Lanza CD News
From Sony BMG
 
 
As most of you know, the first Lanza release on BMG Sony's new HYBRID SACD format - a pairing of the much-praised MARIO! album with THE VAGABOND KING - will be available in February.
 
I had recommended that BMG couple the MARIO! album with LANZA SINGS CARUSO FAVORITES instead, but the SACD series is an extension of existing compilations so the original twofer remains the same. As a bonus, however, several Friml tracks missing from BMG's earlier "Living Stereo" CD have been added to the new disc: two solos from Judith Raskin - "Love for Sale" and "Huguette Waltz", the pleasant "Hunting" with orchestra and chorus, and one never-before-released snippet from Mario, a brief reprise of "Nocturne". I had mentioned this rare track to the producer, who also found an instrumental interlude to the piece. Performance-wise it's a minor addition to the Lanza catalogue, but it does complete his contribution to this particular Rome session. The Introduction with orchestra and chorus is the only track from the original album missing from the new CD.
 
Selections on the SACD MARIO! album remain the same and the revised track list for THE VAGABOND KING is as follows:
 
Drinking Song
Someday
Love Me Tonight
Only a Rose
Tomorrow
Love for Sale
Hunting
Nocturne
Instrumental Interlude & Nocturne (reprise)
Huguette Waltz
Song of the Vagabonds
Finale
 
The SACD remastering for these two albums was carried out last October. I have yet to hear the finished result but hopefully it will do full justice to the new format.
 
DEREK MANNERING