Mario Lanza: Singing to the Gods (American Made Music) Summary and Reviews

Mario Lanza: Singing to the Gods (American Made Music)
by Derek Mannering

Mario Lanza: Singing to the Gods (American Made Music)
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Book Summary Information

Author: Derek Mannering
Foreword: Ellisa Lanza Bregman
Edition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2005-07-05
ISBN: 1578067413
Number of pages: 280
Publisher: University Press of Mississippi

Book Reviews of Mario Lanza: Singing to the Gods (American Made Music)

Book Review: A superior effort with photographs, index, and discography.
Summary: 5 Stars

To date there have been seven full-scale biographies of Mario Lanza, five in English, one in German and one in Russian. The latest, "Mario Lanza - Singing to the Gods" by Derek Mannering, (Robert Hale Limited, 2001), is by far the best of the lot. The first major Lanza biography was the 1960 "The Mario Lanza Story" by Mr. Lanza's long-time accompanist Constantine Callinicos (with Ray Robinson). Since then, much new and interesting information has come to light and subsequent books have captured bits and pieces, some anecdotal, some based on legend and some based on fact. Mr. Mannering has taken the time to sort through the lot and present us with a book that is not only well-written and interesting, but also based upon documented facts. His numerous references throughout the book document his words. Critics would be hard put to offer valid criticism based upon the facts alone. If this was not enough, it is well indexed and contains 24 pages of photographs, many of which have not been previously published. Also included is a 27 page chronological listing of Mr. Lanza's Studio and film soundtrack recordings. This is immediately followed by an eight page alphabetical listing of all currently available Lanza recordings. Mr. Mannering's biography is a veritable storehouse of all things Lanza.

This is not the first Mario Lanza biography by Derek Mannering. The first, "Mario Lanza - A Biography," also published by Robert Hale Limited, made its debut in 1991. Since then, it has been reissued in large print and paperback editions. Mr. Mannering's current offering is not simply a rewrite of his first effort. Rather, it is a fresh, new look at an intriguing and controversial personality. It is even-handed, not majoring in sensationalism as some, but containing the pluses and minuses alike, in correct proportion to the actual multi-faceted, flawed, and great talent that was Mario Lanza.

The foreword was written by the surviving daughter of Mario Lanza, Ellisa Lanza Bregman. Perhaps she says it best in her closing words, "Anyone who wants to know the life and times of Mario Lanza need go no further than this book."

Maynard F. Bertolet, Past President of the Mario Lanza Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.

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