The Ultimate "Vesti la Giubba" Duel - Lanza vs Lanza

[@bonanzajoe]

Mario Lanza has been my absolute favourite tenor since 1954 - I'm 80 now. I think his rendition in the clown suit was the best.

[@Labia.53]

Es tambien mi tenor favorito. El que mas me llenó siempre.

[@claudiohoubron3253]

💯per cent ♥️

[@claudiohoubron3253]

You can feel the raw emotion and sentiment in his delivery! Sublime. No one comes close!

[@louisvaccaro5865]

Mario Lanza sang with feeling and emotion! make you actually feel the aria he was singing! without a doubt the greatest tenor there ever was, in my opinion! but do not cut luciano pavrotti short! two different tenors! in modern days, pavrotti had an elustrious 40 year career!!! when you heard him singing, you knew right away who it was!! pavrotti, domingo, & carreras, said, they use to watch mario lanzas movies, the great caruso, and others, and he truly inspired them to sing!! they were all very special! they had god given talents that they gave us. all the best Louie Vaccaro tenor, las vegas, member mario lanza institute, phil, and the new york society of mario lanza, for more then 30 years. @@claudiohoubron3253

[@alanle1471]

I think his first rendition was even better than the last one !

[@ferrantepallas]

What a glorious instrument ... overwhelming ... thank you for this Vince

[@emmalambusta1008]

Just came upon this for the first time, and I am in tears 💕 Vincent, you have such a gift of bringing Mario back to life by your presentation … They were both amazing performances … He sang with so much passion that you can feel the pain of believing that he was totally immersed in what he was singing … He became Canio 💔 Thank you again for your dedication of keeping the memory of Mario alive … Emma Fasano Lambusta

[@RiverGlorious]

I can’t decide. No, yes, I can. The first, his voice so pure. The second, because his voice is wonderful and his acting in that scene moved me. I think his is the best voice in opera.

[@ursmue1937]

The very great Lanza, with the beautiful voice, phenomenal interpretation. MARIO LANZA, Worldwide present 2023.

[@moviemaker60fps]

I prefer the depth and timbre of his voice in the performance in 1959. I also feel in his maturity he has the life experience to feel the emotions of the piece more deeply. Both are great but 1959 has the edge in my opinion.

[@SimonTBam]

Both are magnificent interpretations. However I agree with you Vince that the second is more in line with the tragic pathos of the role. The playing of both simultaneously is a stroke of genius Vince, it clearly demonstrates that although the voice had matured that there was no deterioration whatsoever.

[@PattiJoDonzelli]

Absolutely both were outstanding. Mario Lanza put his whole heart into whatever he sang. It touches your soul. What a gift from God.

[@ciroadolfo01]

Siempre existirán grandes Tenores de calidad, pero la voz no es suficiente, el saber compenetrarse con el tema y vivirlo, sentirlo como una realidad lo convierten en un GRAN ESPECTACULO, que es muy difícil conseguirlo. Por ello, verlo a DON MARIO LANZO siempre a de ser ALGO CELESTIAL. Son gentes tocadas por EL ALTISIMO.

[@ЛуизаНовикова-е1ь]

Лучшего тенора нет не было и не будет, а жаль. Не только голос но и драматизм его игры

[@shattered_soul]

Марио Дель Монако был

[@esausjudeannephew6317]

I'm 59 yrs old. I've known that song my whole life, but I didn't know what it means.. I never understood why people cried at the Opera, and now I can't stop crying because of this song

[@bethsheeba1198]

The second. It has so much passion and the heartbreak is felt so strongly.

[@MissStefanieFR]

Vince, by no means can I give preference to one or the other. Both are equally superb! Maybe Mario sounds a little more dramatic/heroic in the later version. Of course his being dressed as a clown adds to the expressive power of the aria and underlines the heartbreaking he suffers. But then again, did Mario ever look more terrific than in "The Great Caruso," especially in this scene, when wearing a tuxedo?!!!! I just was reminded of what Hans Söhnker, his film partner in "For the First Time," commented in the Berlin interview in 1958: „Es war eine meiner größten Impressionen, als ich wie ein Mäuschen in Rom mitten im Zuschauerraum saß und hörte ihn und sah ihn das erste Mal in meinem Leben- und ich habe schon viele Bajazzos gesehen - in dem Monolog - das war für mich das größte Erlebnis, das war die schönste Stimme, die ich je gehört habe, und auch darstellerisch war ich ergriffen. Ich habe den ganzen Vormittag eigentlich gebraucht, um mich wieder zu beruhigen.“ „It was one of my greatest impressions, when I was sitting in the audience in Rome, like a little mouse, hearing and seeing him for the very first time in my life in the monologue - and I had already seen many Pagliacci. This, to me, was the biggest experience and the most beautiful voice I’ve ever heard, and I also was carried away by his acting. It took me a whole morning to calm myself.“

[@ВалентинаПаршина-ф5д]

LANZA VS LANZA: 🤗 VS 🤗 👋👋👋👋👋👋👋👋👋👋👋👋👋👋👋 Марио 1951 года не уступает опыту Марио 1959 года♥️♥️♥️

[@Remnants100]

My dear Mother would cry every time he performed this particular piece. He was truly magnificent.

[@ВалентинаПаршина-ф5д]

Аплодирую и преклоняюсь перед Гением Марио Ланца 💯 🕯️🙏🙏🙏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@silvanacolombo2989]

Grandissimo tenore 👏👏👏👏👏🌷

[@operadog2000]

I prefer the 1959 rendition. His voice had far more resonance plus a rounder and deeper sound. But, either one is fantastic.

[@peterwilson5336]

Both are astounding, especially the first when you accept that he was still in his 20’s, also there is nearly a decade between both performances and the recording industries technological advancements throughout the start of the 50s to 1960 were absolutely astounding ( living stereo / RCA etc) so we would expect the later recording to sound much fuller and more real than the rather flat sound of the earlier recording. Let’s remember they were still releasing a lot of recordings on 78 in 1951 ! Both are super super but if you listen with today’s ears then it will be the second. With all that he went through I would say the second comes more from the heart. The laugh is also ever so slightly better in the second.

[@GenericGooner]

There is something about being in the pagliacci makeup that adds an emotional weight to that amazing ending to the song. He sells the pain in the second version.

[@armandocesari6612]

Both are outstanding! Given that in the first one Lanza was only 29, his singing and interpretation of Canio’s anguish are remarkable, while the voice is at its Lirico -Spinto best. Eight years later the sound is distinctively more Spinto but the performance is equally heartbreaking. Which do I prefer? Actually, I love them both! And, once again, great work, Vince!

[@sarahsmith3800]

Mario without a song

[@christineokosun]

This comment 👋🏽👋🏽👋🏽👋🏽👋🏽says it all. The only addition I have is I wished he lived longer and did so much more.

[@lindanorris2455]

IT'S LIKE HE'S BEING STABBED IN THE HEART IN FRONT OF HIS AUDIENCE, SO PAINFUL AND MOVING.

[@ИринаУшал]

Оба исполнения замечательные. Вообще у Марио Ланца я не знаю несовершенно исполненных арий или песен. Но... Если первая ария тесно связана с сюжетом фильма - "Великий Карузо", вторая, хотя тоже переплетена с ним (в советском прокате она шла под названием "Певец с Капри", иногда "Come prima" - "Как прежде"), все-таки ария звучит трагичнее. Это исполнение совершенно потрясало, сколько его не смотрел, не слушал. Известно, что певец мечтал поставить сам эту оперу-фильм. Была даже записана фонограмма? Но, к великому сожалению, не успел. Ранняя смерть, в 38 лет, не позволила появиться, я, думаю, великому шедевру. Вечная память любимому, потрясающему певцу и человеку!!! ❤️❤️❤️🌹👋👋👋

[@ricardobedini5345]

Realmente es un SPINTO/DRAMATICO. Para evaluar esto hay que escuchar mas de 100 grabaciones de Mario !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@ЕленаДергачёва-м2у]

Здесь Ланца может проиграть,только самому себе! Какой с смех трагический, какое "р" ивообще, как актер-певец, он непревзойденный,а эта ария Канио бесподобная,никто так не спел, а какая сила в голосе и красота!!! ♥️ Супер!!! ♥️ ♥️ ♥️

[@IvanKostyakhin]

20 лет в опере. И никто так как Ланца не заставил задуматься над Калафом... Может и субъективно, но - величайший тенор 20 века.

[@colinbell-NI]

Thank you Vincent that was fantastico! Thanks for all the effort you clearly put into making that. Mario has me totally ruined, especially when Classic FM play this aria, but is sung by the latest modern tenor ( or really heart throb....).

[@ciroadolfo01]

Sin lugar a dudas la primera versión. Qué difícil cantarla y vive el personaje con todo sentimiento y emoción. UN GIGANTE DE LA OPERA.

[@valentinobergamofilho6443]

The greatest singer of all time!

[@julienaylor1236]

I love this man so much he as the most beautiful voices in the world

[@IvanKostyakhin]

Конечно "театральный". Внутренний темпоритм, тембры, энергия слова - всё ярче и объемнее. Этим он и велик - не любуется собой ни секунды, выкладывается до конца, при этом тончайшим образом чувствуя разницу между исполнением ариозо в концерте и проживанием куска жизни героя на театральной сцене.

[@shortribslongbow5312]

A wonderful way to end my day what a performance.

[@Annamaria-iq1wy]

Ho ascoltato attentamente le due versioni, due voci bellissime ma diverse! Quella del Grande Caruso, giovane e brillante ma quella dell'ultimo film è magnifica, la voce di un uomo pieno di rabbia e malinconia assieme, una voce matura e potentissima come era Mario in quel momento.Il mondo della lirica ha perso un grande e sensibile interprete ma è solo grazie a quei film che noi lo possiamo rivedere e riascoltare come se fosse ancora presente.

[@ricardobedini5345]

Annamaria: Cuando el hijo mayor de Enrico Caruso cuando escucho la voz de Mario Lanza, dijo ""Es mas potente que la voz de mi para Enrico !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@ppatterson4238]

I think his rendering of the first was Lanza's mimicking of Caruso. There's a lot of similarities. I prefer the second rendition and believe that it was more from his own idea of how the aria should be sung.

[@nestorsalicioni7025]

Sublime Mario Lanza. Ambas versiones excelentes, pero si, la ultima interpretación con su vos mas madura suena mas adecuada a este dramático aria. Gracias Vincent Di Placido por la edición.

[@poplar1376]

Both are magnificent and breathtaking, bravo

[@aglistningvale131]

Bellissimo. Moves me to tears, to think that so many times during the last few years of his life, Mario himself must have had to smile and laugh, when he was heartbroken over all the loss and betrayal.

[@josephinenewbrook3412]

i am 79 and have been listening to lanza since i was a child in the 1940s thanks to my parents playing his recordings. i still love his performences but i think the second one is slightly better and the makeup and costume help the visual effect (peter newbrook not josephine).

[@brendakirk3397]

Both perfect ,amazing performances

[@Michaelbos]

Love them both. To see him in a tux and then to see him in costume. I wish this man would have taken care of himself and his health issues. The Lord only knows how many more years he would have lived.

[@williamcallister3276]

He was magnificent

[@louisemahoney2716]

My mother would play her 78 RPM recordings of Mario Lanza, and tell me that he was the best since the Great Caruso. Even as a youngster who really enjoyed my older sister playing her 45's of Chubby Checker's "Let's Twist Again", I couldn't help but realize that those scratchy 78's put the hip swinging Twist to shame. As to the implied question; His 1951 concert presentation is great, and stands without apology as a great rendition. The 1959 performance has two big plus's, however - the context of costume and setting, and more feeling and maturity. I have had the great fortune to hear both Luciano Pavarotti and Plácido Domingo at the New York Metropolitan Opera. I will tell you though that my best night at the opera was after my mother came to accept her diagnosis of terminal cancer and agreed to move back from her retirement home in Florida and move in with me. I took her to the Met for her first live opera performance. The look of joy on her face warms me to this day.

[@ursmue1937]

Pavarotti und Domingo, kann man nicht vergleichen, aus dem Grund, weil Pavarotti ein lyrischer Tenor war und das ist Domingo, wohl eher nicht !

[@charltondown1]

You are so lucky to be able to afford all this. Wish I could now 90 years of age. I adore Mario Lanza and Tom Ball. 😂 xx. I wish you well. After 3 weeks in hospital.

[@levkozakov362]

Vincent Di Placido, many thanks for this amazing gift to all! It's hard to compare the records because of the different audio recording techniques in 1951 and 1959. Mario is truly fantastic in both.

[@suebruce493]

His voice and personality combined, then edited to combine a stage performance with a film performance, this is a top notch video. Lanza/Pinza has a permanent place in my heart. ❤️ Thank you for sharing this with us.

[@wrongfullyaccused7139]

Greatest tenor that ever lived

[@Americaone1]

Not only a powerhouse voice like Caruso's but his emotions come across like his acting Magnificent 👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@subliminalart.1637]

Yes I agree, the second performance could only out perform the greatest tenor of all time. MARIO.🙏🇬🇧

[@markharris4539]

1951, more rounded & powerful but, both superb!!

[@victorr5926]

Bellísimo,grandioso: Lanza vs Lanza,gracias por subirlo.

[@ВалентинаПаршина-ф5д]

... Мастерство певца потрясает!!! Между эпизодами фильмов, почти 8 лет: слово в слово, нота в ноту👋👋👋👋👋👋👋👋👋👋👋👋♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️🌹🌹🌹

[@Brian-nf6bt]

8 years between recordings and the voice is still the same,a truely fine tenor,and he died soon after and so there are thankfully no recordings when maybe his voice would have been going ,Mario Lanza deserves to be one of the top tenors of the 20th centuary.

[@bacassa]

i have all movies Lanza is in, TYVM for this!!! Spread the word!!!

[@BonMooney]

How is it possible to choose? Both are wonderful, outstanding, breathtaking, devastating

[@КаринаМаргунова-п8б]

Лучшего исполнения нет! Браво Марио Ланца, брависсимо дорогой Марио Ланца

[@КаринаМаргунова-п8б]

Мой любимый😍💕 человек и Великой певец и артист

[@adalyubarksy9985]

I was very lucky to see this movie . Mario Lanza was superb . Beautiful voice , excellent dramatic actor . Millie Grazie .

[@lesleywilbourne7823]

Both versions are amazing. There is more raw passion in the earlier version though the weight of the later voice gives a better performance of Canio. So I was leaning to the later version being the best until the final two notes! I don’t know why he ended it on the same Note without the glissando down. That’s the only thing in the later version which spoils it for me. Having said that it is amazing to be able to compare the early Lanza alongside his more mature voice and see exactly how far his voice had matured! How sad, since the tenor voice continues to improve with age for quite some time, that we never got to hear Mario fully matured! His voice was and still is the most amazing tenor sound ever. Heaven only knows how much more he had to give 💔💔💔💔💔

[@jean-pierrealberto7130]

Bravo maestro Lanza

[@rouman7]

Both superb , by the master..,

[@irinakuzmishina6099]

Goosebumps every time at listening both versions... Something outlandish!

[@ursmue1937]

Irina Kuzmishina - Hi, dear Irina, i wrote to you, did you get my message ? Please contact me. you’re friend Ursula

[@oronzopatrono2761]

Insuperabili interpretazioni come sempre tutte le altre , inimitabile, sempre fa vibrare l'anima di grande emozione , le sue note echeggeranno per sempre nel nostro cuore , grazie di ciò che hai saputo regalarci ,un saluto e un abbraccio !

[@michaelburden5895]

No one can touch his beautiful strong voice, the best others can only try to better.

[@MegaMariolanza]

Better technical Equipment in 1958 ! Lanza = Worlds best ! Pavarotti used top modern now-a days equipment. No body beats Mario Lanza no matter technical studios and modern super-sound !

[@51Linz]

What a treat, Vince! Thank you! I have a chapter in my book The One Tenor entitled Which Vesti Is Besti, drawing on the multiple recordings Mario made of the aria. I come down in favour of the alternate take he made for The Great Caruso as opposed to the one actually used which you have reproduced here. The latter is fantastic regardless, as is the later For The First Time performance. Hearing them back to back, along with your imaginative use of the visuals, is pure ecstasy. Best moment: when you play them both simultaneously!! May we have the whole duet please?! :-)

[@racr09]

Magnífico

[@ctenos45069]

This aria, perhaps more than any other, is one that allows the study of Mario’s vocal growth over a period of 20 years. He was recorded singing this from the early age of 19 till one in his last movie. My favorite has always been the one from Caruso ( mostly because he doesn’t take a breath in the last part before the word “infranto”), but the latter one is fabulous as well.

[@DiPlacido71]

Yes! Clay, I have to say that since working on this wee video, that one breath phrasing in the Great Caruso performance has made me sway a bit more towards it than I had previously.

[@moviemaker60fps]

@@DiPlacido71 Technically, the performance in Caruso was superior, However, I prefer the sound of the deep timbre in his voice in the 1959 version. Also, I liked the emotional expression of his performance in 1959 more than in Caruso.

[@FresiaStudios]

I agree with most that if I had to choose, I would pick the latter....the "spinto" - or is it the "sob" - is so moving. Yet, on the other hand, the freshness and youthful electricity in the former is pure Mario seduction. So perhaps we can think of these as the seasons of Mario, first Primavera, the latter, Autunno

[@ballaratboy1]

Great job! Both are excellent of course, but like yourself, I prefer the later version. Having said that, I also very much like the thrilling performance he gave on the radio back in 1948 on the Charlie McCarthy Show!

[@julienaylor1236]

brilliant voice

[@carmenbbb6666]

A mi me gusta más la primera porque su voz me resulta más cálida y melodiosa y en la segunda me lo parece menos. De cualquier manera, un tenor irrepetible y mi favorito junto con Jussi Bjorling. Para mí los unicos que no se ahogaban cantasen lo que cantasen y con unas voces preciosas.

[@seadrifter8975]

Two versions are magnificent but the 59 one is best? His voice is darker

[@fernandoentrialgo2666]

If I think in the text of the song, I' d choose the second because it sounds darker, more full of sadness, more full of pain. And the first one sounds more lyrical, sweeter. In any case I adore any version of Mario, always full of passion and feeling.

[@kayebroadbent1669]

Thank you!!!! I love Mario voice. Both of versions are beautiful

[@DiPlacido71]

The are Kaye, both are beautiful, as I said it’s perfectly ok to love both.

[@samsireci9898]

# 2 seems a little more dramatic and powerful but I like always like 2 cups of coffee at breakfast time. Such a wonderful tenor who died too soon. 😥

[@ЕленаДергачёва-м2у]

Если восхищалась соаременниками, здесь.просто плачу!!! ♥️

[@ulrikewermann1268]

Beide sind technisch und vom Ausdruck her von hoher Qualität, in der Aufnahme von 1959 ist die Stimme natürlich reifer, erfahrener, aber vor allem kommt in dieser 2. Aufnahme seine eigene Lebenserfahrung und persönliche Tragödie mehr zum Tragen. Mario Lanza IST HIER Pagliacco, und er weiß es! So zu singen heißt sein Innerstes nach außen kehren, ein Schrei aus dem tiefsten Abgrund der Existenz.

[@ricardorussell6046]

In this world 🌍 there have never been a Greater Voice, not Pavarotti not Anyone,no disrespect to anyone else.🎆

[@gjjordaan6799]

Agree, essays can be written. Both are magnificent, however the latter offers that splendour of a fully burnished voice - unbeatable quality. Thanks for sharing.

[@josefinaguerrero9203]

En mis 72 años sigo emosionandome como cuando mi padre me llevaba al cine, que recuerdos, lindo viajar en el tiempo

[@jacintohernandez9781]

May we always remember Mario Lanza has a great singer a man was Charisma and excellent excellent voice soft and mellow soft and mellow the voice does not tiring to hear or frustrating to hear and as I was going to say it again God blessed Mario Lanza God have him in his memory Viva Mario Lanza

[@robertgrainger3068]

This is amazing, thank you so much!👍👏

[@robertsmale3714]

I love both but the 1959 version is a fuller deeper sound of a lyric-spinto tenor, a voice I prefer. In the 1951 version, his voice is more lyrical in sound. I think their’s more passion and emotion in the later aria as well.

[@robertsmale3714]

Correction- I think there’s more passion . . .

[@esausjudeannephew6317]

So beautiful ❤️!

[@mikjon67]

I don't know about you but I say Mario Lanza wins.... 😁

[@williammattos9158]

Me gusta oir Mario Lanza!!!

[@victorr5926]

Gracias Vincent di Placido,desde Trujillo,PERÚ.

[@ankaretharmer3362]

He's the only male operatic singer I like. Once you've heard Mario Lanza, the other singers pale into insignificance.

[@NoirHammer]

I like parts from both so I'm going to go with a Lanza hybrid here. 😁

[@yvonnedee9243]

Just utterly fantastic !!!!!!!!

[@music0326]

'Mario Lanza: The American Caruso' is a Lanza biography I watched years ago. The 1959 Pagliacci was in it, and this song, it's so poignant you really cry when you see both.. He had a lot of haters, not just admirers. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZomoXqeuesysbLc

[@Shinken69]

Beautiful, just beautiful. Both performances and your video. The later one slightly edges it, but I always find that an actual Opera performance brings out that extra something that a concert performance does not. Theatrical license perhaps.

[@peterchristopher3527]

It is not fair to compare ,because one was recorded in stereo ,which separated the orchestra from singer,and puts him more up front,the other being mono dulls the resonates of the voice . Both incredible in different time periods . Peter Christopher

[@carolethomas9198]

Yes. Definitely the Clown! His whole heart was in it!

[@timtim9398]

Великий на все времена.

[@danwii4820]

Marlo greqteste ver We Billlistowel

[@grandadgardener]

As far as I'm concerned the man could do no wrong...for me the make up made the performance.Genius

[@garyphillips933]

The 1959 had a more mature and velvet voice although both were beautiful

[@MIKENY51]

This guy was unmatchable...

[@lindaoneill1001]

I love both of them. I couldn't make a choice. I love the words being under them. He certainly feels what he's singing because I feel it. So sad but wonderful.

[@rosannarisi622]

Forse non comprendo le sfumature interpretative delle due esecuzioni ma sentimentalmente preferisco la prima versione che mi ha catapultato bambina nel mondo della lirica! Comunque grazie!

[@liamodriscoll3739]

THE LATE GREAT GOD GIFTED MARIO LANZA FOR ME THE GREATEST SINGER EVER LIVED BAR NONE MARIO DIED VERY YOUNG JUST 38 YEARS OF AGE MARIO JANUARY 31ST 1921 TO OCTOBER 7TH 1959 R I P AMEN ❤

[@MK-ni8gs]

1959. God Level!

[@SebastiánBarbot]

Clown version is most emotional.

[@QuincyDisneyVegan]

Both are amazing, but my preference is with the latter. While in the first clip Lanza expressed his emotions in his eyes and voice, when he re performed the song in the latter film it became a full bodied more theatrical performance of him so that with the added use of makeup theatrics even the audience in the theatre balcony could feel him.

[@ggforeigner]

Both performances are exceptional, but the later, in the style of the pagliacco, has always made me cry. As it always did Mama. Lanza was her favourite, I grew up listening and watching her reactions. Thank you for these vidéos. Sincerely, Catari.