Operatic career:
Born Alfredo Arnold Cocozza in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he was exposed to opera and singing at a young age, and by the age of 16 his vocal talent became apparent. Starting out in local operatic productions in Philadelphia, he later came to the attention of conductor Serge Koussevitzky, who provided young Cocozza with a full student scholarship to the Berkshire Music Festival at Tanglewood in Massachusetts. Koussevitzky would later tell Lanza that, "Yours is a voice such as is heard once in a hundred years."
His operatic debut, as Fenton in Otto Nicolai's The Merry Wives of Windsor, was at Tanglewood on August 7, 1942, after just six weeks of study with conductors Boris Goldovsky and Leonard Bernstein. It was here that Cocozza adopted his stage name from his mother Maria's maiden name of Lanza. His performances at Tanglewood won him critical acclaim, with Noel Straus of The New York Times hailing the 21-year-old tenor as having "few equals among tenors of the day in terms of quality, warmth, and power."
His operatic career was interrupted by World War II, when he was assigned to Special Services in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He appeared on the wartime shows On the Beam and Winged Victory while in the Air Corps.
He resumed his singing career in October 1945 on the CBS radio program Great Moments in Music, where he made six appearances singing various operatic selections. He later studied under Enrico Rosati for fifteen months, then embarked on an 86-concert tour of the United States, Canada and Mexico between July 1947 and May 1948 with George London and Frances Yeend. In April 1948, he sang Pinkerton in the New Orleans Opera's Madama Butterfly. A concert at the Hollywood Bowl brought Lanza to the attention of MGM's Louis B. Mayer, who signed Lanza to a seven-year film contract with Metro Goldwyn Mayer. This would prove to be a turning point in the young singer's career.
Film career:
MGM's contract with Lanza required him to commit to the studio for six months, and at first Lanza was able to combine his film career with his operatic one, singing two acclaimed performances as Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly for the New Orleans Opera Association in April 1948. He also continued to perform in concert, both in solo appearances and as part of the Bel Canto Trio with George London and Frances Yeend. In May 1949, he made his first commercial recordings with RCA Victor. However, his first two films, That Midnight Kiss and The Toast of New Orleans, were very successful, as was his recording career, and Lanza's fame increased dramatically.
In 1951, Lanza portrayed Enrico Caruso in The Great Caruso, which proved to be an astonishing success. At the same time, his popularity exposed Lanza to intense criticism by music critics, including those who had praised his work years earlier.
In 1954, Lanza was dismissed by MGM after he had pre-recorded the songs for The Student Prince. The film was subsequently made with actor Edmund Purdom miming to Lanza's vocals. During this period Lanza came very close to bankruptcy as a result of poor investment decisions made by his former manager. Owing about $250,000 in back taxes to the IRS, Lanza withdrew from the public eye for a time.
Mario Lanza at home.He returned to an active film career in 1956 in Serenade; despite its strong musical content, it was not as successful as his previous films. Lanza then moved to Rome, Italy in May 1957, where he worked on the film Seven Hills of Rome and returned to live performing in a series of acclaimed concerts throughout Britain, Ireland and the European Continent. In early 1958, he auditioned for the management of La Scala in Milan, and was immediately offered a minimum two-year contract to sing at that theatre. The opera initially discussed was Puccini's Tosca. Later that year, Lanza also agreed to open the 1960/61 season at the Rome Opera as Canio in Pagliacci. At the same time, however, his health began to decline, with the tenor suffering from a variety of ailments, including phlebitis and acute high blood pressure. The following year, in April 1959, Lanza suffered a minor heart attack, followed by double pneumonia in August. He died in Rome in October of that year at the age of 38 from a pulmonary embolism. His widow moved back to Hollywood with their four children and died of a drug overdose five months later; the younger of their two sons died of a heart attack at the age of 37. When Lanza died rumors spread that the notorious mob boss Lucky Luciano (Salvatore Luciano) had had him killed after he refused to perform for him but those rumors quickly died down because they simply were not true. Soprano Maria Callas would later say of him, "My biggest regret is not to have had the opportunity to sing with the greatest tenor voice I've ever heard."
Lanza's short career covered opera, radio, concerts, recordings, and motion pictures. He was the first artist for RCA Victor Red Seal to receive a gold disc. He was also the first artist to sell two and half million albums. A highly influential artist, Lanza has been credited with inspiring the careers of successive generations of opera singers, including Plácido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti, Leo Nucci and Jose Carreras, as well as those of singers with seemingly different backgrounds, and influences, his RCA Victor label-mate Elvis Presley being the most notable example. In 1994, tenor José Carreras paid tribute to Lanza in a worldwide concert tour, saying of him, "If I'm an opera singer, it's thanks to Mario Lanza."
A Kiss
Mario Lanza Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A kiss means so much
When April rain is in your eyes
The autumn dies with no goodbyes to say
A kiss will stay with you
And what your heart has longed to touch
Two willing lips can tell so well
Not in words but you'll see by a kiss
The reason story books must end with a kiss
It means that life has just begun
That love has won, that kissing's fun
We know but time will show
It's much more than this
It all depends on whom you'll kiss
But you'll see by a kiss
The reason story books must end with a kiss
It means that life has just begun
That love has won, that kissing's fun
We know but time will show
It's much more than this
It all depends on whom you'll kiss
The lyrics of Mario Lanza's song "Kiss" speak about the significance of a kiss and what it can represent. The song begins by describing a kiss as “the touch of summer's fingertips” and how it can mean so much, especially during times of emotional turmoil, such as when “April rain is in your eyes.” The lyrics go on to describe how a kiss can stay with you and fulfill your heart's desires. They speak of the power of two willing lips, which can convey the depth of one's love without the need for words.
The song then delves into the idea of a kiss being the happy ending to a storybook romance. It talks about how a kiss symbolizes the start of a new chapter of life and represents the triumph of love. Lanza sings, “It means that life has just begun, that love has won, that kissing's fun.” He acknowledges that although we may know this to be true, only time will show just how significant kisses can truly be. And most importantly, he stresses that it all depends on whom you kiss.
Overall, the lyrics of "Kiss" celebrate the beauty and importance of intimacy between two people. They emphasize that a kiss can mean different things to different people and can reveal a lot about a relationship. The song remains a timeless classic that captures the essence of what love is and what it can bring to our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
A kiss is the touch of summer's fingertips
A kiss is a physical expression of love and affection, much like feeling the warmth of the sun on your skin during summer.
A kiss means so much
A kiss is more than just a physical act - it represents love, connection, and closeness between two people.
When April rain is in your eyes
Sometimes we're lost, can't see clearly, or feeling sad or overwhelmed, but a kiss can provide comfort and bring us back to the present moment.
The autumn dies with no goodbyes to say
Change happens whether we're ready or not, and sometimes we don't get to say goodbye, but a kiss can provide closure and connection during difficult times.
A kiss will stay with you
A kiss has the power to leave a lasting impression and create a lasting memory - it's not just a fleeting moment.
And what your heart has longed to touch
A kiss can fulfill a longing or desire in your heart that you may have been too afraid to express in words.
Two willing lips can tell so well
Without saying a word, two people can communicate their feelings and emotions through a kiss.
They tell how lovely love can be
A kiss is a demonstration of the beauty of love and the powerful emotions that come along with it.
Not in words but you'll see by a kiss
The best way to understand the power of a kiss is to experience it firsthand.
The reason story books must end with a kiss
A kiss is the perfect end to a romantic story, symbolizing the triumph of love and the beginning of a new chapter.
It means that life has just begun
A kiss signifies the start of something new and exciting - it's a reminder to embrace life and all it has to offer.
That love has won, that kissing's fun
A kiss is a celebration of love and all the joy it brings - it's a reminder to have fun and enjoy the moment.
We know but time will show
Although we may understand the power of a kiss now, its true significance may only become clear with time and experience.
It all depends on whom you'll kiss
The power and significance of a kiss is intimately tied to the person you're kissing - it's a reminder to choose wisely.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: JACK BROOKS, RAY SINATRA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@HLLTAF
A Kiss
Mario Lanza
A kiss is the touch of summer's fingertips
A kiss means so much
When April rain is in your eyes
The autumn dies with no goodbyes to say
A kiss will stay with you
And what your heart has longed to touch
Two willing lips can tell so well
They tell how lovely love can be
Not in words but you'll see by a kiss
The reason story books must end with a kiss
It means that life has just begun
That love has won, that kissing's fun
We know but time will show
It's much more than this
It all depends on whom you'll kiss
But you'll see by a kiss
The reason story books must end with a kiss
It means that life has just begun
That love has won, that kissing's fun
We know but time will show
It's much more than this
It all depends on whom you'll kiss
Songwriters: Jack Brooks / Ray
Hi
@maryannlewin1621
TO ME HE IS THE IS THE GREATEST TENOR. HE CAN SING SOFTLY, POWERFUL, CRYING, ETC. I JUST LOVE HIM.
@kathleenhartman3718
I fell in love with this beautiful song as soon as I first heard it. It forced me to pass it on to others, simply by its incomparable beauty. And with Mario singing it, how could it be anything other than unforgettable! Thank you for posting this fabulous song and marvelous video.
@degas5000
i'm an atheist but i'm thanking gods old and new for mario's gift, that immaculate touch he had. love this song!! among many others
@nancygenovese6707
I love your re-editing creative Mario moments
here, in honor of Cinema Paradiso, such a great and wonderful movie.
@DiPlacido71
Thanks Nancy! I love “Cinema Paradiso” a true classic.
@joycenierman6225
IT All DEPENDS ON WHOM YOU KISS !!!
Says it all. That we should lose such a great emotional voice, such as Mario Lanza, at such a young age deprives us of so many love songs unsung. However, his strong romantic and touching voice leaves behind memories which can never be erased from our hearts and souls.
@philiptropea1012
Joyce Nierman what a loss for all lovers of romantic singing. Philip Tropea tenor youtube.com
@rickrock4069
the greats voice ever ...................................
@peterbarber2726
A voice from the gods.
@SrSoapFan
So charismatic & romantic with Mario Lanza's rendition of this inspiring song, along with the clips from movies. Melts your heart. How fitting to conclude the video with the kiss from the ending of Madama Butterfly & I think, Mario Lanza & his wife kissing. Just so meaningful! Thanks for sharing for all to dream.