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" A Great Album with a Grand Selection of Favorites from a
Treasured Talent, some for the first time released to the public"
review by Ed Vincent

American premiere tenor Mario Lanza, is featured on the new Masterworks cd of a great collection of his many loved works
and some completely new recordings being released for the very first time. This album will warm the hearts of many lovers

of one of America's best loved singers. The quality of the
recording is top notched and sounds lovely. Some young readers may not be aware of the beauty of this singers voice and others will rush for this latest release. This recording is a wonderful example of some of the many tunes and arias that have made songs popular to millions.

Some of the songs are street songs from Italy, by much adored singers like Tosti. My Opera singing friends will love this album, as will the numbers of music lovers from all ages. I will
look forward to more of these selection due in the near future from Sony records.

Mario Lanza (born Alfred Arnold Cocozza, in Philadelphia, Pa) died
at the young age of only 38 years, but in that short time of life he brought the tenor voice to the common person and not just the operatic devotees.

Mario Lanza's voice was noticed at the age of 16 singing in productions at his local YMCA. His humble beginnings were
later noticed by conductor Serge Koussevitzky, who later paid for a full scholarship to the Berkshire Music Center at Tanglewood in Massachusetts. Lanza's voice was a found treasure and now thanks to Sony his voice will grace new ears and lovers and admirers of the past.

A great gift......

CELEBRATING THE LEGACY
OF AMERICA'S MOST BELOVED TENOR MARIO LANZA
SERENADE – A MARIO LANZA SONGBOOK
AND MARIO LANZA ORIGINAL ALBUM CLASSICS

SEVEN NEVER-BEFORE-RELEASED TRACKS,
RECORDED IN LANZA'S VOCAL PRIME, FEATURED ON SERENADE, RELEASED SEPTEMBER 29

FIVE VINTAGE LANZA ALBUMS RESTORED
IN ORIGINAL ALBUM CLASSICS COLLECTION, NEWLY TRANSFERRED FROM ORIGINAL MASTERS, WITH ORIGINAL ALBUM ART RELEASED NOVEMBER 10

As the world commemorates the fiftieth anniversary of the death of beloved American tenor Mario Lanza, Masterworks celebrates Lanza's remarkable career with the release of Serenade – A Mario Lanza Songbook, a collection of timeless favorites featuring seven tracks that have never before been released. Serenade – A Mario Lanza Songbook is available on September 29, 2009.

On November 10, 2009, Masterworks will continue its recognition of the Lanza legacy with the release of a five-disc collection in the Original Album Classics series, bringing together vintage Lanza albums long unavailable in their original format. Each has been newly transferred from original masters and is presented in a slipcover that recreates the original LP album art. First released on LP in the 1950s, the five titles are:
Mario Lanza Sings Hits from The Student Prince and Other Great
Musical Comedies

The Touch of Your Hand
I'll Walk With God – Songs of Devotion and Love
Mario Lanza Sings His Favorite Arias
Seven Hills of Rome (Original Soundtrack Recording)

Mario Lanza was only 38 when he died suddenly in Rome on October 7, 1959, but he had become a worldwide favorite in the preceding decade. His meteoric career was largely in films, recordings and concerts – making him the first and greatest "crossover" tenor – but his voice was recognized as one of the finest tenors of his generation. Inspired by Enrico Caruso, the repertoire Lanza recorded included arias and Italian songs that have always been favorites of operatic tenors, as well as new songs he introduced in films and on records. Each of the "Three Tenors" – José Carreras, Plácido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti – has cited to Lanza's singing in the title role of the 1951 film The Great Caruso as a point of inspiration.

The selections for Serenade – A Mario Lanza Songbook were chosen by Derek Mannering, author of two books on Lanza's life, who also wrote the liner notes. Featured are seven tracks previously unreleased – rediscovered versions of Toselli's "Serenade," "Dicitencello vuie," "Fenesta che lucive," "Santa Lucia luntana," "Oh, Nights of Splendor (Neapolitan Serenade)," "Senza nisciuno" and "Because." Many of these recordings (and the other fifteen tracks heard here) were made for Lanza's popular radio show in the early 1950s, when his voice was in its prime. The collection ends with the complete recording of "Arrivederci Roma," restoring the charming Italian verse that previously had been edited out.

Also included on Serenade – A Mario Lanza Songbook are favorite recordings of "Marechiare," "'A vucchella," "O sole mio," "Valencia," "La spagnola," "Siboney," "Non ti scordar di me," "Granada," "Parlami d'amore, Mariù," "Musica proibita," "Besame mucho," "Mattinata" and "Ay-ay-ay."

RCA Red Seal, Sony Classical, deutsche harmonia mundi, Masterworks Broadway and Masterworks Jazz are labels of Sony Masterworks. For email updates and information regarding RCA Red Seal, Sony Classical, deutsche harmonia mundi, Masterworks Broadway and Masterworks Jazz artists, promotions, tours and repertoire, please visit www.sonymasterworks.com.