When you look at the output of Mario Lanza, it's hard to believe that it was all recorded in his short, 38 years of life. His voice is instantly recognisable, and through movies such as The Great Caruso, he became favourite to millions. His recordings have been many, all recorded in the late '30s, '40s and '50s, and frequently showcase his operatic, operetta and movie output. The latest compilation The Toast of Hollywood has been released by Sony Broadway, and is a 2 CD (and digital) celebration of his film and recording career.

Lanza started out in the world of opera and the concert stage, but became an international star when his golden voice began to ring out from the celebrated soundstages of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. By shifting to film work, he believed he was bringing good music - and grand opera in particular - to more people through his movies than he could ever hope to from the classical stage. Luminaries like Luciano Pavarotti, Renée Fleming and tenor Joseph Calleja tended to agree, each of them citing the tremendous impact Lanza’s groundbreaking film The Great Caruso had on their respective careers. The Toast of Hollywood displays the full range of Lanza’s vocal brilliance in a glittering compilation of popular ballads, opera arias, classic show tunes, and jewels from the Great American Songbook, including six previously unreleased gems.

The release is split into two 'named' CDs. CD 1 is entitled A Tenor at the Movies and covers the Hollywood years, with songs and arias made popular by Lanza in his classic musicals for MGM. CD 2 is A Tenor in Love and is full of songs of love and longing, all recorded for The Mario Lanza Show radio broadcasts in 1951 and 1952. The booklet included has full details of the tracks, and their origins.

What can you say about this voice that hasn't been said before? I'm no opera fan (or operetta come to that), but you can't help listening in awe to Lanza. His voice has a warmth and diction that I don't think has really ever been matched, certainly not by today's X Factor wannabees. Quite a few of the favourites are here - 'Be My Love' sounds as good as it has ever sounded, and is perhaps the best known of all Lanza's hits. It opens the first CD, and is followed by some other gems of his films - 'Granada', 'Drink Drink Drink' and 'Because You're Mine' being my favourites. We don't have films such as these any more, where the whole audience comes to here one man sing, and it's a shame.

CD 2 is the most interesting of the two by far. It's great hearing Lanza's voice introducing the tracks (why did I expect him to have an italian accent?), and there are also some gems here too. Again, many of these are from films or musicals, although there are no repeats from CD 1. 'If I Loved You' is sublime, as is 'You'll Never Walk Alone', both from Rodgers & Hammerstein's Carousel. One of my favourite songs of all time 'My Romance' is also included, and has never sounded better (bar the bit of noise - evident on some of the tracks). I also enjoyed 'Make Believe', from the Kern masterpiece Show Boat.

Mario Lanza lived life to the fullest, but died in 1959 at only 38. The Toast of Hollywood is bound to delight not only lovers of Hollywood’s golden era, but those of any generation who appreciate how a voice for the ages can turn music, both popular and operatic, into timeless classics. Another classy release from Sony Masterworks.

8

Ian Gude