

  • Great singer!

    C'est magnifique!

    J'adore sa gestuelle...

  • Checking in today to see if your video which has been on our post #103 for a couple years was still here! Updating code. This is on a post about MARIO and ELVIS PRESLEY! Thanks Wes Bryan

  • There are a lot of Mario knockers but I think he was one of the best. Such emotion with great diction tone and power.

  • There are a lot of Mario knockers but I think he was one of the best. Such emotion with great diction tone and power.

  • A BEAUTIFUL PERFECT TENOR VOICE . EVEN TOP TO BOTTOM WITH NO HOOTING STRANGLED SOUNDS ,SLIDING OR SCOOPING OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT MIGHT ANNOY THE USUAL UNGRATEFUL CRITICS. HIS AMERICAN SONGS ARE IMPECCABLY BEAUTIFUL.ENJOY

  • Thank you for your kind words but actually although I know Neil and his wife for many years and we keep in touch I am not Neil but an admirer of his voice and at one time when I worked in radio and before that I got to know Richard Tucker and also Jan Peerce very well. I know what a few well known singers thought of his voice. He didn't go into opera but in film, concerts and recordings it is apparent he could have. I will  send Neil your kind words of praise for him. Thank You, Best Regards

  • Great natural voice and had he worked towards opera rather than movies he would have been a top operatic tenor world over but he chose films and concerts. Diets could have not helped his health and in opera that would not be a problem. Pavoratti's favorite tenor of all was Di Stefano as said in his books and Biographies. Tucker, Kirsten, Domingo and others have praised the natural voice of Lanza. He turned me on to opera and for that I am grateful. He made more $ than most opera singers

  • @SHICOFF1

    Dear Mr. Schicoff,

    What a fantastic surprise for me, to see and recognize your name........ a premier operatic Tenor in the world of classical music...... commenting along with the rest of us lovers of great music that will last through out the annals of time. And how grateful I am to have enjoyed with wonderful pleasure your thrilling personal interpretations of so many of these classic pieces. How befitting that you should take from your busy schedule to assist, through your...tbc

  • @SHICOFF1

    most qualified words of wisdom to further explain and bring professional clarity to all of us, regarding the magnificent talent of Mr. Mario Lanza. This evening I came to once again listen to the passionate interpretations of Mr. Lanza, and you have heightened my appreciation for the immense impact , in so many ways, of the musical contributions of Mr. Lanza. Again, thank you for the many hours of enjoyment I have received listening to your rich, warm and powerful timbre.

  • A wonderful voice - a tenor who had both a solid baritone foundation and effortless, spine-tingling High Cs. In this aria, he shows he had the soundest classical technique.

  • Mario's astounding voice & passion could make a stone weep; I feel emotional turmoil whatever ML does.......he was the GREATEST E V E R, and I could qualify that had I space. There have been MANY 'taught' voices, and it's a terrible shame that ML didn't live to kindle HIS unique flame in other aspiring singers by means of master classes. Who was Pavarotti's early HERO? Guess! None other than Mario Lanza. Young Pav worshipped ML's voice & genius. Can you blame him?

  • THE GREATEST SINGER EVERY WHAT A VOICE'. STRAIGHT FROM OUR LORD.

  • The wondeful renditions each with their individual sentiments. Mario Lanza, the world's greatest tenor who now sings to the Angels in Heaven but has left with us treasured memories even to eternity. God Bless Him

  • @dk4ofjoshuayhyu i agree perfectly with you!!! He is really FANTASTIC!

  • back in the days of black and white

  • mario lanza the best of the world

  • My GOD, what a voice! Just amazing......

  • His beautiful tenor voice inspires mine! Bravissimo, Mario!!

  • Witch Ann Cappelletti, the sorceror of So. Philadelphia, 1/2 sister of Barbara Bush, witch daughters of Aleister Crowley, killed Mario's wife with a voodoo doll. No doubt she killed Mario because she wanted him and he didn't want her. I will post more when I learn it.

  • he had it all..bravo

  • Takes me back to my high school days. Mario was all the rage, when music was real music.

  • Thank you Mario! You just made me cry! Sublime...

  • A very beautiful voice indeed!

  • Потрясающий голос, БРАВО!!!!

  • He's not on an operatic stage. He's on a television sound stage, so the "movements" are limited by the screen.

  • I am saying he should move less, not more.

  • Comment removed

  • fantastic voice- shame he died soo very young

  • @MrCreylles thats a smart comment to make. he is a good singer, not the best opera singer.

  • Thanks for posting. Mario Lanza is my favorite tenor. His version of O Holy Night is one of my favorite Christmas tunes.

  • O Holy Night is my favourite carol too

  • Lanza was a special singer. Passion infuses his music. In spite of his difficulties - many of which would have utterly destroyed some performers - he undertook i nhis short life to leave a legacy that will inspire and live forever. Viva Mario Lanza! Thank you, Mr. Lanza.

  • Este 7 de octubre 2009 te esperamos en el Cementerio Catolico de Culver City a rendirle tributo a Mario Lanza.

    Cincuenta Años sin Mario Lanza ....... Overland y La Sepulveda Pabellon Central Freeway 405 salida Jefferson.......

  • such a genius....mario always makes me cry...

  • OMG thank you for this.

  • "... the most extraordinary man and greatest singer of all times"

    "... all the tributes we may pay (not give) him"

    Sorry for the imperfect English.

    Dimare3, there's another comment that as I can see did not enter in which I thanked your sweet words and asked God to bless you also.

  • absolutely amazing... I have never heard him sing this song before, my favourite is something giuppa?? ( sorry I cant remember the name )

  • Mario, an extraordinary voice and feeling.

    the best singer that has taken United States

  • muchos de los criticos,no tienen idea de lo que hablan,Lanza canto en decenas de conciertos,en auditorios enormes como el Royal albert Hall de Londres,el London Palladium,en Belgica,Alemania,Canada,tengo todos esos conciertos

  • @elcantante45 BAJA ALGUNOS EN YOU TUBE.

  • For reasons that only God knows He decided to join together in one single person the three most precious qualities a human being may possess and thankful for: physical beauty, kindness and a pure soul But then God decided this special son of His deserved one more blessing He then gave him the most sublime singing voice ever Finally God was satisfied He had finished to create one more work of art consubstantiated in a sole human being: the most extraordinary man and singer ever: Mario Lanza

  • pianist527, you put that so beautifully. Thank you and thank God.

  • Thank you dearly dimare3, you are too kind. And thank you for your own beautiful comments respecting Lanza who in fact deserves all the tributes we may give him

  • "... may possess and be thankful for"

    Sorry for the missing word.

  • a 1 off

  • wow

  • rip sweet prince

  • marvellous singer fantastic voice so many memories of my mum who loved his singing she would hum all his songs around the house

  • Yes, every time I listen to him sing E lucevan le stelle I get chills to my soul.

  • donde aparece él en la portada, de gala y con las manos en la solapa del saco. No sabía yo nada de ópera, pero el sentimiento ya lo sentía yo, de lo que él despliega con gran sencillez. Como mucha gente dice, me pone la carne de gallina con muchísimas de sus interpretaciones. Es el único cantante que me llena por completo.

    Admiro también mucho las voces de Jorge Negrete y Hugo Avendaño, también únicos, cada quién en su estilo.

  • Muchas gracias, fabrizzzio48, por esa letra y su traducción. Yo entiendo poco del inglés y del italiano, pero lo que es el sentimiento que despliega Mario Lanza es otra cosa. Ese sentimiento me llega hasta la médula de los huesos y lo disfruto como casi nada en este mundo. Cuando empecé a escuchar su música, allá por 1960, el único disco (de asetato, desde luego, de 33 1/3 RPM) que teníamos era el de El Gran Caruso,

  • A great but amazingly forgotten tenor of the 20th century.

  • ¿Alguien conoce la letra de la canción Someday?

    Que nos haga favor de compartirla.

    El sentimiento que despliega en esta interpretación es fenomenal.

    He escuchado otras dos versiones con el mismo Mario Lanza, pero no con el sentimiento que desborda en esta ocación. Se opaca a sí mismo.

    Estaba inspiradísismo.

  • Someday, you will seek me and find me.

    Someday, of the days that shall be.

    Surely, you will come and remind me... of the dream that is calling for you and for me.

    Someday, when the winter is over.

    Someday in the fresh of the Spring.

    My soul shall discover the soul born for her lover... the man with the heart of a King.

    .

  • Algun dia me buscaras y me encontraras

    Algun dia de aquellos que seran.

    Seguramente, vendras y me recordaras ...

    del sueño que nos llama a ti y a mi.

    Algun dia cuando se acabe el Invierno.

    Algun dia en la frescura de la Primavera...

    My alma encontrara el alma nacida para su amante... el hombre con el corazon de un Rey.

  • omg fantastic this was live mario the voice the master

  • Classic, great to have this saved on film.

  • Yay, E luceva le stelle!!!!

  • My GOD ! Classicaly trained , or not , THIS is the voice of GREATNESS !

    LIVE... television . Obviously nervous as hell , he STILL produced magnifent music ! That is the sign of a true artist !

    Bravo Mario ! Muto , muto bella ! !

    David

  • Of course, the hands and body movement is stylistic for the time. The meaning of all the songs in his live performances cannot be similar, so it must be purely stylistic for the 1950's, something his agent or manager insisted upon. His vocal talent is not in question, as he was very talented.

  • What do you mean 'sobs'? There are no sobs here. Lanza singing was exceptional Either you like his great voice or you don't His great voice had very few imperfections if any at all, anybody who can distinguish great tenors' recognizes that Here every movement of his hands or body are correct, every single note is beautifully sung Besides here he is not singing on an opera stage but in a TV show, each of these places requires specific acting He was simply wonderful

  • If you look at his other live performances, the hands and body always the same whether aria or song. It gets boring. But he sings well.

  • I respect your opinion, of course. But can't you detect that a tenor that does not move hands or body when singing is a bit dull, don't you think? I for one NEVER found Lanza's movements of hands or body boring at all, on the contrary without those Lanza would not be Lanza but somebody else. Besides this performance was done after gone through a terrible period in his life. He must have been extremely nervous here, even though his rendition is nothing less than great. Thanks for your response

  • Let me just add this please. If one hears Lanza sing this aria and not compare the lyrics to his own sad life it's because one has little sensibility or in fact none. The comparison simply has to be made, after which one's heart can only cry.

  • Thankyou for having the sensitivity to recognize Mario Lanza as the perfect tenor. Thank you for understanding what a great man this was in his professional life and personal life. Many people don't have the capacity to comprehend this. Bless you.

  • Thank you for your also sensible comments. Lanza, the man an the singer, deserves all the love we may consecrate him. A man with all his great qualities and unique voice, nevertheless he never laughed with true joy, only smiled timidly, even in his films he did it exceptionally only because the script asked for it. He was not a happy person. All due to the terrible things done to him. To think of what this good man suffered during his short life makes one's heart cry and cry.

  • I couldn´t agree more to your excellent comments about Mario!!!! He is just brilliant, breathtaking expressive, and no-one can hold a candle to him. What does it matter that he never appeared on opera stages??? He had this incomparable voice and was so incredibly expressive, it gives me the creeps all the time I listen to his marvellous interpretations. I am more than glad that we DO have his films besides his audio recordings as well !!!!

  • This was Lanza's second appearance on "SHOWER OF STARS" {October 28, 1954}, which was arranged primarily to prove that he COULD sing "live" before a TV audience. It didn't matter; Dore Schary was running MGM at the time, and decided the kind of musicals Lanza appeared in [not to mention Mario's frequent bouts of "ego"]- and his contract- just weren't worth continuing. "The Student Prince" was the "contract breaker", as far as Schary was concerned.

  • Suberb performance! Thanks for adding!

  • Fantastic - just fantastic!!

  • The greatest. I do not care what the opera snobs say.

  • @gerardm Agree with you there mate :D

  • This voice , this man Bravo

  • R.I.P. MAESTRO

  • Fantastico. Bravo, Mario. God bless you.

  • Inigualavel, estupendo, magnifico ficara para sempre na historia como o tenor que emociona o mundo com sua tecnica e sua voz

  • It is, for my part at least, so comprehensively true that Lanza brought opera to the masses. My dad had very little interest in opera, yet he adored Lanza. He passed that on to me, and I became interested in opera as a result. Actually, I shunned Lanza as vulgar when I started listening to opera. Now, many years later, I've come to realise just what a phenomenal voice he had. However, he gave more pleasure to people by being a popular singer. For one, I'm glad he didn't get lost in opera.

  • Same with my Father... =) Little interest in opera, but loved Mario. Passed it onto me, now I love opera in general but Lanza's still my gold standard for the tenor voice. ;-)

  • what a gift!!!!! bravissimo mario!!

  • I once had some reservations about MLs voice, but in some settings, especially on film, he can't be beat.

  • Hehe & does anybody know that he was also a fan of bodybuilding? But active fan! In my opinion he is an inspiration for singers to keep our bodies fit! (but Steve Reeves type of bodybuilding, not Ronnie Coleman ;o)

  • Magnifique ténor. Le plus grand.

    Un timbre de voix unique...

  • I think the thing to remember is those with a talent are looked upon as someone totally amazing when in fact it's just their talent that is amazing not the whole person, the talented make mistakes like the rest of us.

  • THE greatest tenor of the 20th century used by his so called friends and good old time holly wood. but this great voice will live on.

  • Where is the next Mario Lanza?

  • irreplaceable

  • He pronounced his Italian RRRRRRs very well. Shame he died so young. My Dad was a huge fan, and Mario's songs bring back memories.

    Dad used to try and copy him, but he was about a million £ quid behind him.

    He still won my Mother over though singing up to her bedroom window when he had been out on the beer, LOL

    (ahhhh, simple romance, and then I was born. So I am living proof that it really worked back then).

  • I truly believe that Mario Lanza would have gone on to be a huge star at the Metropolitan Opera. However, he got bogged down in the MGM Studio system. His ego got bigger than his voice, and that was his downfall. He died tragically young because of his yo-yo dieting. Mario Lanza was a giant in his time, a one of a kind talent. Thank goodness we have his voice to remember him

  • Sorry, but i respectfully disagree, his ego could never have gotten bigger than his voice.

  • Mario Lanza e' stato e sara' L'unico piu' grande cantante al mondo piu' bravo nel genere tenorile della storia della musica classica canora di tutti i tempi.Unico,davvero Unico!Chissa' quando riusciremo a trovare uno come Lui!

  • Mario Lanza was the greatest tenor in my lifetime. No one has come close. Pavoratti was the closest and even he didn't have the timbre of Lanza. Even in low-fi and no stereo Lanza shines.

  • Exactly. Even Pava did not have the timbre of Lanza.

  • A miracle that money cant buy. those people in that audience that day witnessed a live performance by Mario Lanza...............WOW!!!

  • That is what is called supreme singing Does not exist a more powerful voice a more beautiful timbre and more charismatic tenor than wonderful Mr. Lanza I thank you again Now for this historic video

  • Thanks DP This is a truly incredible video. Thanks to youtube I have rediscovered Lanza - and appreciate him even more now than before.

  • Wow! That voice! I agree with a previous comment about his singing bringing tears to your eyes. I just bought 'The Essential Mario Lanza' CD which was released a year ago. I love it. True talent never dies.

  • I have been a fan of Mario Lanza since I was about 5 years old. My dad introduced me to him. I have always wanted to sing like him and have studied voice for over 3 years. I learned much from my dad as well. Mario is the reason I fell in love with Opera singing. His high notes are better than any I have heard from anyone.

    The three tenors (Pavoratti, Carraras, and Domingo) tribute him as the reason they went into Opera as well. He was their biggest influence.

  • whenever i hear music that is truly extraordinary tears spring spontaneously.his voice is ineffable!

  • Me Too!!!!

  • great!!!!!!

  • the greatest

  • There are so many singers who can sing opera more beautiful as this Lanza, but he is uncomparible with his american songs. This is the great Mario Lanza!! I love him in songs!!

    Hans NL

  • @qklq42 Yes, I agree -Mario was at his best singing the popular classics  -That's why so many listeners fell in love with his voice thru his records and films -Never truly had the phrasing or feel for opera - That wasn't his forte

  • @redgrapeskins never truly had the phrasing or feel for opera? upon what do you base that opinion? what about his sheer emotion? i do not believe pavarotti EVER expressed the same level. please discuss.

  • The first song is fantastic in the film "Heavenly Creatures" from Peter Jackson.

  • I'm very curious how you know of the points you make here. Is this from personal knowledge, or from reading other peoples words in print. Also, are you a professional singer, and have you had a career. If so, please post something for us to hear. I'm always mystified about why people, on the web, feel the need to dump information that I don't believe anyone really cares about. I personally come to hear one of, if not the best, singer that ever performed. Unfortunately he's gone, right!

  • Mario did study & his technique was very sound!

  • You are completely mistaken. Lanza studied with Gigli's teacher Enrico Rosati for 15 months from 1946-47, and also with baritone Robert Weede. He possessed a solid technique that enabled him to sing for hours without tiring. His voice did not "crack down" at the end of his life; in fact, he did some of his best singing in 1958 - the year before his death. It was Lanza's *health* that deteriorated, not his voice.

  • Thank you, for stating facts, not just opinions.

  • For me, he was the greatest tenor ever. A powerful voice combined with emotion and his charisma. Bravo, paisano!

  • everything was perfect...how he rolled those R's is just perfection.

  • such Golden Warmth...the recording doesn't even seem that old, his voice overcame even the Limited technology of that time...

  • i just love mario lanza's voice. he and fritz wunderlich are my favorites. maria callas i love also very much.

  • are you loocking for all the filmography and discography of Mario Lanza. I also own rare and hard to find concerts audio and video,documentaries and biographies,if interested,contact me for a full list,located in lima peru

  • The most underrated singer of our time, shunned by opera because he did movies including the life story of Caruso. This man is one of the greatest thanks MARIO

  • "Someday" that's my favorite piece from mr. lanza. What a voice!!!

  • Incredible. Both songs. But E lucevan le stelle is awe-inspiring. One thing is very clear, he simply had an incredible and unmatched quality to his voice. I've heard Caruso but Lanza's vocal quality is tops.

  • Fantastically! What sincerity, what feelings. Thank you very much for this show. Mario Lanza forever!

  • Some voices are great technically...some are full of warmth. Mario's had both. Bravo.

  • This was Mario's 1st live performance in over 3-years; and after the lip-synching, in the previous program, the press said 'his career was over'; and Time Magazine said "his voice was already showing tarnish"

    Mario had to prove the critics' wrong; and with the help of his (sometimes) voice coach/ Conductor Spadoni(who we see at the end), they

    select these 2-pieces. The rest is history.

    Bravo Lanza & Spadoni..'Confounding the Enemy'

  • Lanza studied with ENRICO ROSATI, who also taught BENIAMINO GIGLI, the greatest tenor of the era. Lanza did much to bring Classical Music to the public through film, Now we have a sad situation today when tasteless entertainment has taken precedence. Lanza was wonderful.

  • This dramatic aria from Tosca; from the repeated line 'E muoio disperato' is the 'cry of a man who has lost everything'; and Mario sings from the soul.

    Thus - The reason for the sobs!

  • These are two of the greatest masterpieces of classical and popular music.  Lanbz sang one of Puccini's greatest arias with the passion and richness rivaling Pavarotti and Caruso and in nearly the same breath "crossedover" to a wonderful popular song and performed it in a way no one else has since. This was one of the remarkable attributes of Lanza. Few of his performances have been duplicated by others because of the perfection he brought to his art.

  • WOW !

  • so much voice...

  • He followed the neapolitan style of such as Benjamino Gigli and Enrico Caruso. A lot of Italian singers liked to use it. Lanzas Messa voce was and has never been equaled, his Ave Maria is marvelous to hear.

  • Wow, what a absolutely rude comment; regarding his hand gestures. Evidently, your not a singer, or at least one that feels real emotion when performing. Apparently, it's difficult to show any class when it's lacking, but could at least try to fake it. You sound like a very envious critic; no talent to sing, only to criticize, how sad for you. However, you somewhat redeem yourself with your final comments.

  • Hey South Philly gave more than cheesesteaks to the world.

  • por favor como se llama esta cancion ..la primera de las 2 que aparecen en este video

  • It´s an aria from puccini´s opera "tosca", it´s widely known as "E lucevan le stelle".

  • la cancion se llama e lucevan le stelle.  Es de la opera Tosca.

  • best tenner ever, there is no doubt.

  • I am 65 and when small my mum played 78s of this superlative man's music to me. I will never hear a voice greater than his, nor see a more consumate charismatic and sincere performer. I absolutely cherish early Elvis, but Mario set a standard so high that others can only dream of reaching. He was the James Dean of singing.

  • Thank you, couldn't have said it better.

  • WOW!

  • mario lanza and the great caruso were the best of the 50s

  • Wasn't this the then-infamous "lip-synch" episode, in which Mario Lanza's voice was in such parlous shape during rehearsals that the producers of "Shower of Stars" allowed Lanza to "perform" by lip-synching to a couple of his recordings? As I recall from Roland L. Bessette's MARIO LANZA: TENOR IN EXILE, the episode provoked a flurry of comment at the time, because most musical performers on live TV did, indeed, perform LIVE, not pre-recorded.

  • This is 2 weeks after that incident! This is genuinely fantastic live singing! Bessette's book is very poor, read Armando Cesari or Derek Mannering's bios of Mario!

  • La tua stella brillera per sempre,Mario !!

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