h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Anyone any views on Mario Lanza?

My dad took me to the pictures as a nipper to see him in 'The Great Caruso'. For years, I thought it was Lanza singing in the film. Then found out the voice was Caruso himself, and Lanza miming, even though he could have done the singing himself!!!!



GT

I like Lanza. I probably shouldn't admit this, but I like 'The Student Prince'.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbLl2C3ChYY

(Germans get annoyed at lyrics like 'Eins, zwei, drei, vier, tip your stein and drink your beer', but hey...)

My junior high school music teacher had a treasured artefact that he showed us: a single note on a staff of music, written in Sigmund Romberg's own hand.

It seems that my music teacher, a member of the US Army Engineers, was lying in a field hospital in Cornwall, wounded, when his hero, Sigmund Romberg, came by on a visit. My music teacher eagerly showed him the piece of patriotic music he was composing to while away the time.

Romberg did the most generous thing he could have done. He *changed one note*. That made it a collaboration. Years later, we performed his song in school. The original score, of course, was a lifelong keepsake for its composer.

I *love* Sigmund Romberg's music, despite the anecdote about his telling Oscar Hammerstein to write whatever lyrics he wanted (as if lyrics didn't matter much) for a Broadway show they were collaborating on. It might have been "Desert Song," but it could as easily have been "New Moon" (from which the song "Stouthearted Men" comes).