Lolita

[Lover of Grand Voices]

I have heard Mario sing "Lolita" many times and I believe the version
we have is the only one he recorded, unless I am mistaken.

I would appreciate a discussion about the quality of his musicality in
the recording which is rarely mentioned as one of his more dramatic
and spectacular performances.

It is worth listening to again.

I would welcome your comments.

All the best

Emilio

[Derek McGovern]

Ciao Emilio: If you look in our Discography section, you'll find that
Mario actually recorded Lolita four times: in 1949 (RCA), 1951 (Coke
Show), 1957 (Seven Hills of Rome), and in 1959 (RCA). My guess is that
you're referring to the 1949 version, which is certainly one of
Lanza's most stirring performances - and by far his best version of
the song, in my opinion. It was recorded on the same day as his RCA
Granada, and features the same youthful brilliance and extraordinary
breath control - just listen to the way he sustains "morir" at the
end! This is a rendition that just overflows with personality: the
gorgeous touch on "Ah!" near the middle of the song, the sweet
pleading on "dimmi come fai Lolita?" - wonderful stuff!

Tenors since time immemorial have recorded this song, but I've yet to
hear a better version than Mario's 1949 rendition. Lanza blows the
cobwebs out of this ancient song, and it's a shame its composer didn't
live to hear it! (Just six more years and he would have...:-))

LOLITA, by Arturo Buzzi-Peccia (1856-1943)

Amor, amor che langue il cor
La sua canzon ti vuol cantar
E ti vo' dir i suio martir,
Le pene che Lolita può sol calmar
Ah vien, che i baci che ti vo' dare,
Le stelle in ciel non le potrian contare,
E le carezze ed i sospir
Tu sola o bella li potrai ridir. Ah!
Amor se `n vien, è l'ora gradita,
Senza il tuo ben dimmi come fai Lolita?
O lezza il fior e dolce invita
O mia Lolita.
Vien all'amor, ah vien diletta,
Più non tardare, che al seno stretta
Ti vo' baciar, baciar
Ah vien diletta Lolita, vien
Che morire mi farai se tu non vieni!

[Lover of Grand Voices]

Thank you Derek. You mentioned "Granada." I have heard so many
tenors and singers sing it but no one like Mario. I believe Armando
and you have written about his magical musical achievements with
Granada. Please enlighten us. Did the author ever hear Mario sing
it? If so I would love to know his comments.

Regards

Emilio

[Vince Di Placido]

Lolita is one of my favourite Lanza performances, he sounds so secure
& in control, he owns this song! The high note on "Morir" is
fantatsic, one of Mario's great recorded notes, it's strong as steel
but it's pure gold also. The phrasing is spot on, Mario is just
definitely on his game, you would have just loved him to record for
another 3 hours on days like this one in 1949. Special mention to Ray
Sinatra for handling the orchestra perfectly, it shows when conductor
& orchestra are tuned in to Mario & his performance.

[Derek McGovern]

Ciao Emilio: The composer of Granada, Augustin Lara, supposedly met
Lanza and told him that he'd never imagined how beautiful his song
could be until he heard Mario's recording of it. I would like to
believe this story, but since it comes from Terry Robinson....well,
you decide :-)

Overall I prefer Lanza's 1951 Granada from Because You're Mine - the
tempo doesn't drag as it does on the 1949 version and Mario doesn't go
flat on "de" at the end ("de sol") - but he's in fantastic vocal form
on the 1949 rendition. The way he sustains the high A on "dar" at the
end of the intro is extraordinary. Few tenors would dare to sing the
song in such a high key (Armando calls it "impossibly high" in his
book :-)) Having said that, I would have preferred Mario to have sung
it in a slightly lower key; this would have given him more
opportunities for expression.

Lanza's weakest version of Granada by far is his 1951 Coke rendition -
yet, incredibly, this was the recording chosen to represent Lanza at
his best in The Definitive Collection CD!!

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