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Mario Lanza: Tenor in Exile
More than 40 years after his premature death, the mystique of Mario Lanza continues. He remains a legendary figure, a crossover icon embraced and remembered by an entire generation for bridging the gap between popular and classical music, the acknowledged inspiration of today's Three Tenors. Bessette tells his story with a novelist's eye for the inherent tragedy of Lanza's brief life, the contradictory facets of his personality, his passion for life, and his self-destructiveness. HARDCOVER.
- GenresBiographyNonfiction
308 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 15, 2024
Jun 11, 830am ~~ Review asap.
Jun 15, 1050am ~~ When I began this book I thought the author might not be as objective as a biographer should be, since he says in his preface that "even as a child, I regarded Lanza's voice as beautiful, powerful and different". Thanks to a father who was a "gifted amateur singer", author Bessette was familiar with and loved music, becoming a knowledgeable opera lover as he matured.
So I can't be blamed for thinking that he might not be too impartial while relating Lanza's life story. But as it turned out, the author presented a complete picture: "hair, hide, guts and all", as my Dad used to say.
And for someone like me, who only knew Lanza through his movies, a record album given to me by my first mother-in-law, and a few comments I had seen about how ML was not considered a true opera singer, this book explained everything. And made me wonder how the tenor's life might have been different if he had been born a few decades earlier or later. There are so many what ifs involved I cannot begin to list them.
Those of us without major talents cannot really imagine what it must be like to have such a huge natural gift as Lanza had. But as with so many other creative people, he also had more than his share of demons. How sad that he could never find a balance between the two. He seemed to be always a slave to either the talent or the demons; and trapped inside his own character to boot, which meant he never seemed able to break free of destructive behavior, even in good times.
But lord have mercy, what a glorious voice!
Jun 15, 1050am ~~ When I began this book I thought the author might not be as objective as a biographer should be, since he says in his preface that "even as a child, I regarded Lanza's voice as beautiful, powerful and different". Thanks to a father who was a "gifted amateur singer", author Bessette was familiar with and loved music, becoming a knowledgeable opera lover as he matured.
So I can't be blamed for thinking that he might not be too impartial while relating Lanza's life story. But as it turned out, the author presented a complete picture: "hair, hide, guts and all", as my Dad used to say.
And for someone like me, who only knew Lanza through his movies, a record album given to me by my first mother-in-law, and a few comments I had seen about how ML was not considered a true opera singer, this book explained everything. And made me wonder how the tenor's life might have been different if he had been born a few decades earlier or later. There are so many what ifs involved I cannot begin to list them.
Those of us without major talents cannot really imagine what it must be like to have such a huge natural gift as Lanza had. But as with so many other creative people, he also had more than his share of demons. How sad that he could never find a balance between the two. He seemed to be always a slave to either the talent or the demons; and trapped inside his own character to boot, which meant he never seemed able to break free of destructive behavior, even in good times.
But lord have mercy, what a glorious voice!
February 7, 2016
Pretty decent biography. I had no idea this guy was such a jerk! I was piqued to read it after seeing a few minutes of a show about him on PBS. Now I'm curious to see his movies & listen to his recordings!
March 12, 2008
At time repetative but that was Lanza's life - repeat abuse of his awful juvenile demonds, with very little encouragment from the people who he needed the most.
The greatest voice of the 20th century.
The greatest voice of the 20th century.
February 18, 2010
this is about the short tragic life of a man who was probably one of america,s greatest tenors, and his life and career until his tragic premature death at 38 in 1957
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews