Mario Lanza- Long Ago and Far Away (Kern-Gershwin)

[somedude1939]

withing the first 5 seconds of this video i could already tell that i was going to fall in love with this song. that voice is sooo...soooo perfect

[jeffrecordman1958]

Gorgeous, I have a  Readers Digest Box set of his music. Awesome post, Thankyou.

[Navi404]

One of the most beautiful songs ever written sung so magnificently by Mario Lanza

[7754349200]

Great

[Petroskeyful]

People argue all the time about how good or bad he was. For me he pleasantly introduced me into the beautiful world of opera with all the greats..Bjorling,tiKanawa,Pava­rotti, Domingo. I would never have entered it without listening to Mario on those 7 inch little vinyls during my boyhood.. he made it accessible.

[maureen1938]

PERFECTION is this. What a shame he left us so early in life. He left us with a treasure of beautiful music. Thank you for posting.

[Meanman332]

Why are all the comments overly fanatical and exaggerated? He's a good singer, but he's not 'THE BEST SINGER TO EVER LIVE!!!!!! NOBODY WILL EVER MATCH HIM!!!!!'. Plenty of people have/will continue to match him.

[MrSootey]

@Meanman332 LIKE?!

[Meanman332]

@MrSootey I prefer Nat King Cole. I also prefer Ben from Bebe Mignon. I feel Lanza is too formal/constrained, and could be more emotional.

[raymondharbin]

@Meanman332

CONSTRAINED ???? PLEASE!

[Meanman332]

@raymondharbin That's not very convincing. I feel he is constrained by society more than anything else. His voice sounds quite formal, as if he's adhering to some code of conduct or as if he's speaking politely. It doesn't sound raw or emotional enough. Even though it is very emotional, I don't think it's natural emotion. It's performance emotion.

[Meanman332]

@Meanman332 This is just a guess, by the way. I may have completely misunderstood him.

[barochial]

@Meanman332 Lanza had more power than any voice I ever heard. Constrained?? NO WAY!! As far as formality, perhaps you should school yourself in classical music training and technique before you profer an opinion.

[Meanman332]

@barochial All you've done is disagree with my opinion without giving me any reason to believe you, and made an assumption about my education, presumably to make me feel inferior to you. Your comment is therefore worthless.

[barochial]

@Meanman332 it was not my intention to make you feel inferior. However. I stil think that you made a snap judgment of Lanza's ability. Of course I do not have to convince you of anything. That is not my job. In any case, even though you may think an opinion (note key word, "opinion') that differs from yours is worthless , it has as much worth and value of those with whom you do agree.

[Meanman332]

@barochial I didn't really say anything about his ability, just that he is too formal and constrained, which is a style I don't like. Opinions by themselves are always worthless, though, mine included, because it's not the opinion itself that matters, it's the reason for that opinion. I agree he has a very powerful voice, but that doesn't make up for the lack of freedom in his voice for me. Music is a very subjective thing, though, so I suppose reason isn't actually that effective with it.

[barochial]

@Meanman332 In case my earlier response didn't post I shall reiterate: I publically and openly defer to your argument and respect your opinion (of course, I stand firmly by my position as I feel you do as well,,, ;)

[Meanman332]

@barochial Fair enough. As I said music is very subjective, and I think I realise now that arguing about it is actually quite pointless.

[badpdx]

@Meanman332: I suspect the reaction you will get from calling Mario Lanza's voice "constrained" and "formal" is that within classical music circles he was known for his lack of restraint and informality. He didn't wear a tuxedo in concert, drank and ate onstage, and sang with reckless abandon at times. His MGM career basically ended when he refused to reign in his passionate interpretation of "Beloved" in SERENADE. It would be like saying Michael Jackson was conventional and down to earth.

[badpdx]

@Meanman332: You might like this better, perhaps. /watch?v=ylw16H7_kak

[Meanman332]

@badpdx Not on the first listen. I don't think I relate to his singing style. It just sounds like the emotional climaxes of his pieces are very affected. They're probably not, that's just how it sounds to me.

[badpdx]

@Meanman332: That's okay. I'm a huge fan of other singing styles as well, and some of my favorite singers include Sam Cooke, Robert Plant, Patsy Cline, early Frank Sinatra, Blind Willie Johnson and Sinead O' Connor. I find all of them to be soulful in their own way. I'm curious if perhaps you're just not a fan of "classical" singing. Or, perhaps, you might find Enrico Caruso or Jussi Bjoerling to be more emotionally touching than Lanza within the realm of operatic tenors.

[Meanman332]

@badpdx Yeah, I guess I just don't like classical singing in general. Didn't like any of those.

[Glaura2009]

Gostei não, ADOREI, voz e musica, maravilhosas. G.

[RRRRRFONG]

AMAZING  VOICE

[gaieski]

they don´t make more songs or singers like those anymore , it´s a shame

[yarnover]

My mom had a crush on him when she was a teenager.

[mariop561]

My favorite!

[maniandpink]

Wow... I am in shock... I've never heard him before, but words can't describe how amazing he is. His voice makes chills run up and down my spine!!!!!

[yanie327]

There was no voice to compare to his. I grew up listening to him with my father, who idolized him. I'm 57 years old, and still get chills when I hear him singing Beloved.

[MsTenorfan]

I fell in love with this voice when I was just a little girl. Later on, in my teenage years, I started collecting his records. He was my superstar! To this day, his magnificent timbre and phrasing give me chills all over. Thank you for sharing this wonderful performance with us!!!

[stuartylad]

I haven't heard this song for many years. Thanks so much for posting. Brings back many memories of my mis-spent youth playing piano for a concert party!

[hotboyclarence]

also very handsome for sure

[GypsyFairy69]

Lovely song and voice.

[vitoamadore]

He was my mother's favorite singer as well.

[AnastasioFranco]

Simply the best!!!

[Lucimarshall]

There will never be another to touch this gifted man. Too bad he died so young; he would have been on the top for many years to come.

[rogharm]

great voice and musical arrangement!!!!!!******cannot believe there are no comments on great post!!!!!!!*****THANK YOU FOR THE POST ROGHARM

[Carolalwaysfirst]

I grew up singing and listening to this great man.....I will always feel sorry that Hollywood kept him so skinny and never let him be himself Who knows he might be alive today. RIP Mario You left is too soon, but with tearful memories of songs well sung...

[TheSonglvr]

Mario was my mother's favorite. I think of her each time I hear Mario's fantastic voice. There will never be another.

[tulden]

it must havv been fantastic to have lived with such a dad.

[toots440]

mario lanza had the most magnificent voice

in a century just so beautiful for words forget

caruso and all the opera singers he will never

be replaced wish i had met him he brings tears to my eyes every time I HEARS HIS

BEAUTIFUL VOICE.

[dimare3]

Toots440, his voice was divine...literally. His whole being was fashioned by God to bring in the magnificent voice. Not only that, he was a wonderful husband and father.

[kumansky]

You are right "toots440"

brings tears to MY eyes, even as I listen to this right now.

[Michaelbos]

I guess, us real music lovers agree, that the great music and singers of the past were the best of yesterday and today. Real singers like the Great Lanza and others compared to what is today. Computer generated music, not real music sung by real singers. Thanks for posting this lanza song.

[4drcoop]

@Michaelbos This is NOT spam or an ad. Just in case you are interested in hearing a magnificent, young singing voice, go to the following you tube channel and listen to Cait's Ave Maria and maybe this time. I guarantee you pleasant astonishment. Her channel name is : HermioneWazlib91‬‎

[qklq42]

I don't like him in opera. But in american songs he is the exceptionally TENDER HEROE that in comparison with opera-tenors we can only think of il grande Giacomo Lauri-Volpi, and -of course- Pippo.

Han s NL

[paulostroff99]

qklq42-Don't forget Gigli!

[qklq42]

Of course, how could I forget him !

[aylaearrais]

IMMORTAL MARIO LANZA FOREVER

[Lynluvsjazz]

Mario Lanza was my Dad's favorite and I grew up listening to him.

Hearing him now brings back great memories of my childhood.

[westsidecows]

Very good!

Although for my taste it is still too Opera-y. I think Jo Stafford does it better. :p

[barryoderfer]

Hard to believe you think someone could "phrase", or, be clearer than Mario.

[gerardm]

Thanks. Mario was the greatest tenor of all time. and his recordings will live forever.

[opelske]

The talent is out there, we just have to celebrate it more. Today we celebrate all that is vulgar, on TV, the stage and in the movies. When we stop buying into it, it will change. There must be some brave film makers out there willing to take on a Tony Pastor risk - believe me there is a family audience craving for decent entertainment.

[raymondharbin]

@opelske  Absolute! Absolute!

[maureen1938]

This is just too beautiful for words.... I guess you can call it perfection.... a lovely lovely song sung by an exceptional singer.... Mario was magnificent THANKS for posting.

[megacallas]

Every time I listen to a something by Lanza I had never heard before, it amazes me. I cannot imagine what he could have achieved had he lived longer.

[jbdanfan]

I never heard Mario's version before, it's lovely.

[2egypt]

What happened to all these wonderful songs and singers? I

can't stand this horrible rap music. What's happened to this

world? Why are we going downhill?

[jbdanfan]

I wonder if part of it is patience. It's like the attitude is instead of singing a song 30 times to get it right, just use some Pro Tools and be done with it.

[2egypt]

I think it's just a way of making a fast buck...and that rap

dancing...it's like a bunch of baboons playing around, nothing

exciting....I like the dancing where you hold each other and waltz across the ballroom...such romance.

[SilverInsanity]

And ballet, of course. Although tap dancing isn't quite romantic, it's also rather lovely.

[seproductionsyt]

This is one of my new all-time favorites. Thanks for posting.

[salvadorsalvona]

jerome kern once wrote a song called "paris in springtime is heaven for coons! what a nice man.

[zigeunerlein]

He is and was a Legend forever....and this poeple that dont feel this music are without a heart!!!

[fjcnlr]

Lanza felt the music with his heart and every word he sings reflect it. His perfect voice is beyond compare. There is no other.

[efiodice]

This is one of the most beautiful songs that have ever been recorded because of Mario Lanza and his voice of gold. No other tenor was able to crossover from opera to popular music like him and this song is an example. Imagine figure skaters skating to this or dancers dancing to this. Only Lanza could achieve this magic.

[fjcnlr]

His beautiful voice makes me cry. Thank you for posting his songs...I love him.

[joanilo21]

Una de las canciones más bellas que escuché en mi corta vida: The bayou lullaby, por Mario Lanza. Estaba en youtube pero no sé porqué la quitarian. Pareciera una joya que pocos admiran.

[ImYourGreatestFan]

Thank you for posting this. A fantastic voice.

[janicesoprano]

Oh Mario, how much I love you, I was one of your biggest fans in the 1950s. And how wonderful to hear you sing this beautiful song. You will live forever Mario Lanza!

[ShawDAMAN]

Very nice.... I'm not generally a big fan of Lanza's 'popular' music (I love his opera recordings) but that said, this is very nice indeed

[oxomocchioxo]

I love this song and I couldn't find it anywhere. Thank you!

[djm1228]

rod stewart recorded it a couple of years ago. he did a set of 4 albums of old standards.