Mario Lanza: Singing to the Gods (American Made Music) [Hardcover]

Derek Mannering (Author), Ellisa Lanza Bregman (Foreword)

Book Description

Series: American Made Music | Publication Date: July 5, 2005

Blessed with one of the great tenor voices of all time, Mario Lanza (1921-1959) rose to spectacular heights in a film, recording, and concert career that spanned little more than a decade. Groomed at the outset for a career on the opera stage, Lanza instead flourished in Hollywood where his films, most notably The Great Caruso, broke box-office records the world over and influenced the careers of countless musicians. To this day, the Three Tenors cite him as an inspiration for their own careers on the classical stage. Lanza's recordings for RCA sold in the millions, and he remains the crossover artist supreme.

But his tremendous success was derailed by his self-destructive lifestyle, and by age thirty-eight he was dead, with his extraordinary promise left unfulfilled.

Newly revised and updated for its first U.S. edition, Mario Lanza: Singing to the Gods is the definitive account of the remarkable life and times of one of the twentieth century's most beloved singing stars. This richly detailed work also contains a selection of rare photographs, several of which are drawn from Lanza's estate.

With the support of Lanza's daughter, Ellisa Lanza Bregman, the tenor's colleagues, and his closest friend Terry Robinson, Derek Mannering has chronicled a fascinating and unforgettable life. From the fabulous successes of the early MGM years through the disastrous walkouts and cancellations that sent Lanza's career into freefall, Mannering objectively and movingly reveals the story of a great star torn apart by his own troubled psyche and undisciplined lifestyle.

Derek Mannering, Park Ridge, Illinois, is the author of Mario Lanza: A Life in Pictures.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

This biography of the Italian-American tenor, star of "The Great Caruso" and inspiration to the Three Tenors:

*Brings American readers a superb biography on Lanza written by the world's leading expert on the man and his music

*Features new photographs and information not available elsewhere due to the author's access to the Lanza family

From the Inside Flap

A biography of the Italian American tenor, star of The Great Caruso and inspiration to the Three Tenors

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 280 pages
• Publisher: University Press of Mississippi (July 5, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1578067413
• ISBN-13: 978-1578067411
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,217,654 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great biography for a great singer, September 27, 2005

By 

David E. Weaver (Columbus, Ohio) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mario Lanza: Singing to the Gods (American Made Music) (Hardcover)

When I read Derek Mannering's first book, MARIO LANZA - A BIOGRAPHY, in 1993, I knew then that this was the best work written to date on the great tenor who was my boyhood idol and musical inspiration. Yet that was only the beginning: since then, Mannering has produced two other first-rate books, SINGING TO THE GODS and MARIO LANZA - A LIFE IN PICTURES (both published in the UK), that have been even better than his first effort. He has also in those years become BMG's primary consultant on the release of new Mario Lanza CDs, resulting in Lanza's return to the best-seller lists in the UK, even hitting #1 with THE DEFINITIVE COLLECTION -- a remarkable feat for a singer who died five decades ago.

Now, happily, the first-ever American edition of MARIO LANZA - SINGING TO THE GODS has been published by University Press of Mississippi. Not merely a copy of Mannering's book produced for the UK, this new, updated edition includes never-before-released material in the way of photos and interviews, including several poignant reminisces of Lanza's niece, actress Dolores Hart, who retired from the screen more than 40 years ago to become a nun, Mother Dolores. As in his previous works, Mannering has had the blessings and cooperation of two very important people in Mario Lanza's life - his best friend and trainer, Terry Robinson, and Lanza's only surviving daughter, Elissa Lanza Bregman, who wrote the book's heartfelt Foreword.

Always written in a lively and entertaining style, the strength of Derek Mannering's books lies in the fact that he focuses on Mario Lanza's incredible talent, and how he used that talent -- thru films, radio, television, concerts and recordings -- to bring the world of opera and great music to the average person. And, at the same time, influencing more of today's opera singers than almost any other artist in memory.

Mannering points out Lanza's flaws and mistakes, which caused the singer much difficulty and heartache in his lifetime, and more than a little controversy that lingers to this day. Yet at the same time, Mannering does not dwell on these failings. And while, like all others who have written Lanza bios, Mannering ponders the "what ifs," he does not invent a career which Lanza never had, and celebrates instead the remarkable career for what it was and what it achieved, which was considerable.

For those who might wonder how Derek Mannering's SINGING TO THE GODS stacks up to the other books out there (and Lanza has more bios than almost any other singer I can think of), I would let Mario's daughter, Elissa, speak in the closing words of her Foreword:

"Anyone who wants to know about the life and times of Mario Lanza need go no further than this book."


DAVID WEAVER is the author of BLACK DIVA OF THE THIRTIES - THE LIFE OF RUBY ELZY, published in 2004 by University Press of Mississippi.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well-written, well-researched, and welcome, September 22, 2005

By 

Rob Pollock - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mario Lanza: Singing to the Gods (American Made Music) (Hardcover)

Another in a series of Lanza biographies from various sources, Mr Mannering's Singing to the Gods is a searching book detailing Mario Lanza's life and career, and allowing the fascinating personality of the great tenor to emerge.

This excellent book is a useful one to anyone who wishes to learn about Mario Lanza - singer, voice and man - without becoming sidetracked by prying or speculation. Mr Mannering's work steers a course to show the facts about Lanza, avoiding undue, sensational speculation. Views expressed are clear, invariably positive and (the greatest virtue of all in a biography), suitably informative.

A pity that the opportunity to include a CD as a sweetener was not taken, but nonetheless this book no doubt will encourage many readers to seek to hear more of Mario Lanza - and also to generate consumer requests for the re-release of his films in high quality DVD, or other improving, formats.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book about the greatest tenor of all time, March 13, 2007

By 

Emilio Iodice - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mario Lanza: Singing to the Gods (American Made Music) (Hardcover)

This is a splendid work about a man who was not only a magnificent voice but one who was able to "crossover" from the classical to the popular and be the best of his generation and all generations. Mr. Mannering has made a definitive contribution to the Mario Lanza legend and reputation by searching for the truth and explaining the truth about this wonderful artist who contributed so much to his profession. Greater awareness about Lanza's legacy is needed so that future lovers of grand voices can appreciate what Mario's fans have known for decades. The next step is to make a movie about him so that the world can understand and know his glorious gifts.