NEWS: Lanza in the Media

[Derek McGovern]

This will be our new thread for announcements of references to Lanza in the media (e.g. online articles about him, news of tribute concerts & the like). 

[leeann]

The South Philly Review, a weekly newspaper covering the Philadelphia community where Mario Lanza was born and grew up, inaugurated a South Philly Walk of Fame this year. Thirty musical artists, pop stars, authors, actors, politicians, athletes--a gamut of famous people were chosen as the first inductees. They represent people who once made South Philly home and who were known beyond the community.

Not surprisingly, (we know how Philadelphia remembers) Mario Lanza is among this first group, and this two-paragraph brief bio tells a bit about him.

When famed film critic Roger Ebert passed away earlier this year, I wondered if he'd ever referred to any Lanza films among his prolific reviews. Not much, but he had, and one succinct comment, complete, but unnuanced, seemed to sum up so many of Lanza's movies.  It could serve as a headline for detailed discussions on this forum and perhaps, the reviews of many movie critics of the time.  Ebert was reviewing a film called Little Voice and wrote, "I was reminded of old musicals that were handmade as showcases for big stars. The plot was just a clothesline for Astaire's big dance number or Mario Lanza's solo."  Best, Lee Ann

[Derek McGovern]

A few days back, the following article by Christopher Purdy appeared online on the website for Columbus, Ohio's classical music station WOSU:  

http://wosu.org/2012/classical101/mario-lanza-on-turner-classic-movies-september-18/

I understand (and appreciate) that Mr. Purdy admires Lanza; what I don't understand is how he could have written such an inaccurate article on the man! While the overall tone is quite positive, and includes praise for the 1955 Otello duet recording with Albanese, as well as acknowledgement of Lanza's operatic potential, it's frustrating to encounter so many regurgitated and unhelpful myths---and the seeds for some new ones. 

A sampling of his errors:

• When Lanza sang at Tanglewood, "He had no idea what he was singing about." [Hmm. You'd think the reviewers who raved about him would have picked up on that!  In fact, Lanza's characterization of Rodolfo was even singled out by one critic. And he sang the role of Fenton in English! Besides, Lanza was already an opera aficionado by this time.] 
  

• Mario wasn't in The Student Prince because he "weighed 300 pounds and could not be photographed." [Ha! That old crock. I'd like to see the photographic proof! Perhaps someone could gently direct Mr. Purdy to this essay.]
  

• "Lanza sang in opera scenes at Tanglewood as a kid. [H]is only full length opera performance was in Madama Butterfly in New Orleans." [Actually, Lanza gave two complete performances of a staged opera at Tanglewood, in addition to two separate performances of Act III of Puccini's La Boheme. And 21 may be young, but he was no "kid" when he appeared at Tanglewood.]   
  

• "Diva Anna Moffo did some concerts with Lanza." [Ha! If only!] 

• "[At the time of his death] He was on the skids professionally, taken seriously no where." [Really? Then why were various leading opera houses still actively pursuing Lanza in 1959? For a person supposedly "on the skids," he also received a surprising number of concert and film offers!]
  

• "The tenor Richard Tucker and his wife had reached out to help Lanza, who they dearly loved, to no avail."  [That's a bit of an exaggeration! As far as we know, Lanza only met Tucker and his wife once---in January 1958 for a delightful extended supper at the Dorchester---and that was the extent to their association ]
  

I did try to point out (politely) some of the above in the comments section under Mr. Purdy's article, but after appearing briefly, my remarks then mysteriously disappeared! 

[Derek McGovern]

I see that the New York Times mentioned Lanza in passing today (in an article about soprano Renée Fleming singing at the Super Bowl), and at least differentiated between him ("the real deal") and Andrea Bocelli & his ilk:

Back in the days when divas and divos reigned nationally, there was another category of artists who blurred the line between opera and pop music. Mario Lanza, for one, had the chops to be the real deal but ended up best known for standards like “Be My Love” and for playing Caruso in films.
But as the art form has receded from mainstream pop culture, all that’s left for many people when they think “opera” are post-Lanza crooners like Andrea Bocelli or the men of Il Divo. They have sweet, tiny voices without the technique or stamina — let alone nuance — to persuasively project without amplification in a real opera house.     

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/01/arts/music/renee-fleming-will-sing-national-anthem-at-the-super-bowl.html?hpw&rref=arts&_r=0