CD REVIEW -
O HOLY NIGHT
CHRISTMAS WITH
MARIO LANZA
SEPIA 1396 [73:01]

Richard Tay, the head serang of Sepia Records, must be an admirer of the American tenor as his label already has over a dozen of Lanza's albums listed. Here is the second release of the year, following the review of his 'Night and Day' in January. While he may not have always been fully appreciated during his all too-short life, as this century has progressed so has recognition of his voice being among the very best ... with many not even saying among.

This album is obviously a very early aim at the Christmas market, although in addition to the 14 well-loved festive tracks there is other religious and devotional material: the Harpo Marx-Gerda Beilenson's Guardian Angels, Brodszky's I’ll Walk With God, Malotte's The Lord's Prayer, Schubert's Ave Maria and the Gene de Paul-Johnny Mercer's Love In A Home; as well as half-a-dozen bonus tracks from Lanza's original 'Songs Of Love And Devotion' album including Grieg's I Love Thee and Come Prima (For The First Time).

Six of the festive tracks – O Little Town Of Bethlehem, Adeste Fideles/O Come All Ye Faithfull, Away In A Manger, The First Noel, We Three Kings and Silent Night ("stunning in DES") – come from Lanza's 10-inch LP, which was No.1 in both Billboard's pop and classical album charts in December 1951.

All the original mono tracks, with the exception of four newly remixed, have been remastered by Stephen Cutler, who also converted them into Digitally Extracted Stereo (DES), and Robin Cherry.

The quote in two paragraphs above comes from Derek McGovern, an English literature professor, who has provided seven pages of absorbing booklet notes, well-written of course!

All in all, a recommended release for yourself or as an appropriate gift for a loved one on Christmas Day. Available direct on the Sepia website for £8.99 post free.

© Peter Burt, August 2025