Mario Lanza: An American Tragedy (Great Voices) Hardcover – Big Book, February 1, 2004

Written by an author who knows his subjects- Lanza and music- very very well so that he may document the life of this extraordinary talent beautifully and truthfully. It was astonishing to me to discover the extent to which the fabulous singer was exploited by the moneymakers of Hollywood and elsewhere. Lanza was a great tenor, period. I do not think however that he was in any way a failure for not having lived a life wholly onstage as an operatic artist. He was a tremendous success by singing the great arias and bringing their beauty and art to many many more. He was also a magnificent singer in English and his rendering of the repertoire of the American musical and the American songbook with his superb vocal instrument and interpretive artistry has yet to be equalled.Cesari also supplies a great CD of recordings and a plethora of photographs within the book. I can't recommend this highly enough.

"The definitive book about the legendary tenor Mario Lanza has been written. Anyone wanting to understand the successes and torments of the life of this American icon must read Armando Cesari's excellent biography." So wrote Dr. Lawrence Galante, Associate Professor at SUNY.I heartily concur with Dr. Galante. This is the most balanced and well-researched account of Lanza's life yet written. Author Armando Cesari, an expert on singing and opera, has gone further than any previous biographer in uncovering the truth about Lanza the person and the artist. And *what* an artist! "Only a great heart can sing the way that Lanza sang," the Maltese tenor Oreste Kirkop once observed, echoing the words of the great baritone Lawrence Tibbett, who had earlier hailed Lanza's "natural zest and unbelievable diction." Although the longhairs have panned him as "a movie singer," Tibbett publicly declared in 1950, Lanza is "the greatest musical talent of America in our century. A man who is bringing great music to the kids, the farms, the ghettos, and the palaces." In 50 years, he concluded, "people will recognize Lanza for the great artist he is."Sympathetic to Lanza, but at the same time frank about his shortcomings, Mr. Cesari is also the first biographer in over 40 years to possess the credentials necessary to give the tenor his full musical due.The CD of rare live and home recordings that accompanies the book is a marvellous addition to a great biography. I should, however, declare my partiality here. It was I who wrote the liner notes for these items, something that I was honoured to do after realising the scale of Mr. Cesari's achievement here.The book also includes a staggering 270 photos, many of which have never been published before.Mario Lanza has long been the most controversial of all operatic artists. This biography finally establishes his true place among the greatest voices of the last hundred years. It is fitting that Mr. Cesari has included this hauntingly prophetic statement from the celebrated baritone Lawrence Tibbett: "In fifty years people will recognise Lanza for the great artist he is." Mr. Tibbett uttered those words 54 years ago. This book adds immeasurably to that recognition, and explains why singers as respected as the bass-baritone George London have hailed Lanza as the possessor of "the greatest singing instrument ever bestowed on a human being."

The writer did a superb research job, p. 280 tells of Mario singing for hospital patients and staff, a Tosca aria, his last song on earth.Highly recommend for "true" fans of Mario Lanza, who don't believe the "bad press."

Maestro Cesari has done a wonderful service to all those who search for truth about the exciting, magnificent and tragic life of Mario Lanza. His marvelously researched work is splendid and is meticulously documented with facts and figures. What emerges is a clear separation of the man, the myth and the artist. Lanza is not glorified in Maestro Cesari's book. Instead the author creates a mosaic which portrays a tenor who wanted to sing for the people and bring classical opera to all as well as give endless pleasure through his glorious renditions of popular music. It also shows a great perfectionist who knew that he possessed a sacred gift to leave for posterity. Anyone who listens to his finest recordings will understand why five decades after his death millions still listen to him and fan clubs and societies to promote his memory and music span the globe.Testimonials, carefully documented, by the best and brightest performers of Lanza's generation gave clear evidence that he was the greatest tenor and perhaps the greatest singer of all time.This is an excellent book and all those who seek a real portrait of Mario Lanza owe Maestro Cesari an enormous debt of gratitude. He devoted decades to preparing this wonderful work and it deserves rave reviews.Someday a fine movie will be made about Lanza, along the lines of "Amadeus" or "Ray" that will depict the great voice and the great man who possessed it and cared for it enough so we can still enjoy it today.Bravo Mario and Bravo Maestro Cesari!!

Great story of a greatly talented singer and lovely family manNothing to dislikeEven if you are not keen on opera you cant help but be touched by Mario's story

Well, certainly it is a good biography compared to most. However, I think it is a bit overrated. Yes, the author certainly did his ‘homework’, but the narrative is slow at times. One may wonder why he uses some gossip articles to prove his points, and not others that may have been much more accurate and true. The choice that was made at times, shows the will to perpetrate a certain image, angle or version of the story, rather than the truth. But that could be said about most biographies. In this book, there is too much about the singer, and too little about the man, and that proves my point that writing a true biography it is virtually impossible. In the end, we get to know Mario Lanza the tenor, but not much Mario Lanza the man. I prefer Derek Mannering’s biography, ‘Singing with the Gods’. It is better balanced in dealing with the artistic and private life of the tenor.

wanted this book for a long time not read it yet it is in very good condition very pleased with my purchaseThankyou Seller

Just as described and the book arrived on time. Great service.

Very informative biography of a misunderstood tenor , one of ( if not the ) greatest singers of the 20th century .The CD that comes with the book is is superb , highly recommended .