Mario Lanza 1948 live- "Lamento di federico" plus sketch

Lanza fans mostly will have heard this, probably. A very nice (pre-hollywood) reading of the "Lamento" (Cilea, L'arlesiana) from 1948 in Toronto, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Paul Scherman conducting. Enjoy (hopefully) the quick sketch of Mario. Hopefully there's some resemblance.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• mario
• lanza
• tenor
• aria
• live
• lamento
• di
• federico
• cilea
• l'arlesiana
• opera
• drawing
• sketch
• art
• face
• yt:quality=high

[qklq42]

A big surprise. I never heard this recording. Its very beautiful. I adore Mario Lanzas englisch and american songs and balads, but I never liked his opera arias. But: this record is different: in this particular aria he proves that he is able to be a great interpretor. He combines his beautiful voice with a very fine taste.

See Mario Lanza with new eyes !

Hans NL

[ShawDAMAN]

@qklq42 I've known a number of people who had the same feelings as you on hearing some of his earlier stuff. Look for his 1948 live nessun dorma, live 1948 agnus dei, and the duets from the hollywood bowl concert in 1947 for more similarly fine singing.

[RoyKa2010]

That's a great depiction of Mario Lanza, both visually and musically. I'm not such a big fan of his opera recordings but I must admit this "Lamento" was a very enjoyable listen, smooth and stylish, and the voice of course speaks for itself. The drawing IS as lovely as the thumbnail size was promising ;-) Thanks a lot for sending this video.

[ShawDAMAN]

@RoyKa2010 Thank you again very much! Yes I love Lanza's performances from the 40's, wish there were more of them.

[halavey]

Look even my favorite tenor RT has sung an opera I may not like him in or a recording of an aria I may not like say the way he sings it, they are all human. Lanza sang here very well and somethings not so well and that goes for even Bjorling a very VERY perfect singer or Bergonzi who could be at times just like Jussi, maybe too perfect, Lanza if anything was never Boring or cold. in what he did. Corelli a great voice had his habits but where are these guys today---- all dead.

[ShawDAMAN]

Good comment

[halavey]

He never needed much defending as far as voice and in his early and very late year--(the vesti, for the first time film, 1958) he sang very well --as far as the voice it was one of the greatest tenor voices ever, only an idiot or deaf person would say the voice is not good. What would tucker, kirsten or albanese say? Sure they would agree, a great voice, maybe not all his singing in Hollywood but when he sang seriously many real opera fans did like him and admit it was fine singing.

[pianist527]

Listened to again and again most gratifying i must say. The pure, crystal clear sound - and already unique because different from all other tenors in the ring - is entirely there and just to think he was only 27 years old when sang this! Simply amazing

[DonPaolissimo]

For me, the later version has more passion & "lament"; plus, the voice is bigger, darker. The Serenade film version has, for me, always been definitive - I cannot begin to estimate how many times I have listened to that recording!!

[catlec39]

@rouman7 You are right about the off days. However, many of the bad recordings (less than perfect) are the fault of RCA for trying to market ANYTHING they had on tape for Mario Lanza.. especially after his death. While many people are grateful to have heard his radio broadcasts, they were not (in Many cases) of recording quality. Frequently the rehearsals were extremely short, or non-existent. In short, these recordings were simply spontaneous singings, not rehearsed recordings.

[elio721]

E' la voce più bella del pianeta!!! Orgoglio italiano. Elio cavriana

[rouman7]

everyone to there own, we all have diffrent views, and taste in music. everyone is entitled to there opinion. lanza like everyone else had off days, its just he had less than anyone else. and like some of the other greats he was never boring...

[halavey]

Massey hall, canada, great.