Sorry:
Bill in caps and spelling of through out.
Matt

To bill and Fred AND OPERA LOVERS THROUGHOT THE WORLD.
I am really looking forward to hearing today's Metropolitan Opera Hi-Def "Turandot" as I rank Marcello Giordani as the Met's top tenor. While he is barrel chested, I know that he will look handsome compared to the three tons-of-fun who decorated the recent Hi-Def "Aida". I will offer my thoughts after the performance. Maria g. bowed out of the first performance and a dream sang the difficult part of Princess Turandot. (According to The New York Times.)
Matthew Minzer in SE tropical 83 dg. Florida.
COME ON DOWN!

I watched the tv show "Fringe" (Earthling episode) the other night and Derek was right, Lanza's voice was indeed used. It came right after a commercial break during the lab scene where Walter (the scientist) is trying to break some molecular code. Coming after the break, it was Lanza's voice that you heard first, singing "Una Furtiva Lagrima". It lasted about 45 second but was very effective because it was to the foreground at first, not the background. It was short but Lanza sounded great.

The scientist was totally stressed at trying to break this important code and he was playing Lanza on a record player. When someone came in and took the needle off the record, Walter became very upset, telling the person twice not to do that. But then the show continued. I really could not figure out why this aria was used or the voice of Mario Lanza. No reference to either was ever made. Nor was there any mention of this on the "Fringe" blog. Well, a few seconds of Mario on major networks is better than nothing.

I apology for writing my last post to you. It was Dennis that thought Spuds and Bret might have been one and the same, not you, and the comments should have been directed to Dennis.

To Vince,
            I finally got your CD, we have been having a few problems with the Royal Mail of late. Can I simply say, like the other posters, how much I have enjoyed listening to it,and likewise a couple of friends. I particularly like Chiove never heard it before, and Annie Laurie brought back a lot of memories from music lessons at school. Your diction is perfect too, like our Mario.
                   I was one of many people who benefitted from your labour of love producing the DVD of Mario and free. Thanks again

I do believe Spuds when he says he is a defender or at least a supporter of Bret rather than David himself. That was my feeling as I described it to you before although of course I could be wrong. When you read someone you get a feel for a certain style of communication that is almost always peculiar to that person. Certain phrases and words and how a sentence flows and is constructed, as well as how punctuations are used. Take me for example. When I move from one thought to another that augments the original for emphasis, I usually use a dash (-). This is very unusual as most people would use a semicolon or full colon to bring together two clauses. The constant use of the dash would, in my case, be a give away. It is the same with anyone "-" IF you pay attention. Spuds had none of Bret's trademarks.

But there was more evidence. Spuds referred to a number of great tenors in his long list where he or she named Pavarotti, Corelli and several others. Whenever Bret talks about tenors, Fritz Wunderlich is ALWAYS included, some way or some how. Wunderlich's name was absent from Spud's list and everyone knows David thinks the world of Wunderlich, perhaps even more so than Mario Lanza. There is no way Bret could run off a long list of tenors he admired and NOT include Fritz. If his name had been included on the list then I would say it could be a signal, but not much more. Had Wunderlich's name been FIRST on that list, then all doubt would have been removed. Either that or Bret would not name Wunderlich on purpose to throw everyone off. I think Bret is bright but not that bright. Anyway, the point is that if someone is a troll, that's it, that's what they are. If someone is foolish enough to go around masquerading as a troll (thus becoming one by definition), they will eventually get caught "-" EVERY time. There will be enough evidence to show who they really are.

I'm saying this to you because it is important not to attack Bret without grounds. That is just the ammunition he is looking for and the fuel I was talking about a while back. I did not want to revisit this subject but I don't want to see us falling into the same trap all over again. David has said he is finished with the Lanza forums because we are all hopeless and indeed his Blog has been quiet of late. But going after him and blaming him when he is not the perpetrator will just start the whole thing over again. I am not saying for certain that you and Dennis are wrong but I really don't think "Spuds" is who you think he is. This "Spuds" is not like David Bret with his multi facet agendas. Spud's comments show a very limited agenda "-" he is harmless, a mere irritation and not worth your time to fool with.

Vince, I think you can be sure of the support of the regulars on this forum. If there is any dissention we did not cause it. I have mentioned several times how much I appreciate your CD and enjoy it, every song and every word you sing. You can indeed be proud of your CD and your singing.
For some reason, many trolls feel they can disrupt this forum any time they feel like it. These people have no regard for the feelings of others.

Edited by author 11-06-2009 09:20 PM
Before this gets out of hand, I just want to say I never wanted to monopolise this forum with news of my cd, I only wanted to share the news because I was so proud of what I had done. I know my limitations as regards my voice & my singing, "club circuit cabaret" sounds good to me :-)
I have done my fair share as regards promoting Mario Lanza here & elsewhere & also sharing my projects unselflishly with fans all over the world, at my own expense!!! So I don't need to be criticised for a wee bit of attention for a project I invested a lot of time & money on. I enjoyed the feedback from posters here, it gave me such a lift, thank you all!

It is amazing though how human nature never lets you down, I was just waiting for someone to post & complain about the attetion my singing was getting, it's very sad really... I would have deserved it if I had never posted before or never had promoted & done my bit for Mario... But I thought I had a bit of good will built up over the years...

and by author im not saying you spudgun is bret for the world has tons of writers.as singer it could be a jealous person who hasnt had aclaim to that degree..but troll as martino states sort of fits.there are other lanza forums why do you post just on this one..

i realy dont wish to comment but i will..spudgun you were not blasted but corrected in your attitude by downing other posters for praising vince which he most certainly deserved.a insult was tossed by you infereing that the singers were small maybe in stature or artistic abilty.if your here to talk about opera only tenors than do so with deep solid reasons as martino suggested.thoses singers are far from a talent show nature.please refresh our memories as who you are..like a real name and where you are from.untill that can be verified by jeff then some posters can believe as they wish..troll phoney name a author singer or whatever they chose to believe.

To Thelma. Actually, I rather think that you'll find that a spudgun is a childs toy that is designed to 'fire' small pieces of potato, although clearly there are larger ones that fire the whole potato. You are perfectly free, of course, to try and use it to plant potatoes, should your intellect dictate that to be the purpose for which it is intended.

How utterly astonishing. I post what I thought to be a considered post and it gets lambasted as being that of a troll. What a most pernicious and inconsiderate lot you are, who villifies and abuses anyone who dares to pervade your opinions. Had you being paying proper attention, I have previously posted EXACTLY who I am and what I do for a living. Alas, my posts were previously removed because I dared to defend David Bret. Wonderfully childish, is it not, that you should suspect me of being David Bret on the basis that you consider no-one else would defend him?

If you had read my post correctly, (clearly an insurmountable task for some of the more inarticulate amongst you), then I did not 'troll' or abuse anyone. My adoration of Lanza is complete, although I equally am happy to accept his failings and faults, of which he had a great many. I also stated that Vince di Placido and Frank Tenaglia were undoubtedly talented, and I am well aware that they are frequent contributors to this Forum. It was not their talent or contributions to which I referred, but to their aggrandizement by other posters who discuss and regale their CD's. So you can read my posts again. Or conclude that I am David Bret and delete them, as you did before.

Edited by author 11-06-2009 06:43 PM
A spudgun is a piece of equipment which makes holes in the ground to plant potatoes, so whoever this is wants to plant ideas in the heads of our forum members. You think what you will, but give it some thought.

Thanks Dan, I did not know that. But I'm still not prepared to say this is Bret, to be considered nothing more than a troll, slithering through cyberspace under false pretenses and alias'. He really does not need to do that. A cyber troll is considered the most abhorrent and cowardly of all creatures and if you act like one, you are one. Even your friends and supporters will run for cover if you are discovered to be a troll. I'm even pretty sure it is grounds for divorce.

If David passes himself off as a troll it is much to his disadvantage in every respect, including professionally, and of course he knows that. That is the only reason I am still skeptical of Spud's identity. In any event, hopefully, whoever this is will take off as trolls always do and we can get on with it. If it continues, Jeff can tell us who it is so it would probably be better not to respond to it if it does continue.

MARTINO you overestimate bret.hes pleaded gulity before on doing what dennis suggests.