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."
April In Paris
Mario Lanza Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I never met it face to face
I never knew my heart could sing
I never missed a warm embrace
Till April in Paris, chestnuts in blossom
Holiday tables under the trees
April in Paris, this is a feeling
I never knew the charm of spring
I never met it face to face
I never knew my heart could sing
I never missed a warm embrace
Till April in Paris
Whom can I run to
What have you done to my heart
Mario Lanza's lyrics in April in Paris discuss the theme of transformation and awakening, which is brought about by the arrival of spring in Paris. The song begins with the singer expressing their ignorance of spring's charm, seemingly oblivious to its magical qualities. However, they later discover its enchantment and are fascinated by the stunning sight of chestnuts in blossom and holiday tables under the trees. These moments highlight how the singer has been awakened to the wonders of spring and how it has become a special feeling that can never be repeated.
The second stanza repeats the earlier lines, suggesting that the singer has been transformed by the arrival of spring in Paris. They are amazed by the newfound sensation of their heart singing and the feeling of warmth that they crave. The final line of the song gives us an idea of the singer's state of mind, which has been deeply impacted by the power of spring they have experienced in Paris. They express their confusion, wondering who they can turn to after such drastic and transforming emotions and thought that, 'what have you done to my heart.'
The narrative in Mario Lanza's April in Paris is simple and straightforward, yet its true impact lies in the emotions and experiences it conveys through its lyrics. The song discusses how Paris in spring can transform a person's emotions and outlook on life, awakening them to the beauty and magic of nature. It conveys the message of how the arrival of spring can bring about a sense of renewal, transformation, and spiritual awakening.
Line by Line Meaning
I never knew the charm of spring
I had never fully appreciated the beauty and joyousness of the season that marks the transition from winter to summer
I never met it face to face
I had never experienced spring firsthand, without being insulated from it by the barriers of work, stress, or place
I never knew my heart could sing
I had never felt such an overwhelming happiness and pureness of emotion, as if my heart was filled with music and joy
I never missed a warm embrace
I had never been separated from someone who loved and cared for me, so much so that their physical embrace was a source of comfort and reassurance in life
Till April in Paris, chestnuts in blossom
It was only when I traveled to the city of Paris during the month of April, when the trees were blooming with chestnuts, that I began to appreciate the fullness of spring and its effects on the world around me
Holiday tables under the trees
Amidst the beauty of nature and the excitement of the season, people gathered together at tables set up under the trees, celebrating the season's arrival and sharing in the vibrancy of life
April in Paris, this is a feeling
The sensations of joy, love, and wonder that arise with the arrival of spring, magnified by the atmosphere and culture of Paris during that time, created a feeling that was extremely unique and powerful
That no one can ever reprise
This experience was so profound, significant, and specific to that time and place that it can never be replicated or repeated, only remembered and cherished for what it was
Whom can I run to
When confronted with such strong emotions and feelings, it becomes natural to seek comfort, guidance, or solace from others who may be able to understand or empathize with you
What have you done to my heart
In the wake of such a transformative and wonderful experience, it can be hard to reconcile the changes that have occurred in your own self and the impact that these might have on your relationships and life
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: E. Y. Harburg, Vernon Duke
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
June E. Dahl
This is a truly wonderful version of the "Our Father". Mario Lanza has a reverential interpretation of this melody and sings it with heartfelt intensity. I will be 80 years old next February (God willing) and I always associate Mario Lanza with my Faith because I saw: "The Great Caruso" with my Mother and sister , in 1951. I was 9 years- old at the time and had begun to sing in the church choir as a child, myself. The choir- boy, start of Enrico Caruso ´s singing career impressed me very much ! And, so, I associate Mario Lanza with the Catholic Church. The part of Enrico Caruso played by Mario Lanza, really made this Warner Bros. Hollywood film classic what it is. I appreciated that his voice nearly sobbed and grieved on the arias when required and was very moving and expressive ! His marvellous tenor voice was an unforgettable experience which has remained with me, all my life ! Mario Lanza has given me through his interpretations of arias and ballads, my first musical glimpse as a child into the human heart ! His particular timbre and sound coupled with the fine well- modulated nuances and dynamic range, are outstanding. He sings with passion, vitality and great joy !
@user-ct1ez8ll5u
Он пел для всех. И прошлое минуя,встаёт пред всеми он мелодией Любви!
@Elena_Fxiry
Божественный голос!!!!! Много лет слушаю его и не могу наслушаться !!!!! Очень жаль что такой талантливый певец так мало жил, сколько бы он мог спеть если бы дожил до наших дней. ОЧЕНЬ ЖАЛЬ!!!!!!!!
@Palmarola2012
Who else but Mario Lanza could sing this with such passion? He was the most versatile tenor of all time. He sang lyric opera magnificently as he did popular songs; perform on the stage and screen, radio and television. There has never been anyone like him before or after who also had an amazing influence on singers and performers everywhere. A new, bestselling book, “A KID FROM PHILADELPHIA, MARIO LANZA, THE VOICE OF THE POETS,” is a wonderful homage to one of the greatest entertainers of all time. It is a must for anyone who loves Lanza and great music and great voices
@joanschilleci7564
.Thank you for your wonderful remarks about Mario. I discovered him soon after his death when I was 12 years old. He was never given the credit that he deserved because for one reason, he was an American. There is a certain "snobbery" (certainly in opera circles) and Mario was crucified because he decided to go the popular music route. But he still was a better tenor than Pavoratti. Mario had such a very tragic life and was betrayed and blackballed by the powerful movie heads. He couldn't get work. His manager was apparently a cheat and Mario owed the IRS hundreds of thousands of dollars. He was so young when he died and tragically, his wife died so shortly after him. His daughter said on radio that he was not fired from "The Student Prince" because he was overweight but because the director told Mario not to put so much "emotion" into his songs. Mario told the director that the director could tell Mario how to act but not how to sing. I just saw a young Australian singer named Mark Vincent (who apparently loves Mario as you and I do) sing a virtual duet with Mario (Because You're Mine") on YouTube. My husband and I cried during the entire performance because ii was so beautiful. The expression in Mario's face as he sang and his gorgeous voice will never be duplicated by any other singer. Never!!
@angieforye2497
love him. he was the best. Don't hear singing like that anymore.
@SrSoapFan
A beautiful song sung by the incomparable voice of the Great Mario Lanza. Just beautiful, with so much feeling! The movie with the same title, starring Elizabeth Taylor & Van Johnson is an inspiring story, but unfortunately Mario Lanza doesn't sing in it. The song is played tho. Thanks for posting this rarely heard video.
@normahobson5591
Hi Nick-thank you for this beautiful song by Mario Lanza-The Great One-it is lovely song and sung as only Mario can sing it! I am not sure how to get this article you mentioned before. Do I need the link?
@ns1official
Look dear Norma, this is the one I mentioned: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3n7iDtlMMfg
@normahobson5591
Dear NickHave this on my d.v.d after The Toast of New Orleans. The one you just sent is in Italian -is that right?