As many of you already know, with the encouragement of my new vocal coach, composer David Schaefer, and various friends, family, and colleges I've begun researching and planning a show about the great Mario Lanza. Mario's own life is a story as interestingly exciting as his fantastic voice, and the controversies surrounding his talents and death are those that I feel could really entice an audience.
As a tenor searching for my voice, Mario's recordings were some of the most influential to me and helped me shape and find the voice I have now. There is a certain quality to my voice that has a striking resemblance to his. Physically we are similar with a dark hair, expressive eyes, barrel chest and physical presence of a boxer. Over the last few years this resemblance has been brought to my attention time after time when performing, and now at 26 as my voice is coming into its own I feel I am ready to try and not only pay tribute to Lanza by singing the music that enticed the entire world and sold better then Frank Sinatra, but pay him the honor his life deserves by telling his story as truthfully as I can.
I am not the only one moved by Lanza's story. Numerous books have been written, Theatrical Projects performed, tribute concerts and CD's from the world most popular and talented opera singers, documentaries, a movie planned that never reached fruition and even a show meant for Broadway that's been struggling for years to try and tell his story.
My own research has included articles on numerous websites, Wikipedia, Opera associations, and Lanza tribute sites. I've read numerous biographies that range from the fanciful ranting of Hedda Hopper to the poignant musical analysis of Armando Caesare a fellow Tenor and music buff. I own 2 very good biographies about the man as well. I've also managed to speak with some people who have worked on shows about Lanza and found other productions that have been done and hope to touch base with those performers as well.
Tribute CD's:
For those interested; quite a few Mario Lanza tribute CDs are available. Jose Carreras released one as did Greek Tenor Mario Frangoulis. Carreras' CD is nice, but his songs in English suffer. Frangoulis' CD is really excellent, but we find many of the songs transposed down as Lanza's top is extremely hard to duplicate, but otherwise the CD is a nice tribute. Even "The Singing Policeman" American tenor Daniel Rodriguez pays tribute to Lanza on his Second CD. His recording of "Be My Love" is probably the best non Lanza recording of the song. His brilliant high C at the end rings loud with verve of his idol and seems to go on forever. Bravo Daniel. Numerous singers have paid homage by recording or performing "Be My Love" but many shy away from the high C or perform it as a duet as it was done in "The Toast of New Orleans," which requires a high A instead of the C. The song was Mario's biggest hit and the best selling song of 1950.
A Mario Movie?
That's right. In the mid to late 90's they were trying to get a movie up and going about his life and had Billy Zane, fresh off his "Titanic" popularity in negotiations to play Lanza, while a trained Opera singer would record all of Lanza's songs. I never came across the name of the singer who was slated to do the recordings. One would hope they were looking at tenors like American tenor Richard Leech, himself a Lanzafile and one who gave tribute to Lanza in 1999 at Grant Park in Chicago.
Mario Show:
Throughout my research I've come across (3) major productions that have been done to tell Lanza's story. There may have been more, but these (3) are the largest most high profile of them.
The Mario Lanza Story by Charles GaVoian
GaVoian a Lanzafile and Tenor put together a one man show about the life based on a screenplay he had written about the tenor's life. The show is set in Rome at the end of the Tenor's life. Lanza recounts his life in an interview with an unseen reporter. The show toured the US and was endorsed by the Lanza family. The show dealt more with Lanza's health issues but did hint at the possibility that his death was a result of a Mob hit. However my understanding is that this bit was done tactfully and without strong emphasis. Just enough for you to understand the controversy. The show first went up in 1995 and has gone up a few times since.
For more info on this show:
http://home.earthlink.net/~vicscape/lanza/
Be My Love: The Mario Lanza Musical by Mark Janicello:
Janicello an American tenor from Brooklyn, has found his career in Germany and Austria as a professional Tenor. After putting together a successful biographical musical about Elvis he endeavored to bring another legend to life with his show "Be My Love." The show follows Lanza from childhood listening to Caruso's records through his vocal training, army days, bad business decisions, alcohol issues, to his death. The show finds all the people in Lanza's life singing as it utilizes the music that made him famous to tell his story.
I had the pleasure of speaking with Mark on several occasions and read the script. I was really impressed with the work and he and I discussed the possibility of my producing/staring in a production of his show out here in NY. However the production being very big in nature and the story heading in a slightly different direction then I want my show to, I declined. He seemed genuinely impressed with my voice especially being only 26. I wish him many successes in the future.
For more information about this show:
http://www.markjanicello.net/Be%20My%20Love%20The%20Musical.htm
Be My Love: The Mario Lanza Story
Producer Sonny Grosso (The French Connection) and Phil Ramone (Record producer for Billy Joel and many others) have been trying for about 10 years to get there production up and running, intended for a run on Broadway. Richard Vetere is penning the work. As recent as 2007 the show was put up in concert form with the Nassau Pops Orchestra. Little information is available about the show however. I do know that it does use the rumors of the Mob hit ending Lanza's life, Lucky Luciano being a major character in the show.
Some Basic show info:
http://www.rense.com/excursions/lanza/playb.htm
Various performers have been connected with the show. Originally Michael Amante was announced to be playing the Role. Some of you may know Michael as the National Anthem singer from Shea stadium. Michael's voice, more pop then opera, is large with a beautiful top range. Michael was attached to this show when it was to open on Broadway in 2005. Financial issues arose and the show never got it's run.
For more about Michael Amante:
http://michaelamante.com/
To hear his rendition of "Be My Love" and "Because You're Mine":
http://music.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=music.Discography&artistid=14105921
More recently Tenor and Traditional Italian/Neapolitan singer Aaron Caruso was attached to it and performed the role during the concert with the Nassau Pops. Aaron has a strong physical resemblance to Mario, especially his early film days. His voice which is perfectly suited for the Neapolitan songs that he is best known is very pretty with a solid top range. I heard wonderful things about his performance from a friend who was playing Violin for the pops for that concert.
For more information about Aaron Caruso:
http://www.aaroncaruso.com/
So what can I do that hasn't been done before?
I'm not sure. I know I can bring a voice that has an understanding of both the Operatic selections and the popular selections that Lanza was famous for. I can also bring theatrical experience ranging from Shakespearian Tragedy to film to the Great American Musical, but I'm sure there are others who have brought similar things to previous productions. What important to me is to do a show that puts Mario in the light he deserves and also allows me a chance to sing some of the most impressive array of popular songs and arias I've ever seen. Lanza was a one take wonder in the studio and had a voice that could fill the 10,000 seat Royal Albert Hall without amplification. Yet despite my own reservations I have a group of people behind me that believe I can do justice to Mario Lanza's legacy and I trust them. I'm still in the research portion of my show and I will update more as things go along. With hope and prayers I hope to get my show up with a team of people to help me.
In the next few weeks I'll be heading into the studio to record an EP (Extended Play/about 4-6 tracks) tribute CD to include a few arias and at least one of his popular hits to use for promotional purposes as part of a package I'm going to make for the show. I'll also be talking to at least one of my very talented friends who is a photographer to take some pictures of me as Lanza. I'm currently putting together a webpage on Myspace for the show too. Once everything is up and running I'll send everyone the link to the site. I'm also looking to get a few videos up on Youtube, facebook and Myspace video of myself singing arias and some of Lanza's hits Live with maestro David Schaefer as my accompanist. I've got a lot of planning to do to get everything done, but I know what I want to do and that's a good start.
