I'm delighted to report that London-based Sepia Records will soon be releasing another Mario Lanza CD compilation: its sixth (!) in three years.
Titled Poetry and Passion, this CD differs from the previous five Sepia compilations in that it doesn't focus on one particular musical genre. Instead, it offers examples of Lanza in top form in every genre in which he excelled: opera, operetta, musical theatre, Neapolitan song, and popular song. An eclectic compilation, to be sure, but one that's full of surprises and consistently rewarding, delivering exactly what its title promises.
As with the previous five Sepia releases, the CD was compiled (for love, not money) by Armando Cesari, Vince Di Placido, Carmel Parisi, Lee Ann Cafferata and yours truly, and expertly remastered by Robin Cherry. Indeed, many of the recordings have never sounded better, despite being sourced from an assortment of vinyl, private tapes and acetates. The same care has gone into the CD booklet, which is beautifully presented with copious notes and several rare photos.
Poetry and Passion is now available directly (and economically for those outside of the UK) from Sepia Records, and will be released by Amazon and other online sellers on February 9, 2018.
UPDATE (5 Feb 2018): Lindsay Perigo has posted this glowing review of the CD on his web site.
MARIO LANZA: POETRY AND PASSION
1 Earthbound (Taylor-Richardson-Musel) Recorded 10 August 1956
2 Wonder Why (Brodszky-Cahn) 21 August 1951
3 The Bayou Lullaby (Brodszky-Cahn) 29 June 1950
4 Beautiful Love (King-Young-Van Alstyne-Gillespie) 24 April 1952
5 Tell Me Tonight (Spoliansky-Eyton) 15 February 1952
6 The Rosary (Nevin-Rogers) 23 August 1951
7 The Song Angels Sing (Aaronson-Webster, adapted from Brahms) 24 July 1952
8 The Thrill Is Gone (Henderson-Brown) 29 November 1951
9 My Destiny (Brodszky-Cahn) 21 July 1955 [Introduced by Lanza]
10 Younger Than Springtime (Rodgers-Hammerstein) 7 November 1957
11 Thoughts Will Come Back to Me (Romberg-Donnelly) April 1959
12 Nocturne (Friml-Hooker-Post) July 1959
13 Lygia (Rózsa-Webster) 16 December 1951
14 Come Prima (For the First Time) (Di Paola-Taccani-Ram) September 1958
15 ¡Ay, ay, ay! (Freire) 3 December 1951
16 Maria Marí’ (Di Capua-Russo) December 1958
17 Ave Maria (Schubert) 18 August 1955 [film outtake with piano]
18 L’Arlesiana: È la solita storia (Cilea-Marenco) 16 Jan. 1958 [live: Royal Albert Hall]
19 Otello: Niun mi tema (Verdi-Boito) September 1958
BONUS TRACKS
20 Pagliacci: Un tal gioco (Leoncavallo) May 1952 [private recording]
21 Andrea Chénier: Un dì all’azzurro spazio (Giordano-Illica) April 1952 [private recording]
22 I’m Falling in Love with Someone (Herbert-Young) 18 January 1958 [live performance: British TV]
23 Only a Rose (Friml-Hooker-Post) July 1959 ["Raw" acetate: a revelation!]
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