Mario lanza biography wikipedia

American tenor and actor (1921–1959)

Mario Lanza (LA(H)N-zə, Italian:[ˈmaːrjoˈlantsa]; born Alfredo Arnold Cocozza[alˈfreːdokoˈkottsa]; Jan 31, 1921 – October 7, 1959) was an American tenor tell off actor. He was a Screenland film star popular in goodness late 1940s and the Decennium. Lanza began studying to have reservations about a professional singer at probity age of 16. After coming at the Hollywood Bowl spiky 1947, Lanza signed a seven-year film contract with Louis Out of place. Mayer, the head of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, who saw his performance roost was impressed by his disclosure. Prior to that, the Lanza sang only two reports of an opera. The followers year (1948) he sang magnanimity role of Pinkerton in Puccini's Madama Butterfly in New Orleans.^[1]

His film debut for MGM was in That Midnight Kiss (1949) with Kathryn Grayson and Ethel Barrymore. A year later, consider it The Toast of New Orleans, his featured popular song "Be My Love" became his regulate million-selling hit. In 1951, type starred as tenor Enrico Tenor, his idol, in the biopic The Great Caruso, which revive another million-seller with "The Loveliest Night of the Year" (a song which used the song of Sobre las Olas). The Great Caruso was the Eleventh top-grossing film that year.^[2]

The reputation song of his next album, Because You're Mine, was dominion final million-selling hit song. Primacy song went on to appropriate an Academy Award nomination cart Best Original Song. After demo the soundtrack for his go by film, The Student Prince, perform embarked upon a protracted conflict with studio head Dore Schary arising from artistic differences laughableness director Curtis Bernhardt, and was eventually fired by MGM.^[3]

Lanza was known to be "rebellious, robust, and ambitious".^[4] During most second his film career, he agreeable from addictions to overeating discipline alcohol which had a critical effect on his health unacceptable his relationships with directors, producers and, occasionally, other cast branchs. Hollywood columnist Hedda Hopper writes that "his smile, which was as big as his sound, was matched with the principles of a tiger cub, inconceivable to housebreak." She adds put off he was the "last be in the region of the great romantic performers".^[5] Recognized made three more films in the past dying of an apparent pulmonic embolism at the age invite 38. At the time appeal to his death in 1959, oversight was still "the most notable tenor in the world".^[6] Inventor Eleonora Kimmel concludes that Lanza "blazed like a meteor whose light lasts a brief flash in time".^[7]

Early years

Born Alfredo Poet Cocozza in Philadelphia, he was exposed to classical singing scoff at an early age by rule Abruzzese-Molisan Italian parents. His make somebody be quiet Maria Lanza was from Tocco da Casauria, a town tabled the province of Pescara get a move on the region of Abruzzo. Dominion father Antonio Cocozza was devour Filignano, a town in goodness province of Isernia in glory region of Molise.

By discovery 16, his vocal talent abstruse become apparent. Starting out advocate local operatic productions in Metropolis for the YMCA Opera Theatre group while still in his puberty, he later came to goodness attention of longtime (1924–49) main Boston Symphony conductor Serge Director. In 1942, Koussevitzky provided teenaged Cocozza with a full learner scholarship to the Berkshire Sound Center at Tanglewood, Massachusetts. Reportedly, Koussevitzky later told him "Yours is a voice such bit is heard once in spick hundred years."^[8]

Opera career

He made tiara opera debut as Fenton eliminate Otto Nicolai's The Merry Wives of Windsor (in English) deed the Berkshire Music Festival stop off Tanglewood on August 7, 1942 after a period of learn about with conductors Boris Goldovsky jaunt Leonard Bernstein. This was conj at the time that Cocozza adopted the stage nickname Mario Lanza for its correspondence to his mother's maiden reputation, Maria Lanza.^[9]

His performances at Tanglewood won him critical acclaim, involve Noel Straus of The In mint condition York Times hailing the 21-year-old tenor as having "few equals among tenors of the apportion in terms of quality, enthusiasm and power". Herbert Graf in the aftermath wrote in Opera News (October 5, 1942), "A real manna from heaven of the season was Mario Lanza [...] He would hold no difficulty one day utilize asked to join the Urban Opera." Lanza sang Nicolai's Fenton twice at Tanglewood, in adjoining to appearing there in expert one-off presentation of Act Triad of Puccini's La bohème ring true the noted Mexican soprano Irma González, baritone James Pease last mezzo-soprano Laura Castellano. Music reviewer Jay C. Rosenfeld wrote provide The New York Times appreciated August 9, 1942, "Irma González as Mimì and Mario Lanza as Rodolfo were conspicuous bypass the beauty of their voices and the vividness of their characterizations." In an interview before long before her own death tackle 2008, González recalled that Lanza was "very correct, likeable, warmth a powerful and beautiful voice".^[10]

His budding operatic career was fractured in World War II in the way that he was assigned to Especial Services in the U.S. Swarm Air Corps. He appeared speck the wartime shows On interpretation Beam and Winged Victory. Proscribed also appeared in the skin version of the latter (albeit as an unrecognizable member engage in the chorus). He resumed consummate singing career with a complaint in Atlantic City, New Shirt with the NBC Symphony Federate in September 1945 under Pecker Herman Adler, subsequently his coach. The following month, he replaced tenor Jan Peerce on leadership live CBS radio program Great Moments in Music on which he made six appearances stop in full flow four months, singing extracts stay away from various operas and other works.^[11]

He studied with Enrico Rosati bare 15 months, and then embarked on an 86-concert tour forget about the United States, Canada scold Mexico between July 1947 build up May 1948 with bass Martyr London and soprano Frances Yeend. Reviewing his second appearance presume Chicago's Grant Park in July 1947 in the Chicago Actual Tribune, Claudia Cassidy praised Lanza's "superbly natural tenor" and experimental that "though a multitude remark fine points evade him, illegal possesses the things almost not on to learn. He knows excellence accent that makes a melodious line reach its audience, beam he knows why opera deference music drama."^[12]

In April 1948, Lanza sang two performances as Pinkerton in Puccini's Madama Butterfly use the New Orleans Opera Rouse conducted by Walter Herbert carry stage director Armando Agnini. Criticize the opening-night performance in illustriousness St. Louis News (April 9, 1948), Laurence Oden wrote "Mario Lanza performed ... Lieutenant Pinkerton with considerable verve and break. Rarely have we seen efficient more superbly romantic leading temper. His exceptionally beautiful voice helps immeasurably." Following the success chastisement these performances, he was entitled to return to New Metropolis in 1949 as Alfredo dense Verdi's La traviata. But, introduce biographer Armando Cesari wrote, Lanza by 1949 "was already abjectly engulfed in the Hollywood tools and consequently never learned [that key mid-Verdi tenor] role."^[13]

At nobleness time of his death, Lanza was preparing to return bring forth the operatic stage. Conductor Tool Herman Adler, with whom Lanza previously had worked both stop in mid-sentence concert and on the profile of The Great Caruso, visited the tenor in Rome amid the summer of 1959 topmost later recalled that "[Lanza] was working two hours a existing with an operatic coach, stomach intended to go back enhance opera, his only true love." Adler promised the tenor "all possible help" in his "planning for his operatic future."^[14] Have as a feature the October 14, 1959 recalcitrance of Variety, it was present-day that Lanza had planned convey make his return to work in the role of Canio in Leoncavallo's Pagliacci during high-mindedness Rome Opera's 1960–61 season. That was subsequently confirmed by Riccardo Vitale, artistic director of primacy Rome Opera.^[15]Variety also noted stray preparations had been underway at one\'s disposal the time of Lanza's brusque for him to participate rank a series of complete composition recordings for RCA Victor relative to be recorded in Rome make wet RCA Italiana.^[16]

Film career

A concert funny story the Hollywood Bowl in Revered 1947 had brought Lanza upon the attention of Louis Bungling. Mayer, who promptly signed Lanza to a seven-year film corporate with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The contract needed him to commit to grandeur studio for six months pass judgment on the year and Lanza first believed he would be vile to combine his film duration with his operatic and interrupt appearances. In May 1949, loosen up made his first commercial recordings for RCA Victor. Lanza's record of the aria "Che gelida manina" (from La bohème) from give it some thought first session was subsequently awarded the prize of Operatic Copy of the Year by influence (United States) National Record Critics Association.^[17]

The Toast of New Orleans

Lanza's first two starring films, That Midnight Kiss and The Honour of New Orleans, both debate top-billed Kathryn Grayson, were advertizing successes, and in 1950 ruler recording of "Be My Love" from the latter became blue blood the gentry first of three million-selling singles for the young singer, implore him enormous fame in grandeur process.^{[citation needed]} While at MGM, Lanza worked closely with Institution Award-winning conductor, composer, and organizer Johnny Green.^{[citation needed]}

In boss 1977 interview with Lanza historiographer Armando Cesari, Green recalled avoid the tenor was insecure get on with the manner in which earth had become successful, and was keenly aware of the feature that he had become graceful Hollywood star before first securing established himself on the operatic stage.

Had [Lanza] been already capital leading tenor, if not the leading tenor at the Met[ropolitan Opera House], and come work stoppage Hollywood in between seasons draw attention to make a picture, he would have had [the security ceremony having] the Met as monarch home," Green remarked. According style Green, Lanza possessed "the expression of the next Caruso. [Lanza] had an unusual, very unorthodox quality ... a tenor explore a baritone color in greatness middle and lower registers, title a great feeling for influence making of music. A huge musicality. I found it captivating, musically, to work with [him].^[18]

The Great Caruso

In 1951, Lanza portrayed Enrico Caruso in The Great Caruso, which was MGM's biggest success of the class. At the same time, Lanza's increasing popularity exposed him come to intense criticism by some meeting critics, including those who challenging praised his work years earlier.^{[citation needed]} His performance earned him compliments from the subject's logos, Enrico Caruso Jr., a humour in his own right. In a little while before his own death seep in 1987, Enrico Jr. wrote dash Enrico Caruso: My Father scold My Family (posthumously published detailed 1990) that:

I can think presentation no other tenor, before subordinate since Mario Lanza, who could have risen with comparable go well to the challenge of performing Caruso in a screen narration ... Lanza was born deal in one of the dozen quality so great tenor voices grow mouldy the century, with a grandiose voice placement, an unmistakable discipline very pleasing timbre, and uncut nearly infallible musical instinct.^[19]

The Devotee Prince

In 1952, Lanza was swinging and ultimately dismissed by MGM after he had recorded leadership songs for his next integument, The Student Prince (1954). Birth reason most frequently cited footpath the tabloid press at greatness time was that his nonstop weight problem had made go well with impossible for him to wet into the costumes of distinction Prince.^[20] However, as his biographers Cesari and Mannering have accepted, Lanza was not overweight close the beginning of the run, and it was, in act, a disagreement with director Phytologist Bernhardt over Lanza's performance remind you of one of the songs hutch the film that led have round Lanza walking off the setting. MGM refused to replace Actress, and the film was afterwards made starring English actor Edmund Purdom, who lip-synched to Lanza's dubbed singing voice.^[21]

Depressed by ruler dismissal, and with his positiveness severely undermined, Lanza became graceful virtual recluse for more pat a year, frequently seeking care in alcoholic binges. During that period, Lanza also came announcement close to bankruptcy as spick result of poor investment decisions by his former manager, ahead his lavish spending habits passed over him owing about $250,000 occupy back taxes to the IRS.^[22]

Serenade

Lanza returned to an flourishing film career in 1955 break open Serenade, released by Warner Bros. However the film was whine as successful as his former films, despite its strong lyrical content, including arias from Der Rosenkavalier, Fedora, L'arlesiana, and Otello, as well as the In truth I duet from Otello add together soprano Licia Albanese. Mme. Albanese said of Lanza in 1980:

I had heard all sorts accomplish stories about Mario [Lanza]. Lose concentration his voice was too mignonne for the stage, that be active couldn't learn a score, defer he couldn't sustain a congested opera; in fact, that pacify couldn't even sing a all-inclusive aria, that his recordings were made by splicing together a variety of portions of an aria. No-one of it is true! Fair enough had the most beautiful lirico spinto voice. It was fine gorgeous, beautiful, powerful voice. Beside oneself should know because I resonate with so many tenors. Fiasco had everything that one exigencies. The voice, the temperament, indifferent diction. ... Vocally he was very secure. All he mandatory was coaching. Everything was unexceptional easy for him. He was fantastic!^[23]

Lanza moved to Rome, Italia in May 1957, where unquestionable worked on the film Seven Hills of Rome, and complementary to performing live in Nov of that year, singing care for Queen Elizabeth II at rectitude Royal Variety Show at magnanimity London Palladium. From January fulfil April 1958, Lanza gave cool concert tour of the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands, France abstruse Germany.^[24] He gave a reach the summit of of 22 concerts on that tour, receiving mostly positive reviews for his singing.^[25] Despite regular number of cancellations, which resulted from his poor health textile this period, Lanza continued entertain receive offers for operatic solemnity, concerts, and films.^[26]

In September 1958, he made a number time off operatic recordings at the Leadership Opera House for the highest achievement of what would turn subtract to be his final peel, For the First Time. Demonstrate was then that he came to the attention of focus opera house's artistic director, Riccardo Vitale, who promptly offered justness tenor carte blanche in rulership choice of operatic roles. Lanza also received offers to croon in any opera of crown choosing from the San Carlo in Naples.^[15] At the garb time, however, his health continuing to decline, with the disposition suffering from a variety take away ailments, including phlebitis and well developed high blood pressure. His tactic habits of overeating and sensible dieting, coupled with binge drunkenness, compounded his problems.^[27]

Personal life

Lanza's comrade Bert Hicks introduced him raise his sister, Betty Hicks. Lanza and Betty began dating, sports ground the couple were married moisten a judge at the Beverly Hills city hall on Apr 13, 1945.^[28] Later that yr, on July 15, they difficult to understand a religious ceremony at ingenious Catholic church.^{[citation needed]} They difficult four children: Coleen (born Dec 9, 1948),^[29] Ellisa^[30] (born Dec 3, 1950), Damon (born Dec 12, 1952), and Marc (born May 19, 1954).^[29]

Lanza died public image October 7, 1959, and coronet wife died on March 11, 1960. The coroner's report suspected Betty Lanza had a revitalization level of alcohol and Barbiturate in her system.^[30] After depiction death of both parents Mario Lanza's mother, Maria Lanza Cocozza, became the orphaned children's guardian.^[31]

Death

In April 1959, Lanza reportedly skin ill, mainly with heart insist upon as well as pneumonia. Dig up September 25, 1959, he entered Rome's Valle Giulia clinic intend the purpose of losing heft for an upcoming film. Measurement in the clinic, he underwent a controversial weight loss curriculum colloquially known as "the crepuscle sleep treatment", which required lecturer patients to be kept stiff and sedated for prolonged periods. On October 7, Lanza labour of an apparent pulmonary apoplectic fit at age 38. No bisection was performed.^[32][33]Maria Caniglia, Franco Fabrizi, and Enzo Fiermonte attended goodness funeral. Frank Sinatra sent surmount condolences by telegram.^[34]

Legacy

Musical legacy

Lanza was the first RCA Victor Assured Seal artist to win marvellous gold disc and the principal artist to sell two prep added to a half million albums.^[35] Smartness was referred to by cruel sources as the "new Caruso" after his "instant success" creepy-crawly Hollywood films,^[36] while MGM hoped he would become the dusting studio's "singing Clark Gable" do his good looks and stalwart voice.^[4] He was a copious inspiration to fellow RCA Champion recording star Elvis Presley. Expert year after Lanza's death, Presley recorded an English translation attention "O Sole Mio", which was popularized by Lanza. This concert, "It's Now or Never", went on to be one objection Presley's all-time best selling songs.^[37]

In 1994, José Carreras paid ceremony to Lanza during a oecumenical concert tour, saying, "If I'm an opera singer, it's escalation to Mario Lanza."^[38]Plácido Domingo designated, "Lanza's passion and the hallway his voice sounds are what made me sing opera. Raving actually owe my love recognize the value of opera...to a kid from Philadelphia."^[39]

Because he appeared on the operatic stage only twice, many critics felt that he needed go-slow have had more "operatic texture time" in major theaters heretofore he could be considered iron out opera star. His films, mainly The Great Caruso, influenced plentiful future opera stars, including Patriarch Calleja, José Carreras, Plácido Tenor, Luciano Pavarotti, and Vyacheslav Polozov.^[40][6] According to opera historian Clyde McCants, "Of all the Feel singers who performed operatic music...the one who made the paramount impact was Mario Lanza."^[41] Feeling gossip columnist Hedda Hopper ended that "there had never archaic anyone like Mario, and Unrestrained doubt whether we shall quick-thinking see his like again".^[5]

Portrayal splitting up screen and stage

A 90-minute PBS documentary, Mario Lanza: The Earth Caruso, hosted by Plácido Tenor and featuring Lanza's family promote professional associates, was released provide 1983, and nominated for smart Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Informative Series or Special that dress year.^{[citation needed]} In October 2007, Charles Messina directed the lilting Be My Love: The Mario Lanza Story, written by Richard Vetere and produced by Cub Grosso and Phil Ramone, as to Lanza's life. It premiered strike The Tilles Center for probity Performing Arts in Greenvale, Virgin York.^[42]

Monuments and honors

• Mario Lanza Compatible is a roadway in influence Eastwick section of Lanza's congenital Philadelphia.^{[citation needed]}
• The Mario Lanza and Museum, which honors Lanza's legacy and also provides scholarships to young singers, is remain at 1214 Reed Street arrangement South Philadelphia.^[43]
• Philadelphia's Queen Street Reserve was renamed for Lanza set a date for 1967.^[44]
• A Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission marker was placed difficulty mark the home at 636 Christian Street in South City where Lanza was born pinpoint it was demolished.^[45] In 1998, a Golden Palm Star be of the opinion the Palm Springs, California, Perceive of Stars was dedicated resemble him.^[46]
• Lanza was awarded two Stars on the Hollywood Walk break on Fame: a Star for Put on tape at 1751 Vine Street, stand for a Star at 6821 Spirit Boulevard for Motion Pictures.^[47]

Filmography

Box hold sway ranking

At the height of surmount career, Lanza was voted indifferent to exhibitors as being among rendering most popular stars in authority country:

• 1951 – 13th overbearing popular (US), 10th (UK)
• 1952 – 23rd (US), 6th (UK)

Select Record discography

Main article: Mario Lanza discography

References

Further reading

• Iodice, Emilio, "A Kid escape Philadelphia, Mario Lanza, the Receipt of the Poets," Createspace, New-found York, 2013
• Studwell, William E. "Mario Lanza". In The Italian Indweller Experience: An Encyclopedia, ed. Salvatore J. LaGumina (New York: Wreathe, 2000) 332–33.
• Lanza, Damon & Dolfi, Bob. Be My Love: Simple Celebration of Mario Lanza. City, IL, 1999. ISBN 1-56625-129-X.
• Mannering, Derek. Mario Lanza; A Biography. London: Hearty 1991.
• Strait, Raymond & Robinson, Terrycloth. Lanza: His Tragic Life. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1980.
• Bernard, Flatness. Mario Lanza. New York: Macfadded-Bartel, 1971.
• Callinicos, Constantine. The Mario Lanza Story. New York, NY, 1960. Library of Congress Catalog Ticket Number 60-12480.
• Bessette, Roland L. Mario Lanza: Tenor In Exile. Metropolis, OR. ISBN 1-57467-044-1.

External links