Lanza, His Life & the Rumours Around His Death
Mario Lanza, Tenor Voice and Hollywood Movie Star
Mario Lanza or Alfred Arnold Cocozza, as was his family name, was born on 31st January 1921 in South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Italian immigrants. His father, Antonio Cocozza immigrated to the USA at the age of 16 from Filignana, in the region of Moloise, Southern Italy. He later fought for his adopted country in the First World War, serving in the Army Infantry.
Maria Lanza immigrated with her family at the age of 6 months. She was born in Tocca da Casauria in the Province of Pescara, Abruzzo. Maria met her future husband in 1919, she was just 16 year old, and following a whirlwind courtship, they were married a few weeks later.
Lanza'a Early Love of Opera
As a young boy, Alfred, or Freddy as he was known, didn't enjoy school, although he had a particular interest in athletics and a love of opera. The Cocozza household was always filled with music. His mother had a fine soprano voice, but was discouraged from pursuing a singing career by her husband. Antonio Cocozza had a love for the recordings of Enrico Caruso which he played almost every day, so it was no surprise when the little boy started to sing along with the records.
It wasn't long before Freddy's interest in opera became an obsession. His parents nurtured their son's passion by taking him for singing lessons. Initially Freddy was taught by Antonio Scaduzzo before being tutored by Irene Williams.
Unfortunately singing lessons were expensive. Antonio was unable to work having been badly injured in the Battle of the Meuse-Argonne Forest, the final Allied offensive of World War I. His only income was as a disabled WWI veteran, so Maria worked two jobs in order for Freddy to continue with his lessons.
It was around this time that Freddy changed his name to Mario Lanza, taking the masculine form of his mother's name and adding her maiden name.
Lanza's first break came when an audition was arranged with Serge Koussevitzky (1854-1951), conductor with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and director of educational programmes such as Tanglewood. While waiting backstage, Mario started to sing his favourite aria, 'Vesti la giubba' (from Leon Carvello's 'I Pagliacci'). Immediately Koussevitzky offered Lanza a scholarship to his Berkshire music Festival in Tanglewood, Massachusetts.
War loomed and Lanza was drafted into the army. Unfortunately he had injured his left eye as a child and as a result was never posted to the Front. Initially he was assigned to Military Police duty in Texas before joining Special Services as a singer. He received a medical discharge from Walla Walla Hospital, Washington in January 1945.
Lanza returned to California where, three months later, he married his sweetheart, Elizabeth (Betty) Jeanette Lyhan, sister of his army buddy, Bert Hicks. He was able to resume his singing career in September 1945, appearing in concert with the NBC Symphony Orchestra in Atlantic City. In October, Mario replaced tenor, Jan Peerce on a live CBS broadcast, 'Great Moments in Music', which led to a further 10 appearances over the following 6 months. From here he studied under Enrico Rosati for 15 months before embarking on an 86 date concert tour of the US, Canada and Mexico.
Lanza Breaks into the Movies
Lanza's big break came while performing with Frances Yeend, a classical soprano, at the Hollywood bowl on 28th August 1947. Louis B. Mayer of MGM Studios was in the audience with Kathryn Grayson, who unbeknown to Lanza, was to be his leading lady in 2 of his films.
Following a screen test, Lanza was signed for a 7 year film deal requiring him to work for the studio for 6 months a year, allowing to him to pursue his singing career for the remainder of the year.
Lanza's first million selling record was his recording of 'Be My Love' in 1959, a success he repeated twice more. In 1951 he portrayed his childhood hero, Enrico Caruso (1873-1921), in 'The Great Caruso'. Lanza's performance was lauded by the impresario's son, Enrico Caruso Jr. in his book 'Enrico Caruso: My Father and My Family,' he wrote, 'I can think of no tenor before or since Mario Lanza, who could have risen with comparable success to the challenge of playing Caruso in a screen biography'.
In 1952 MGM released Lanza from his contract, just as he was due to star in 'The Student Prince' having already pre-recorded the sound track. The reason cited by the Studio was Lanza's fluctuating weight but the treu reasonit was a disagreement with Curtis Bernhardt, the film's director. Edmund Purdon took over the role and mimed to Lanza's voice.
Mario's health began to deteriorate. He was treated for acute phlebitis and high blood pressure, compounded by over eating, crash dieting and binge drinking.
In April 1958 Lanza suffered a mild heart attack. His recovery was set back by a bout of double pneumonia in August. And, in an attempt to control his ballooning weight he underwent a controversial weight loss programme, 'The Twilight Sleep Treatment', whereby patients were sedated and kept immobile for long periods.
Rumours Surrounding Lanza's Death
Mario Lanza died on 7th October 1959. Controversy and rumour surrounded him to the grave. Many thought his weight was the primary cause, literally he'd eaten himself to death, others, that he had been assassinated as a result of a contract put out by the mafia for refusing to perform for Lucky Luciano. The official cause of death was a pulmonary embolism.
Betty, Lanza'a widow, took their 4 children back to Hollywood where she died 5 months later, aged 37. Romantics said she died of a broken heart but the coroner recorded her cause of death as asphyxiation resulting from a respiratory ailment for which she was receiving treatment.
Sources:
- Grateful thanks to Jeff Rense
- The British Mario Lanza Society
Mario Lanza Movie Star
|
Mario Lanza
|
What do you think about this article?
Comments
More in History
Latest Articles