Who Killed Mario Lanza? October 12, 2011

Who killed Mario Lanza? playing at Riverside Theatres from Wednesday, 12 October to Saturday, 15 October, is a musical investigation of the Hollywood glamour, the personal tragedies and mysterious circumstances that brought to an end the life of the greatest voice in movies during the golden age of the 40’s and 50’s.

Over half a century later, the question remains
Who Killed Mario Lanza?

Was it the result of his extravagant lifestyle? Was it the brutal demands of Hollywood?
Was it a medical blunder or something more sinister at the hands of the mafia?

Aldo Di Toro plays the great tenor and Tiffany Speight plays the women in his life; wife Bette Lanza, screen godesses Kathryn Grayson, Ann Blyth and Doretta Morrow, Maria Cocozza his indulgent mother and the soprano Frances Yeend. Guy Noble plays Costa, Lanza’s close friend and accompanist as he conducts the examination into the tumultuous life and puzzling circumstances leading up to Lanza’s tragic death in an Italian clinic at the age of 38.

Together Aldo Di Toro and Tiffany Speight sing the movie hits that made Lanza the first film musical super star: Be My Love, They Didn’t Believe Me, The Loveliest Night of The Year, Because You’re Mine, I’ll Walk With God, O Sole Mio and Arrivederci Roma, all have become much loved standards. Added to this popular songbook are great arias from operas such as Verdi’s La taviata, Puccini’s Madam Butterfly and La bohème; Donizetti’s Paliagacci, the ever popular Donkey Serenade and many more.

When Mario Lanza performed these songs live the concert stage was mobbed by thousands of screaming fans, his sound track album of The Student Prince was a million seller and his film portrayal of the great Enrico Caruso became immortal. Yet as loved as he was by the public he was banned by MGM Pictures and fell foul of the American Mafioso Lucky Luciano. His life became a nightmare of concert tours to pay off debt, crash dieting to preserve his matinee idol looks for the screen and battles with the studio. At the time of his premature death he was the most famous tenor in the world.

“We are so proud to present this outstanding cast at Riverside, it is a privilege to have artists of this calibre collaborating with Riverside on the creation of a new work,” said Riverside Theatres Producer, Camilla Rountree.

Aldo Di Toro takes time away from his principal role with Opera Australia to bring his personal hero Mario Lanza to the stage. A long held ambition, it is now brought to fruition by his friend and director John Wregg. Recently Aldo mesmerised Sydney opera audiences with his starring roles as Gerald in Lakme, the title role in Werther, Tebaldo in I Capuleti e i Montecchi, Elvino in La sonnambula, Alfredo in La traviata and Rodolfo for the 2008 season of La bohème. His performances as Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor and Rudolfo in La bohème for Opera Holland Park in London were hailed by the English press:

...the astonishing Aldo Di Toro ... pulled out top notes magically, like silk notes from a conjuror’s sleeve.
The Evening Standard

...Aldo Di Toro’s superb Rodolfo stole the show with some glorious singing...
Opera Now

Now living in Italy, West Australian born Di Toro enjoys an international career performing with opera companies in London, Italy and Germany with concert appearances in Italy, Germany, Japan, Turkey, South Africa and India and Australia.

Tiffany Speight is one of Australia’s most exciting sopranos. Her roles with Opera Australia include Phyllis in LIolanthe, Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro, Johanna in Sweeney Todd, Giannetta in The Gondoliers, Tebaldo in Don Carlo, Ellen in Lakme, Papagena and Pamina in The Magic Flute, Micaëla and Frasquita in Carmen, Valencienne in The Merry Widow for which she received a Green Room award, Yum Yum in The Mikado, Josephine in HMS Pinafore and Gretel in Hansel and Gretel. Her charm, acting ability and sublime voice have won accolades from audiences and press throughout Australia.

Tiffany Speight, is at the stage of career where her voice is blossoming ….[it] carries the sweetness and tangy upper register of the young Yvonne Kenny.
The Sunday Age

Guy Noble is one of Australia’s best known and most versatile conductors, working with all of Australia’s major orchestras. Noble was Associate Musical Director on Hello Dolly! and Musical Director of Sunset Boulevard, starring Hugh Jackman, Man of La Mancha, South Pacific, Titanic, Phantom of the Opera Australasian tour 2006-2009. He has hosted and conducted many major outdoor performance including Sydney Symphony in the Domain, Tasmanian Symphony Under the Stars and West Australian Symphony In The City. While he is at the keyboard for Who Killed Mario Lanza he is also playing the role of Costa, in a rare return to acting.

This superb cast is supported on stage by Strelitzia consisting of Eleanor Betts (Cello) Victoria Jacono-Gilmovich (Violin) and Lindsay Gilroy (Piano). They have impressed and captivated audiences all over NSW and at the Toronto Summer Music Festival in Canada and were highly praised for their skillful, passionate and musically exciting performances.Director John Wregg is one of Australia’s most experienced opera directors. Previous productions at Riverside with his company Simply Opera include Madama Butterfly and Carmen. He has enjoyed a long career with Opera Australia and internationally with past productions including the revival of Lucia di Lammermoor for Opera Australia, Un Ballo in Maschera and Lucia di Lammermoor for Opera Queensland, Un Ballo in Maschera for State Opera of South Australia, and directed the Andrew Schultz cantata Journey to Horseshoe Bend for Sydney Symphony. He has written for film, television and stage including a film script about composer Peggy Glanville-Hicks.

Cast
Aldo Di Toro I Mario Lanza
Tiffany Speight I Bette Lanza, Maria Cocozza, Ann Blyth, Kathryn Grayson, Doretta Morrow Frances Yeend
Guy Noble I Constantine Callinicos (Costa)
Strelitzia I Eleanor Betts (Cello), Victoria Jacono-Gilmovich (Violin) and Lindsay Gilroy

Creative
Director I John Wregg
Musical Director I Guy Noble
Set and Costume Designer I Allan Lees
Lighting and projection Designer I Nicholas Higgins
Sound Designer I Jeremy Silver

Who Killed Mario Lanza?
Riverside Theatres, Cnr Church and Market Sts, Parramatta
DATE: from Wednesday October 12 to Saturday October 15
TIME: Wed 12 at 7:30pm, Thurs 13 at 6:30pm, Fri 14 at 7:30pm, Sat 15 at 2:15pm & 7:30pm
TICKETS: Adult $55, Conc $50, 30 & Under $43
BOOKINGS: Riverside Box Office 02 8839 3399 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              02 8839 3399      end_of_the_skype_highlighting or www.riversideparramatta.com.au
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