Thomas Booth

MONMOUTH, Ill. — Thomas Booth, an internationally acclaimed opera tenor and instructor in music at Monmouth College, will present a special performance of “Remembering Mario Lanza, His Life and His Music” on March 17 at 7:30 p.m. in the Wells Theater.

Tickets for the performance are $6 for adults and $2 for students and will only be sold at the door the night of the performance.

Booth, who sang tenor with the Metropolitan Opera for nine years, said the musical play is a “remarkable story” about the life of the legendary opera tenor, Mario Lanza. The “performance to remember” chronicles Lanza’s life from his early days through his Hollywood years, to his time in Italy through his death in 1959 at the age of 38. Lanza, considered by some to be the greatest natural voice of the 20th century, was the star of eight successful films, including the blockbuster “The Great Caruso” (1951).

He was a powerful influence on the popularity of opera today and was the early inspiration for each of the Three Tenors and for countless other successful classical singers performing today. According to Booth, the power of Mario Lanza – his personality, his voice, his tempestuous life and his very tragic early death – are all depicted in this passionate, exciting musical play.

Booth has chosen to perform, among others, selections from some of the classic operas, including Verdi’s “Aida” and “Rigoletto,” Puccini’s “Tosca,” Rogers’ “Carousel” and Leoncavallo’s “Pagliacci.” Other legendary Lanza classics on the program will be Malotte’s “The Lord’s Prayer,” Brodsky’s “Be My Love” and Schubert’s “Ave Maria.”

In addition to his acclaimed tenure with the Metropolitan Opera, Booth has toured the United States with the Mantovani Orchestra in a “Tribute to Mario Lanza,” and has performed extensively around the world in such leading roles as Canio in “Pagliacci,” Calaf in “Turandot,” Radames in “Aida,” Cavaradossi in “Tosca,” Don Jose in “Carmen,” and as Faust in “The Damnation of Faust.”

He has recorded for Decca/Argo, Albany UK and Erato Disques. He has also sung several world premiers, including George Lloyd’s “Vigil of Venus” at the Royal Festival Hall in London, and John Cage’s “Europera” in Frankfurt, Germany.

Released by the Office of College Communications
Barry McNamara, Associate Director of College Communications
Phone: 309-457-2117
Fax: 309-457-2330