Dan, to me the fascinating question is: why, when Mario Lanza finally settled the suit with MGM in April 1953 - why then didn't he return to opera? His contract with MGM over, he was free to do whatever he pleased. And his recordings from May and June 1953 - including the retake of "Beloved" for MGM's PRINCE soundtrack and the studio recording of "Song of India" - that voice would've been wonderful in many roles. But except for those recordings, and the failed attempt in December 1953 to do a studio recording of PRINCE - he sat in his house for 18 months.

I don't think major houses would want a star for only two performances a year. For one thing, even a star has to rehearse, and most companies have at least a couple weeks of rehearsal to prepare a production. Plus if you have a major star you want to maximize your box-office - that can't be done with two performances.

One of the reasons Pavarotti got into deep doo-doo with the Lyric Opera of Chicago is that he would commit to a role, including a period of rehearsals and performances, and then back out. The final straw came in 1989 when Pav, set for 6 performances as Cavaradossi, cancelled, citing health problems. The head of the Lyric noted that of 41 performances the Lyric had Pav booked for in the previous 5 seasons, he had cancelled 26 and shown up for 15. The Lyric never invited Pavarotti back to sing again.

ill agree with gary that lanza not only could of gone into opera but should of.he could of done both at the same time and had more than enough soo called leisure time to do so..as i suggested before maybe 6 performances a year of one opera..at 3 different opera houses.2 performances each at lascala san fran n chicgo one year with cav lets say.next year paris vienna covent garden with tosca next year san carlo parma n rome with bohame etc etc...the opera houses all would of loved him as a guest performer..the met isnt the only place in the world where great opera is sung soo mario could of thumbed his nose at bing..he didnt do it n thats the tradgety.many many other tenors etc etc had a far busier schudle with opera performances concerts records personal apperences etc etc.

Gary, it's quite possible you're right, if he'd gone from films into opera. I was talking about people who say if he'd gone into opera INSTEAD of films. I know that I, for one, would not have been exposed to him. I didn't get into opera, or classical music for that matter, UNTIL I saw his films. So if he'd bypassed Hollywood for opera, many people like me would've missed out completely.

Also, had he gone into opera first in a major way - I mean beyond the New Orleans BUTTERFLY - and become a great success there it's not likely he'd have gone into films at all. For one thing, assuming he'd have ended up at the Metropolitan Opera, where many people expected he would - Rudolf Bing took over the Met in 1950 and made it clear very quickly to his roster of stars that he did not approve of their making movies or doing nightclub appearances, going so far as to fire Helen Traubel and Robert Merrill (although he took Merrill back after the baritone lobbied long and hard and posted a full-page apology in the New York Times).

Given how Lanza despised authority figures, my feeling is that he and Bing would've clashed frequently. And Bing wouldn't have cared one whit about what a box office draw Lanza was. After all, he fired the one woman most people on this forum hold to be the female equivalent of Lanza - Maria Callas. He wouldn't have hesitated to dump Lanza, especially when he had a roster of tenors in the 50s that also included Bjoerling, Tucker, Del Monaco, and DiStefano.

Edited by author 06-29-2009 08:37 PM
Hello David,

I certainly agree that Mario through his movies brought his voice to millions of people worldwide,and inspired many individuals to themselves become acclaimed operatic singers.
But, if things had worked out differently there was no reason he could not have succeeded on the greatest stages of opera world wide,and left a huge mark in that area as well..In other words he might have or could have been a huge success in both fields..first the movies,and then the stages.Alas, it did not happen.and we all know why..but certainly he had the required talent,and voice.

Dan, a person's life is the sum total of all their actions, good and bad. That Michael Jackson was accused of child molestation is a fact of his life, but so too is his charitable work - for children, the poor, those suffering from AIDS, those who were victims of disaster. He personally gave away millions and he raised millions more. Projects such as USA for Africa ("We Are the World") got off the ground in large part because of his involvement.

On another subject, Dan and also Gabi, I know both of you and many others wish Mario had gone into opera. There are some who grieve over this. I was therefore pleased when his daughter Ellisa, interviewed for the Fresno concert, was asked if she shared the feelings of those who bemoaned that he did not go into opera. Her reply to the interviewer: if he'd gone into opera, you and I wouldn't be sitting here talking and this concert tribute to him would not be taking place. The truth is movies brought his voice to millions of people the world over and inspired a generation of singers in a way that never would have happened had he gone into opera.

Diane: Thank you. And I have just replied. Thanks again. Ciao.

Yes, Dan, this is an eternal grief for me that he didnīt pursue this path.

i have often wishes that the entire 1948 toronto concert was avalible to hear n cleaned up sound wise.his vesti in that concert was outstanding.vocaly the polish was there that year n lanza was ready to take on any opera house in the world by storm.

When I went to the link Martino posted and listened for a minute, my computer crashed...thatīs the power of Marioīs voice, I guess.

Martino...I forgot to mention the previous post of yours with the youtube clip of Mario singing Lamento di fedetico was posted by a chap named Shawn, who is a member of Derek's fine forum. Shawn is a steadfast and knowledgable fan of Mario's, and in the past has posted many fine Lanza pieces. The sketch is quite good,I agree.

Fred: I found a Yahoo email address for you and sent an email.

Edited by author 06-29-2009 04:55 PM
ok folks..ive said jackson indeed was a mega talent on here n superstar that deserved both tittles..his music was smooth compared to the junk today.he had truly unmatched success in selling cds n is almost solely responable for what now is mainstream musical videos...i did enjoy my sons playing thriller billy jean pretty young thing and a few of his other hits..they were musicaly pleasing to my ears n most certainly had a better message than gangsta rap junk..he as a entertainer reached a level of greatness like a few other icons that may be matched someday but never surpassed..like martino his character-mental illness and his private life was extremly sickning.this is not speaking eveil of the dead but when an adult preys on innocent children n all know what i mean then thats where ALL should at least take notice of his private life.were not talking marriage infedelty or a concentual gay relationship between 2 rational adults here but something that should be intolerable by anyones standards.anyones.i most certainly am not going to praise the man as a person dispite what liz taylor quincy jones and others say.he music was in the sinatra elvis icon status indeed n i enjoyed it..as a person of charactor hes almost in satan status.sick as they come.

Itīs probably idle to think about the question how Mario would have dealt with Jackoīs music.

But thinking of this one gets an impression how much music has developed in these past 50 years...

Martino, Gary, very interesting contributions.
Itīs also not MY kind of music I use to hear quite often, but I listen around to new "waves" and developments. Most of it is crap in my ears, but I can distinguish, so I think at least, when an interesting piece of music is to be heard. So was Jacko for me in the 80s. I found most of his things phenomenal, new and ingenious, and followed more or less his work. Sadly, there was a point when he died spiritually, and somehow I knew, when he announced his new series of concerts, that they never would take place. As usual, his private life was of no interest for me, itīs the artist only, but it was not to overlook that he became a freak.

The headline of a German magazine said "The Man Who Never Lived" - perhaps there is truth in it. But his music remains, and the influence also, yet for a long time.

Diane: I can't find your email address. You posted it here, but that was about a year ago. Please post it again, and I'll write you right away. Thanks. Ciao.

Hi Gabi..interesting post..

My take on Jacko is the following:

On his death I think he ranks right up there with the death of Elvis.ie. the king of rock and Jackson the king of pop.
I believe Jacko was a great influence on a huge number of todays pop performers,including the likes of Celine Dion (who idolized him),likely Madonna,Justin Timberlake,and just about any other singer/dancer you can think of..A gifted and talented music man, Quincy Jones who has won numerous grammies recently said (from Wiki):While working on the film The Wiz, Michael Jackson asked him to produce his upcoming solo record. The result, Off The Wall has sold a staggering 20 million copies. Jones' and Jackson's next collaboration Thriller has sold a reputed 50 million copies and became the highest-selling album of all time.[8] Jones also worked on Michael Jackson's third solo album Bad, which has sold 32 million copies.

On Jackson's recent death, Quincy Jones said:

"I am absolutely devastated at this tragic and unexpected news. For Michael to be taken away from us so suddenly at such a young age, I just don't have the words. He was the consummate entertainer and his contributions and legacy will be felt upon the world forever. I've lost my little brother today, and part of my soul has gone with him."

I recall seeing Jacko as a young kid and thought he was quite a performer,and then I really was taken when I saw the video "Thriller". He was a fantastic performer in this video,and truly exgiting to watch.
Over the following years I watched a few of his appearances and was impressed by his comination of singing/dancing,especially his moonwalk.
But as he grew older and a lot of his weirdness came to the surface I lost interest totally in him,other then the odd time you couldn't help but watch a news clip etc. of another strange happening in his life.