Trivia of Mario Lanza

 Trivia of Mario Lanza (31 January 1921 - 7 October 1959)

*Born Alfredo Arnold Cocozza in Philadelphia, he was exposed to classical singing at an early age by his Abruzzese-Molisan Italian parents.Lanza began studying to be a professional singer at the age of 16.His mentor conductor Serge Koussevitzky told him "Yours is a voice such as is heard once in a hundred years.".

*He made his opera debut as Fenton in The Merry Wives of Windsor at the Berkshire Music Festival in Tanglewood on August 7, 1942.This was when Alfredo Arnold Cocozza adopted the stage name Mario Lanza for its similarity to his mother's maiden name, Maria Lanza.His performances at Tanglewood won him critical acclaim, with newspaper 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".

*A concert at the Hollywood Bowl in August 1947 had brought Lanza to the attention of Louis B. Mayer, who promptly signed Lanza to a seven-year film contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.He made his film debut in Winged Victory as uncredited chorus member.

*Owing to his limited acting ability, most of Mario Lanza's films were based on his own life experiences, including : That Midnight Kiss (1948) Because You're Mine (1952), and Serenade (1956).

*In 1951, Mario Lanza portrayed Enrico Caruso in The Great Caruso, which was MGM's biggest success.Media wrote "Lanza brings to the role not only a fine, natural and remarkably powerful voice, but a physique and personal mannerisms reminiscent of the immortal Caruso."Nearly 40 years after its release, Caruso's son, Enrico Caruso Jr. reminisced that, "Vocally and musically The Great Caruso is a thrilling motion picture, and it has helped many young people discover opera and even become singers themselves." He added that, "I can think of no other tenor, before or since Mario Lanza, who could have risen with comparable success to the challenge of playing Caruso in a screen biography.

*He began filming The Student Prince (1954) playing Prince Karl, but his weight problems and fiery temperament got him fired. Edmund Purdom starred in the role, lip-synching to Lanza.

*Lanza's career was damaged by a chronic weight problem as well as alcoholism. In 1959, while in Rome, Italy, Lanza suffered a heart attack and died at age 38. Although his career was cut short by his early death, he did more than any other singer to popularize opera. His recordings continue to be in demand, with more than 50 million records sold to date.