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Product Description
Product Description
Maria Callas called him the greatest tenor who ever lived. Vocally and technically, Mario Lanza was a genius. Like Callas, Lanza's was a phenomenal talent complimented by a more than monstrous ego. Suffering from what would today be diagnosed as bi-polar disorder, he lived virtually his whole life with his finger firmly pressed on the self-destruct button. Too undisciplined to remain in opera, Lanza found himself sucked into the Hollywood whirlpool, engulfed by the opulent lifestyle this offered: easy money, good living, and limitless food, sex and drugs, to which he became increasingly addicted. Lanza took his frustration out of others, frequently launching an uncontrollable temper on those around him and earning himself a reputation as one of the movie stars who were most disliked by their peers in the studio system years. Lanza's scatological pranks were as legendary as his drinking, womanising and gorging sprees, each one followed by crash diets and periods of dark depression and self-loathing which made him virtually impossible to control. Yet he produced arguably the finest tenor recordings of popular music and opera of the last century as well as some classic films, including The Great Caruso and Serenade. In Sublime Serenade, David Bret uncompromisingly but lovingly, and in his unique and celebrated style, tells the Lanza story, from his birth in a poor district of Philadelphia, to his death in Rome 38 years later and his involvement with the Mafia. A must for all music and movie fans alike. David Bret was born in Paris and is a leading celebrity biographer. His many acclaimed books include biographies of Edith Piaf, Doris Day, Clark Gable and Joan Crawford. He lives in Yorkshire.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
David Bret`s style is sensationalistic akin to the `News of the World` and `The Sun`. The book is full of inaccuracies, the most laughable being the claim that Edith Piaf telephoned Mario Lanza in February 1960 - 4 months after his death in October 1959!
Two further examples are the claim that Kathryn Grayson could not stand Mario Lanza and did not attend his funeral Los Angeles. In actual fact Kathryn Grayson was the Godmother of Lanza`s first daughter, Colleen,and she did attend the Los Angeles funeral accompanied by her daughter Patti Kate.
There are many more inaccuracies in the book - too many to list here. For an accurate and balanced biography I recommend
`Mario Lanza - An American Tragedy` by Armando Cesari.
Two further examples are the claim that Kathryn Grayson could not stand Mario Lanza and did not attend his funeral Los Angeles. In actual fact Kathryn Grayson was the Godmother of Lanza`s first daughter, Colleen,and she did attend the Los Angeles funeral accompanied by her daughter Patti Kate.
There are many more inaccuracies in the book - too many to list here. For an accurate and balanced biography I recommend
`Mario Lanza - An American Tragedy` by Armando Cesari.
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I've got all the existing bio on Mario Lanza but this one Mario Lanza: Sublime Serenade is the weakest and leat constructive one. Though it is very detailed but deals mainly with the scandalous part of ML and not with his positive artistic and human side. As a conseguence, it's seems rather harmful for the next the public than informative.
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Not a very good Book, very disappointed having recently read "Singing to the Gods". I am informed there is a better read with a book by Armani which
I might consider. This was not a good buy.
13th February:
My opinion of this dreadful book continues. I have been informed that the author's so called facts are a travesty
of the truth and a downright disgrace to the memory of the great Mario Lanza. I feel sick that by buying this book
I have contributed to Bret's income.
Before knowing anything about Bret I had been struggling with this book and now I know why.
I might consider. This was not a good buy.
13th February:
My opinion of this dreadful book continues. I have been informed that the author's so called facts are a travesty
of the truth and a downright disgrace to the memory of the great Mario Lanza. I feel sick that by buying this book
I have contributed to Bret's income.
Before knowing anything about Bret I had been struggling with this book and now I know why.
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