MARIO LANZA (1921 - 1959)
Tenor, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Discovered while working in the family’s grocery business, he auditioned for Serge Koussevitzky in 1942, and appeared that summer at Tanglewood.
His career was interrupted by service in World War 2, and afterwards he went on to Hollywood to appear in several musicals, including his most famous role in The Great Caruso (1951).