Mario Lanza- mystery aria.....???? (see description)

This was recorded in 1944, Lanza was 23.

An interesting and very short clip of Mario Lanza recording a snippet of an aria (for Maria Margelli, a lady who sponsored some of his early training and exposure.)

Some very knowledgeable people have been unable to figure out what opera this is from. Some suggestions have been some obscure opera perhaps by Leoncavallo, Giordano or some other "Verismo" composer. (Lanza reportedly had an interest in obscure operas.) However, it's still a mystery, plenty of guesses have been made, but I'm hoping someone on youtube might *know.* ;-)

It seems to contain the lyrics "Eterna...calma, o quieta...ora vieni ancora.." Enjoy!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• mario
• lanza
• tenor
• mystery
• aria
• verismo
• leoncavallo
• cilea
• giordano
• mascagni
• yt:quality=high

[Operafiend22]

Sounds like Respighi to me. Mario sounds fantastic, whatever he's singing

[ShawDAMAN]

@Operafiend22 hmm thanks for the suggestion

[halavey]

Some tenor in my home town says he is the son of lanza and Maria! Can you believe that! What goes on but yet when lanza was alive nobody said anything so I find these things hard to believe and even years ago I remember being in the house on toyopa having dinner with tony and mary and some nut called and said he was mario's brother! Tony cursed the idiot and hung up. Mary a kind gentle intelligent woman said many people want to make money on my sons name. That guy called aeound1963!

[ShawDAMAN]

Yes I heard about that guy "Victor Lanza" or something he called himself?? They basically disproved it though. Crazy, what some people will do for attention.

[halavey]

He is vocalizing thats all, not really any opera perhaps.

[ShawDAMAN]

Thanks for the info on the Pag/Cav tape and thanks for giving it to GOS, I enjoyed it. Yes as I commented on it Tucker did sound considerably more powerful there.

You may be right about this recording, but he IS singing actual lyrics here. I suppose it's possible it's just something made up, we'll probably never really know. Anyway nice little recording.

[MrKonstantin06]

Listened to the record for some times.Gratitude ShawDAMAN for it !

Now reread all the changing of opinions - very interesting and useful .

Very good YT page !

[rmegna]

Definitely sounds like Giordano's style ...could be from another opera besides Andrea Chenier

[corellithebest]

@vimafeca No, it is not that. The first part (recitative) of the aria goes like "Colpito qui m'avete", and this is not that. I really don't know which opera this is from.

[ronaldo190172]

This is on the Maria Magelli tape....

[halavey]

I heard Victor in 1990 sing in a Chicago area suburb restaurant he was singing at and he was OK, did have the Italian look but IMO did not sound like Lanza, he may try to have the sound but did not at least when I heard him and I doubt he was related. Many others have tried as I was told and have a letter from Maria Cocozza to say the least she did not like it or approve she said they try to cash in on my sons name.

[vimafeca]

I am fairly sure that this passage that Mario Lanza tests, belongs to the opera "André Chénier," I think an earlier part of the famous "Impromptu" Un di alla azzurro spazio, guardai profondo...

[sarpa3]

Simply terrific, even then, so smooth, powerful and beautiful. Still I'm at a lost of his needless demise. Damn Hollywood greed!.

[bunnyking1]

There was a restrauant in chgo suburbs,called marios .Dedicated to mario Lanza. Does anyone remember it > or know what happened. It was great w/all his music & pics not to mentio great italian food.