Facinating People- Mario Lanza

So I've been neglecting the old blog of late, I've been mega busy with college and having a life and falling in love and stuff :)!! Anyway I thought I'd come back with a little profile of one of my all time favourite singers legendary tenor Mario Lanza. I was a strange child, when most girls were in love with Jordan Knight from New Kids on the Block, I had a crush on Mario Lanza (well I loved Jordan as well just not as much as Mario). I loved his warm handsome face and his big, beautiful voice that seemed to get under my skin and make me feel full and happy (if that makes sense) I still feel like that and some songs give me chills every time I hear them. I think it was my Grandfather who first introduced me to Lanza although my mom is a great fan of his as well I remember sitting with my Grandad on Sunday afternoons being carried away to romantic places by Mario, the ultimate Prince Charming.

His short life was filled with the drama you would expect from an opera singer, but he was hailed as the 'Voice of the century' and is revered by some of the greatest artists of all time from Callas, Domingo and Carreras to Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley. He's also credited with bringing opera to the masses in his smash hit movies 'The Midnight Kiss',  'The Toast of New Orleans' and 'The Great Caruso' where he plays another legendary tenor Enrique Caruso. There is a myth that says Lanza's voice is a reincarnation of Caruso's mostly because the great Caruso died the year Lanza was born and because opera fans love a bit of a spooky story.

Mario Lanza started out as Alfredo Cocozza in Philadelphia in 1921 to Italian immigrants, He took his stage name from his mother's maiden name, Maria Lanza. His father, Antonio was an opera lover and he played records in the house on a daily basis so little Freddie began his training by singing along. he formal training as a classical singer began at the tender age of 16. Lanza's mother believed in her son's talent so deeply that she worked two jobs in order to pay for his voice lessons which is pretty cool.in 1945 he married and moved to new york to continue his training.

His big break came while singing at the Hollywood bowl in 1947, Louis .b. Mayer the head of MGM and Kathryn Grayson the well established opera singer and Hollywood leading lady, were in the audience and were suitably impressed Mario was given a screen test and then a contract with MGM. In his first two films 'The Midnight Kiss' and 'The Toast of New Orleans' he starred opposite the illustrious Ms Grayson.

Lanza went on to make several more films including 'Serenade' and 'The Great Caruso'. The film that could have catapulted him to super stardom was 'the Student Prince' however the film only features Mario's captivating voice which was dubbed over the actor Edmund Purdom. Lanza walked of the set after recording the soundtrack, many reasons are cited for this including Mario's bad behaviour and a dispute with the director over his singing of a certain song but either way MGM replaced him and terminated his contract. this sent him into a downward spiral. He became depressed and reclusive taking solace in alcohol and food, he also came very close to bankruptcy around this time.

Also around this time he began what would be a life long battle with his weight. sadly he died in 1959 aged just 38 of a pulmonary embolism said to have been brought on by a controversial weight loss program. what I find really quite sad and strange is that his wife died just five months after lanza of a drug overdose, one of his son's died aged 37 of a heart attack, another son died aged 55 also of a heart attack and one of his daughters died at 48 in a car accident.



Lanza with Kathryn Grayson



Lanza's voice was incomparable and still moves me every time I hear it, I feel that it's a crying shame that most people I know have never even heard of him, in my opinion his name should roll of the tongue like that of Elvis or Sinatra. So Please Please, I implore you, listen to his music and be transformed by his majestic voice.

This is one of my favourite songs and I think Lanza's is the definitive version but there are millions more videos on youtube so do yourself a favour and watch them!