31 January 2006

My thanks to Pam Latham of the British Mario Lanza Society for sharing these wonderful photographs taken at the re-dedication of two trees planted in Mario Lanza's name at London's Royal Albert Hall on what would have been Mario's 85th birthday.

The occasion was co-hosted by the RAH Committee and the British Mario Lanza Society, and among those who spoke at the ceremony were a radiant Ellisa Lanza Bregman, the ageless Bill Earl (he claims to be 90 but I don't believe him!), Louise Graham, who first put forward the idea for the trees ten years ago, and Mark Kidel, producer of the marvelous new documentary "Mario Lanza: Singing to the Gods". Work commitments kept me in Chicago but my son Jonathan, who is studying in the U.K., was kind enough to attend in my place.

By all accounts it was a marvelous day and great credit is due to Louise, Pam & the Committee of the BMLS, representatives of the Royal Albert Hall, and all who helped make this extraordinary tribute to Mario Lanza a reality.

Derek Mannering
Chicago
8 February 2006