Audio CD review:
Nicholas Brodszky, Francesco Cilea, Ernesto de Curtis, Rudolf Friml, Umberto Giordano, Victor Herbert, Jerome Kern, Franz Lehar, Giacomo Meyerbeer, Giacomo Puccini - Serenade / A Cavalcade of Show Tunes

Nicholas Brodszky, Francesco Cilea, Ernesto de Curtis, Rudolf Friml, Umberto Giordano, Victor Herbert, Jerome Kern, Franz Lehar, Giacomo Meyerbeer, Giacomo Puccini - Serenade / A Cavalcade of Show Tunes

Band: Nicholas Brodszky, Francesco Cilea, Ernesto de Curtis, Rudolf Friml, Umberto Giordano, Victor Herbert, Jerome Kern, Franz Lehar, Giacomo Meyerbeer, Giacomo Puccini Title: Serenade / A Cavalcade of Show Tunes Rating: Release Date: 23 August, 2004 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: Serenade 2: Danza 3: Torna a Surriento 4: O Soave Fanciulla [La Bohème] 5: Der Rosenkavalier- Di Rigori Armato 6: Trovatore - Di Quella Pria 7: Fedora - Amor Ti Vieta 8: Africaine - O Paradiso 9: Otello: Dio to Gioconda [Excerpt] 10: Otello: Dio Mi Potevi [Monologue] 11: Ave Maria - Mario Lanza, 12: Arlesiana - Lemento Do Federico 13: Turandot - Nessun Dorma 14: My Destiny 15: Serenade [Previoulsy Unreleased Bonus Track] 16: Lover, Come Back to Me 17: I've Told Every Little Star [From Music in the Air] 18: Donkey Serenade [From Firefly] 19: All the Things You Are 20: Giannina Mia [From the Firefly] 21: Rose Marie [From Rose Marie] 22: Yours in My Heart Alone (Dein Ist Mein Ganzes Herz) [from "The Land of] 23: Thine Alone [From Eileen] 24: Will You Remember? [From Maytime] 25: Only a Rose 26: Tramp! Tramp! Tramp! [From Naughty Marietta]

Customer Review Lanza in (mostly) top form Before I go any further, however, I should acknowledge that I was one of the liner note writers for this release. This is a "twofer" CD, consisting of the 1955 soundtrack to the movie Serenade and the 1956 Cavalcade of Show Tunes album. But I have no financial interest in the CD, and am simply reviewing it here because to date no one else has commented on it! Serenade marked Lanza's return to films after an absence of three years, and revealed a voice that had darkened considerably, while still retaining its brilliant upper register. Stylistically, this is also a much-improved artist in many respects from the sometimes-wayward tenor of the early 1950s. Anyone who compares Lanza's superbly operatic renditions here of Amor Ti Vieta, Lamento di Federico, and O Paradiso with his earlier versions (all featured on the CD Mario Lanza Sings Opera Arias and Duets) will immediately detect the new-found control in his singing. That's not to say that all of the Serenade material is outstanding. Lanza's renditions of Nessun Dorma, O Soave Fanciulla, Di Quella Pira, and the title song are below par, with the tenor uncharacteristically strained in the upper register and rough in his approach. But redeeming everything are the oustanding renditions of the arias mentioned in the previous paragraph, together with Lanza's sensitive singing of Di Rigori Armato from Der Rosenkavalier, a superb Torna a Surriento, and an unsurpassed Dio! Mi Potevi Scagliar from Otello. Lanza also recorded the Act III duet from Otello with Licia Albanese for this film, but time constraints have reduced it to a brief extract here. (The entire duet, however, can be heard on the aforementioned Arias & Duets CD. ) The other album featured here showcases the romantic side of Lanza. Beautifully recorded, Cavalcade includes passionate renditions of Yours is My Heart Alone, Only a Rose, Will You Remember, and other selections from operetta and musical comedy. Although Lanza may indeed be *too* zestful here for some tastes, vocally at least, he is at the height of his powers. The voice is rich and round - gloriously consistent throughout its registers - and the abundance of effortless B flats, Bs, and even a high C reveal a tenor in formidable form. Highly recommended. . . You can see a complete list of all Nicholas Brodszky, Francesco Cilea, Ernesto de Curtis, Rudolf Friml, Umberto Giordano, Victor Herbert, Jerome Kern, Franz Lehar, Giacomo Meyerbeer, Giacomo Puccini discography, or go back to the Nicholas Brodszky, Francesco Cilea, Ernesto de Curtis, Rudolf Friml, Umberto Giordano, Victor Herbert, Jerome Kern, Franz Lehar, Giacomo Meyerbeer, Giacomo Puccini tabs