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"That Midnight Kiss" Film Soundtrack Recordings Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Hollywood With Soprano Kathryn Grayson (Solos only) And Accompanist Irving Aaronson Selections: O Paradiso (L’Africana) (Part only for Montage)
On this date Mario Lanza completed pre-recording selections for his first film with MGM. He is heard in a portion of the aria from "L’Africana," which he would sing many times in the years to come. Unfortunately in this case it was omitted from the final cut of the film. Kathryn Grayson also recorded on this date but not with Lanza. His takes are presently unavailable. 
March 25, 1949 Zanesville, Ohio Recital With Constantine Callinicos Accompanist Program: Lamento di Federico (L’Arlesiana)
On this date Mario Lanza was in the midst of a concert tour of the United States just prior to the release of his first film. He performed a varied program ranging from some of the great arias to concert favorites and was spelled by accompanist Callinicos who did six solos. Unfortunately this concert is presently unavailable.
May 5, 1949 RCA Studio Recordings Manhattan Center, New York RCA Victor Orchestra With Conductor Constantine Callinicos Selections: Celeste Aida (Aida)
These four selections marked Mario Lanza’s first official recordings for RCA. Each selection was done in one take. He is in fine voice and sings with great feeling and understanding. These four recordings would be used in Lanza’s first album for RCA released as "That Midnight Kiss." The "La Boheme" aria would enter RCA’s prestigious Hall of Fame. These selections also marked the recording debut of conductor Callinicos and began what would be a wonderful collaboration with Lanza. All of these selections are available on CD from BMG.
August 23, 1949 RCA Studio Recordings Republic Studios, Hollywood RCA Victor Orchestra With Conductor Ray Sinatra Selections: They Didn’t Believe Me
These three selections marked Mario Lanza’s first recordings with conductor Ray Sinatra. Each selection was done in one take. He sings two beautiful standards and one of the great Italian songs. The first two selections would be used on his first album for RCA, which was called "That Midnight Kiss" after his first film for MGM. All of these selections are available on CD from BMG.
September 29, 1949 The Screen Guild Radio Program With Soprano ... Kathryn Grayson
Musical Selections: Mamma Mia Che Vo Sape ... Mario Lanza
This radio show was sponsored by MGM and done as part of a promotional tour that Kathryn Grayson and Mario Lanza did for their first film together "That Midnight Kiss" which was also Mario’s film debut. The show was broadcast live on NBC radio and we hear these two gifted stars in a diverse program of opera and song. Lanza is particularly effective in the Italian song "Mamma Mia" for the sheer beauty of his voice and the fine interpretation that he gives the listener. In "I Know, I Know, I Know" he exhibits why he was the first true crossover artist with his smooth vocal production. The highlight of the show however is when both artists join forces for the exciting duet from Lucia di Lammermoor in which they pull out all the stops and let their great voices ring out in true operatic fashion. The show is currently only available from the Mario Lanza Institute on cassette. ----Bill Ronayne
October 28, 1949 RCA Studio Recordings Republic Studios, Hollywood RCA Victor Orchestra With Conductor Ray Sinatra Selections: O Sole Mio
On this date Mario Lanza recorded three great concert pieces from his repertoire. He sings them with full-bodied tone and some exciting trademark high notes. Each selection was done in one take but "Granada" was done twice with the first take being the one that was released. These selections would easily fall under the heading of desert island choices and they are frequently included in Lanza collection albums. All of these selections with the exception of the "Granada" alternate take are available on CD from BMG.
December 5, 1949 "Toast of New Orleans" Film Soundtrack Recordings Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Hollywood With Kathryn Grayson, Soprano And Johnny Green Conducting Selections: Vogliatemi bene (Madama Butterfly)
On this date Mario Lanza began pre-recording selections for his second film with MGM. The film was originally titled "Kiss of Fire" but was later changed to "Toast of New Orleans." Kathryn Grayson joins Lanza for a beautiful performance of the love duet from Puccini’s "Madama Butterfly" which is thrillingly sung. Rhino released the take used in the film on their CD "Be My Love." The other take is not presently available.
December 6, 1949 "Toast of New Orleans" Film Soundtrack Recordings Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Hollywood With George Stoll Conducting Selections: I’ll Never Love You
On this date Mario Lanza continued pre-recording selections for his second film with MGM. He sings a song written especially for the film in two different versions to be used in two different scenes in the film. Rhino released the first selection on CD but the other two are presently unavailable.
December 7, 1949 "Toast of New Orleans" Film Soundtrack Recordings Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Hollywood With Jacob Gimpel Accompanist Selections: M’appari (Martha) (Portion only)
On this date Mario Lanza continued pre-recording selections for his second film with MGM. He sings three great arias the first and second of which were only portions to be used as part of a montage. The "Carmen" aria was recorded complete and was not used. However the final selection was used as part of the film. It is only the final minute of the aria but is well sung, as are the other arias. Only the selections used in the film are available. They can be heard on the video of the movie. The two complete takes of the aria from "Carmen" are not presently available. Damon Lanza Productions is considering releasing one of the takes on a forth-coming CD collection.
December 9, 1949 "Toast of New Orleans" Film Soundtrack Recordings Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Hollywood With Kathryn Grayson, Soprano And Theodor Uppman, Baritone* With Johnny Green Conducting And Jacob Gimpel Accompanist** Selections: Libiamo (La Traviata)
On this date Mario Lanza continued pre-recording selections for his second film with MGM. Kathryn Grayson joins him for a magnificently sung "Brindisi" from Verdi’s "La Traviata." Also recorded on this day was the famous duet from Mozart’s "Don Giovanni in which Theodor Uppman joins Ms. Grayson in an abbreviated version with piano. Only the takes used in the film are available. They can be heard on the video of the movie. The other take of the "Traviata" duet is presently unavailable.
December 15, 1949 "Toast of New Orleans" Film Soundtrack Recordings Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Hollywood With Kathryn Grayson, Soprano And George Stoll Conducting Selections: Bayou Lullaby
On this date Mario Lanza continued pre-recording selections for his second film with MGM. Kathryn Grayson joins him for two duets. One is a beautiful lullaby and the other would become Lanza’s first million seller and also be the theme song for his radio show. The song was originally a solo for Ms. Grayson but the studio decided to make it a duet and both artists give it a stellar performance. The takes used in the movie are available on the video of the film and "Be My Love" was released by Rhino on their CD of the same name
December 27, 1949 "Toast of New Orleans" Film Soundtrack Recordings Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Hollywood With Chorus And George Stoll Conducting Selections: Tina Lina (Section 1 Bars 21-111)
On this date Mario Lanza continued pre-recording selections for his second film with MGM. He is joined by the chorus for the big production number in the first part of the film. As you can see from the above selections there were numerous takes of various parts of this song but not because there were mistakes. There were many different shots in this scene of the movie and this was the reason for the way it was recorded. Lanza is in fine voice and sings wonderfully. There were also some additional instrumental and solo chorus sections as well as Rita Moreno’s segment, which were added to the final version of this song. They were recorded on the following day. The version used in the film was released by Rhino on CD.
December 28, 1949 "Toast of New Orleans" Film Soundtrack Recordings Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Hollywood With George Stoll Conducting Selections: I’ll Never Love You (Revised)
On this date Mario Lanza continued pre-recording selections for his second film with MGM. He performs two retakes of the second version of his hit song as well as the version used in the Café sequence of the film and also a revised edition of "I’ll Never Love You." The takes used in the film are only available on the video of the movie and the unused takes are presently unavailable. |