 The MARIO LANZA Pages Home The Early Days His Early Career On Tour To Hollywood Great Caruso Other Movies Lanza Moments Kith & Kin Pop Music Opera Kirsten on Lanza Recordings Visit: The Lanza Legend Site See also: Richard Leech Store Video MusicPlanner New Releases Food & Music Audience Etiquette AudioFiles The Press Room about FanFaire SiteMap Sign up for: Email Updates Giveaway |
|
| Building a career on "A voice blessed by God" | |
  While
in New York for test recordings with RCA, Mario made a living by giving
the occasional concert and singing on the radio. He knew he had a great
tenor voice, and felt in his heart of hearts he was destined to be the
American Caruso. But he was a young man who loved the good life, somewhat
brash and undisciplined. His voice needed to be tamed - and he knew it.
As luck would have it, he was introduced to Sam
Weiler, a
wealthy real estate businessman and philanthropist who once dreamed of
becoming a great tenor himself. He would become Mario's mentor, patron
and business manager. Weiler sent off the young tenor to study with Enrico
Rosati, who had taught the Italian tenor Beniamino
Gigli - thought to be the great Caruso's successor
at the MET. On hearing Mario sing, Rosati is reported to have exclaimed,
"You're the one I've been waiting for. You have a voice blessed by
God!" Mario studied with Rosati for a year and then signed up with
Columbia Artists which was planning a concert tour of the United States,
Canada and Mexico, in which Mario Lanza was to be the tenor of a singing
trio. Design and Original Content by: FanFaire LLC © 1997-2008. All rights reserved. |