Mario Lanza- a glorious 1951 Thine Alone (Herbert)

Mario Lanza (1921-1959)

'Thine Alone' (Herbert-Blossom). Recorded for the July 1, 1951, broadcast of "The Mario Lanza Show", with studio orchestra conducted by Ray Sinatra.

As it was only recently released on CD, I've just now become acquainted with Lanza's Coca-Cola show recording of Victor Herbert's lovely 'Thine Alone' (from his 1917 operetta "Eileen"). But it is by far the best of Lanza's three extant versions of the song- including the duet with Kathryn Grayson from the Hollywood Bowl- and has quickly become one of my all-time favorite Lanza performances. He is in absolutely PRISTINE voice, the singing is full of youthful ardor and enthusiasm, and the ascent to the climactic, final B-natural is nothing short of hair-raising.

Lanza's way with operetta is as effortless as with any popular song he recorded. The phrasing is utterly natural, instinctive, and unforced, yet full of nuance. And his obvious passion and sincerity convince the listener of the rightness of almost every musical gesture. Combined with that incredible voice, these elements make Lanza's legacy of song an enduring, ever-inviting musical treasure.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Mario
• Lanza
• tenor
• Thine
• Alone
• Victor
• Herbert
• Henry
• Blossom
• operetta
• Eileen
• song

[zsazsamario]

Fantastic!! Just fantastic!! What a colour, what an emotion, what a Voice!! Thanks a lot for the enjoyment!!!

[jerseyscampi]

I have no words

[55hokies]

What a voice!

[Meanman332]

@jerseyscampi Apart from those 4?

[ronaldo190172]

@IanRCMcPhail

Your comment says it all, mate; "What we have is glorious but what he might have been is simply too great to imagine." That, for me, sums up Mario Lanza, thank you Ian

[raymondharbin]

ALL TRIBUTES TRUE AND YOU UNDERSTAND EVERY WORD HE SINGS!!

[MarcENicholson]

As of April 2011 this, in my opinion, is the best rendering of the song available on YouTube...and I've listened to all the options. The voice is fabulous and passionate and the diction is impeccable. The orchestration unfortunately has been "modernized" a bit from Herbert's and sounds a bit less symphonic, but that's a small price to pay for Lanza's voice and the ability clearly to hear the moving lyrics of this song.

[sugarbist]

LANZA STANDS ALONE HERE WITH NO COMPETITION FROM ANYONE ELSE.THE VOICE IS PURE CLEAR WITH BEAUTIFUL INTERPRETATION THAT ONLY HE CAN DO IN THE AMERICAN SONGS

[IanRCMcPhail]

Just unbelievable! What a massive talent. To think he died at 38: Most singers don't come into their prime until their 40's. What we have is glorious but what he might have been is simply too great to imagine!

[toots440]

I LOVE YOU MARIO LANZA THE BEST SINGER IN HISTORY THE VOICE EVER.

[zeekwolfe]

Der gross Lanza, es gibt nicht dazu mehr zu sagen.

[Kievest]

Rapturous beauty, blazing bright timbre

like the sun, and dark elegance to en-

chant and delight! Timeless! Thank

you for the wonderful romantic song,

great photos and the astounding

Lanza!!