 | I'm thrilled to announce the forthcoming release of yet another outstanding CD from Sepia Records of London: O Holy Night: Christmas With Mario Lanza. This compilation brings together the best of Mario Lanza’s much-loved 1950-56 recordings of Christmas carols, together with other religious and devotional material from the same period, presenting them all in stereo for the first time. The technological breakthrough that has made this transformation possible is Digitally Extracted Stereo (DES), a process that converts mono recordings into multi-track stereo while preserving the full integrity of the original vocals and instrumentation. Now, with Lanza’s voice brought vividly to the fore and the orchestra enveloping rather than containing him, both are revealed with a previously unheard clarity and brilliance. |
While Lanza would re-record most of these songs in 1959 for a sonically disappointing so-called Living Stereo release, even his most uncritical admirers would acknowledge that the earlier (originally mono) recordings featured here find the tenor in much more vibrant form. As an added attraction, this compilation includes four of Lanza’s most popular late (1958-59) stereo recordings, all remixed by sound wizard Stephen Cutler to stunning effect through the magic of DES. These include “I Love Thee” (more impressive than ever now with its superior balance between voice and orchestra) and an impossibly sweet rendition of Schubert’s “Ave Maria”, both from Lanza’s Grammy-nominated album For the First Time.
UPDATE: O Holy Night is available for preorder now directly from Sepia Records at this link. (All preorders will be shipped by 10 August.) For those in the US, the CD can be preordered from August 4 from the Mario Lanza Institute in Philadelphia, with proceeds going toward scholarships for young singers in Lanza's name.
The CD will be available from Amazon and other online sellers from September 12.
FURTHER UPDATE: Vincent Di Placido has created this wonderful promo for O Holy Night: Christmas With Mario Lanza:
UPDATE: O Holy Night is available for preorder now directly from Sepia Records at this link. (All preorders will be shipped by 10 August.) For those in the US, the CD can be preordered from August 4 from the Mario Lanza Institute in Philadelphia, with proceeds going toward scholarships for young singers in Lanza's name.
The CD will be available from Amazon and other online sellers from September 12.
FURTHER UPDATE: Vincent Di Placido has created this wonderful promo for O Holy Night: Christmas With Mario Lanza:
Full track information:
O HOLY NIGHT
CHRISTMAS WITH MARIO LANZA
1 Deck the Halls (Traditional–Thomas Oliphant)
Republic Studios, Los Angeles, 10 August 1956. Henri René, conductor, and his orchestra; with the Jeff Alexander Choir. Spoken introduction by Lanza from his Christmas Eve 1951 radio show.
2 O Little Town of Bethlehem (Lewis Redner–Phillips Brooks)
Republic Studios, Los Angeles, 28 September 1951. Ray Sinatra, conductor; RCA Victor Orchestra and the Jeff Alexander Choir.
3 Adeste Fideles / O Come, All Ye Faithful (Traditional–Frederick Oakeley)
Republic Studios, Los Angeles, 28 September 1951. Ray Sinatra, conductor; RCA Victor Orchestra and the Jeff Alexander Choir.
4 Away in a Manger (William J. Kirkpatrick)
Republic Studios, Los Angeles, 28 September 1951. Ray Sinatra, conductor; RCA Victor Orchestra and the Jeff Alexander Choir.
5 The First Noel (Traditional–William Sandys–Davies Gilbert)
Republic Studios, Los Angeles, 28 September 1951. Ray Sinatra, conductor; RCA Victor Orchestra and the Jeff Alexander Choir.
6 We Three Kings (John Henry Hopkins, Jr.)
Republic Studios, Los Angeles, 29 September 1951. Ray Sinatra, conductor; RCA Victor Orchestra and the Jeff Alexander Choir. Thurl Ravenscroft, narrator.
7 Silent Night (Franz Gruber–Joseph Mohr/tr. John Freeman Young)
Republic Studios, Los Angeles, 28 September 1951. Ray Sinatra, conductor; RCA Victor Orchestra and the Jeff Alexander Choir.
8 O Christmas Tree (Melchior Franck, adapted by Ernst Anschütz)
Republic Studios, Los Angeles, 15 August 1956. Henri René, conductor, and his orchestra.
9 God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen (Traditional–William Sandys)
Republic Studios, Los Angeles, 10 August 1956. Henri René, conductor, and his orchestra; with the Jeff Alexander Choir.
10 Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (Felix Mendelssohn, adap. William H. Cummings–Charles Wesley–George Whitefield)
Republic Studios, Los Angeles, 10 August 1956. Henri René, conductor, and his orchestra; with the Jeff Alexander Choir.
11 I Saw Three Ships (Traditional–William Sandys)
Republic Studios, Los Angeles, 15 August 1956. Henri René, conductor, and his orchestra.
12 Joy to the World (Isaac Watts–Lowell Mason)
Republic Studios, Los Angeles, 10 August 1956. Henri René, conductor, and his orchestra; with the Jeff Alexander Choir.
13 O Holy Night (Adolphe Adam–John Sullivan Dwight)
Republic Studios, Los Angeles, 29 May 1950. Constantine Callinicos, conductor; RCA Victor Orchestra and chorus.
14 The Virgin’s Slumber Song (Max Reger–Martin Boelitz/trans. Edward Teschemacher)
Republic Studios, Los Angeles, 29 May 1950. Constantine Callinicos, conductor; RCA Victor Orchestra and chorus.
15 Guardian Angels (Harpo Marx–Gerda Beilenson)
Republic Studios, Los Angeles, 28 September 1951. Ray Sinatra, conductor; RCA Victor Orchestra and the Jeff Alexander Choir.
16 I’ll Walk With God (from the film The Student Prince) (Nicholas Brodszky–Paul Francis Webster)
MGM Studios, Los Angeles, 28 July 1952. Originally recorded with organist Wesley Tourtelotte only. MGM Studio Orchestra and Chorus conducted by Constantine Callinicos subsequently added.
17 The Lord’s Prayer (Albert Hay Malotte)
MGM Studios, Los Angeles, 2 August 1951. Wesley Tourtelotte, organist.
18 Ave Maria (Franz Schubert)
Cinecittà Studios, Rome, September 1958. George Stoll, conductor; untitled orchestra and choir.
19 Love in a Home (Gene de Paul–Johnny Mercer)
Republic Studios, Los Angeles, 15 August 1956. Henri René, conductor, and his orchestra.
BONUS TRACKS: SONGS OF LOVE AND DEVOTION
20 Do You Wonder (Don Ray–Henry Hill)
Republic Studios, Los Angeles, 15 August 1956. Henri René, conductor, and his orchestra.
21 The Song Angels Sing (Johannes Brahms–adap. Irving Aaronson–Paul Francis Webster)
Republic Studios, Hollywood, 24 July 1952. Constantine Callinicos, conductor. RCA Victor Orchestra and Chorus.
22 I Love Thee (Edvard Grieg–Hans Christian Andersen–Ellis Gray)
Cinecittà Studios, Rome, early December 1958. Constantine Callinicos, conductor; untitled orchestra.
23 Pour un Baiser (Francesco Tosti–Georges Doncieux)
Cinecittà Studios, Rome, June 1959. Paul Baron, conductor; untitled orchestra.
24 Come Prima (For the First Time) (Vincenzo Di Paola–Sandro Taccani–Buck Ram)
Cinecittà Studios, Rome, September 1958. Carlo Savina, conductor; untitled orchestra.
25 Earthbound (Jack Taylor–Clive Richardson–Bob Musel)
Republic Studios, Los Angeles, 10 August 1956. Henri René, conductor, and his orchestra; with the Jeff Alexander Choir.
O HOLY NIGHT
CHRISTMAS WITH MARIO LANZA
1 Deck the Halls (Traditional–Thomas Oliphant)
Republic Studios, Los Angeles, 10 August 1956. Henri René, conductor, and his orchestra; with the Jeff Alexander Choir. Spoken introduction by Lanza from his Christmas Eve 1951 radio show.
2 O Little Town of Bethlehem (Lewis Redner–Phillips Brooks)
Republic Studios, Los Angeles, 28 September 1951. Ray Sinatra, conductor; RCA Victor Orchestra and the Jeff Alexander Choir.
3 Adeste Fideles / O Come, All Ye Faithful (Traditional–Frederick Oakeley)
Republic Studios, Los Angeles, 28 September 1951. Ray Sinatra, conductor; RCA Victor Orchestra and the Jeff Alexander Choir.
4 Away in a Manger (William J. Kirkpatrick)
Republic Studios, Los Angeles, 28 September 1951. Ray Sinatra, conductor; RCA Victor Orchestra and the Jeff Alexander Choir.
5 The First Noel (Traditional–William Sandys–Davies Gilbert)
Republic Studios, Los Angeles, 28 September 1951. Ray Sinatra, conductor; RCA Victor Orchestra and the Jeff Alexander Choir.
6 We Three Kings (John Henry Hopkins, Jr.)
Republic Studios, Los Angeles, 29 September 1951. Ray Sinatra, conductor; RCA Victor Orchestra and the Jeff Alexander Choir. Thurl Ravenscroft, narrator.
7 Silent Night (Franz Gruber–Joseph Mohr/tr. John Freeman Young)
Republic Studios, Los Angeles, 28 September 1951. Ray Sinatra, conductor; RCA Victor Orchestra and the Jeff Alexander Choir.
8 O Christmas Tree (Melchior Franck, adapted by Ernst Anschütz)
Republic Studios, Los Angeles, 15 August 1956. Henri René, conductor, and his orchestra.
9 God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen (Traditional–William Sandys)
Republic Studios, Los Angeles, 10 August 1956. Henri René, conductor, and his orchestra; with the Jeff Alexander Choir.
10 Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (Felix Mendelssohn, adap. William H. Cummings–Charles Wesley–George Whitefield)
Republic Studios, Los Angeles, 10 August 1956. Henri René, conductor, and his orchestra; with the Jeff Alexander Choir.
11 I Saw Three Ships (Traditional–William Sandys)
Republic Studios, Los Angeles, 15 August 1956. Henri René, conductor, and his orchestra.
12 Joy to the World (Isaac Watts–Lowell Mason)
Republic Studios, Los Angeles, 10 August 1956. Henri René, conductor, and his orchestra; with the Jeff Alexander Choir.
13 O Holy Night (Adolphe Adam–John Sullivan Dwight)
Republic Studios, Los Angeles, 29 May 1950. Constantine Callinicos, conductor; RCA Victor Orchestra and chorus.
14 The Virgin’s Slumber Song (Max Reger–Martin Boelitz/trans. Edward Teschemacher)
Republic Studios, Los Angeles, 29 May 1950. Constantine Callinicos, conductor; RCA Victor Orchestra and chorus.
15 Guardian Angels (Harpo Marx–Gerda Beilenson)
Republic Studios, Los Angeles, 28 September 1951. Ray Sinatra, conductor; RCA Victor Orchestra and the Jeff Alexander Choir.
16 I’ll Walk With God (from the film The Student Prince) (Nicholas Brodszky–Paul Francis Webster)
MGM Studios, Los Angeles, 28 July 1952. Originally recorded with organist Wesley Tourtelotte only. MGM Studio Orchestra and Chorus conducted by Constantine Callinicos subsequently added.
17 The Lord’s Prayer (Albert Hay Malotte)
MGM Studios, Los Angeles, 2 August 1951. Wesley Tourtelotte, organist.
18 Ave Maria (Franz Schubert)
Cinecittà Studios, Rome, September 1958. George Stoll, conductor; untitled orchestra and choir.
19 Love in a Home (Gene de Paul–Johnny Mercer)
Republic Studios, Los Angeles, 15 August 1956. Henri René, conductor, and his orchestra.
BONUS TRACKS: SONGS OF LOVE AND DEVOTION
20 Do You Wonder (Don Ray–Henry Hill)
Republic Studios, Los Angeles, 15 August 1956. Henri René, conductor, and his orchestra.
21 The Song Angels Sing (Johannes Brahms–adap. Irving Aaronson–Paul Francis Webster)
Republic Studios, Hollywood, 24 July 1952. Constantine Callinicos, conductor. RCA Victor Orchestra and Chorus.
22 I Love Thee (Edvard Grieg–Hans Christian Andersen–Ellis Gray)
Cinecittà Studios, Rome, early December 1958. Constantine Callinicos, conductor; untitled orchestra.
23 Pour un Baiser (Francesco Tosti–Georges Doncieux)
Cinecittà Studios, Rome, June 1959. Paul Baron, conductor; untitled orchestra.
24 Come Prima (For the First Time) (Vincenzo Di Paola–Sandro Taccani–Buck Ram)
Cinecittà Studios, Rome, September 1958. Carlo Savina, conductor; untitled orchestra.
25 Earthbound (Jack Taylor–Clive Richardson–Bob Musel)
Republic Studios, Los Angeles, 10 August 1956. Henri René, conductor, and his orchestra; with the Jeff Alexander Choir.
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