Mario Lanza: An American Tragedy
Search in google:
\ Library JournalAustralian singer Cesari profiles Italian American tenor Lanza (1921-59) in an enjoyable read that includes hundreds of photos and an audio CD. Lanza's vocal prowess foreshadowed a successful operatic career, but movie-industry bigwigs noticed his good looks and pushed him in a different direction, one that led from army shows and recitals to starring roles at the Hollywood Bowl and in films from the late 1940s until his untimely death. Having interviewed Lanza's family members and colleagues, Cesari fully explores Lanza's struggles with his insecurities, alcohol abuse, and extravagant appetites, both monetary and gustatory. His effort is not without its weaknesses-he puts Lanza on a pedestal and dismisses anyone who does not with phrases such as "ghastly" or "trying to demolish him." The spare recording gives just a glimmer of the singer's talent-and the correct track listing on the CD is at odds with the brief descriptions of the numbers found in the book. This book complements Roland Bessette's overblown Mario Lanza: Tenor in Exile, which presents Lanza's intimates from a different perspective. Recommended especially for public libraries and collections with 20th-century film, opera, or popular culture emphases.-Barry Zaslow, Miami Univ. Libs., Oxford, OH Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.\ \
