Search - Mario Lanza :: Sings Christmas Carols

Contractual obligation spoken here

Janelle M. Masters | Hastings, NE USA | 05/09/2004

(1 out of 5 stars)

"Mario Lanza was truly one of the greatest tenors of all time. No one before him or since has intrepreted Christmas music with the same religious fervor, the same passion, or the same touch that he brought to the most beloved hymns and carols. So why this poor excuse of a CD - recorded just months before his death- would ever be released when so many of his better recordings - made earlier in his career - are available, is a mystery. Those looking for the best Christmas offerings by Lanza need look no further than "Christmas Hymns and Carols," or the later, more available release, "Christmas with Mario Lanza," which contains all the same recordings plus a few other offerings as well (including "Deck the Halls" and "I'll Walk With God). The problem with "Lanza Sings Christmas Carols" is that, like another reviewer here notes, there is little passion in these recordings. It sounds like a collection of one-takers recorded in a single session. For example, in the recording of "God Bless Ye Merry Gentlemen," Lanza forgets the meter on the line "and unto certain she-e-perds.." and instead sings it "unto certain shep-errrds." It sounds clumsy. Later in the song, his emphasis on "how that in Bethlehem wazzzzz born" is misplaced and almost comical. I think he did add a few verses to some of the recordings (it's been a long while since I heard this CD), but for the most part, they're just re-hacked remakes that don't even come close to replicating the versions recorded before them. The worst ommision on this CD is Lanza's immortal recording of "Oh Holy Night," which, to my knowledge, has only one version available. My guess is that Mario knew he couldn't improve on perfection, so he opted to pass on an attempt to re-record what to many has become his signature song. I realize that even a bad Lanza is better-than-average by most people's standards. Even so, if you like this CD, you'll be pleased to know that there are better offerings out there to hear."

Why oh why?

D. MCGOVERN | New Zealand | 09/12/2001

(1 out of 5 stars)

"BMG's decision to release this album is unfathomable. With the exception of the disastrous Lanza on Broadway LP (mercifully unavailable - at present - on CD), this was the tenor's worst album. Recorded around the time of his first heart attack, Lanza was in very poor spirits indeed when he recorded this, and it shows. Unlike the Broadway album, his singing is not downright bad; it's simply devoid of the tenor's trademark warmth and vitality. O Christmas Tree is, perhaps, the only exception on this otherwise gloomy offering.For an infinitely more sparkling alternative, check out the singer's beautiful Christmas with Mario Lanza CD. It's available through Amazon, and reviewed on these pages."

Missing a song

McBain | Kirkland, WA USA | 06/14/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I have the original "Lanza Sings Christmas Carols" on LP. Strangely, the CD is missing "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear" which is on the LP."