Mario Lanza - Roses of Picardy video free download
Mario Lanza's voice accompanied with photos and paintings appropriate to the song lyrics tell the story of a WW1 British soldier who falls in love with a French woman while on duty in Picardy, France.
The song lyrics were written by British officer Frederick E. Weatherley and the music by Haydn Wood in 1916.
"The song was invariably sung by British soldiers who had left behind a sweetheart when they enlisted (or were conscripted) for the Front in France and Flanders. However, the song was written by Weatherley after he had conceived an affection for a French widow while receiving protection at her home in France."
(Quote is from: http://www.firstworldwar.com/audio/rosesofpicardy.htm)
The photos of Mario Lanza are from his film The Great Caruso. This film and his other ones are available for purchase from Turner Classic Movies.
The photos and paintings are listed below in order of their appearance in the video.
1) Jules Scalbert (1851-1928) - The Crown of Roses
2) WWI Gunner Francis Edward Alban Eldridge of the Royal Field Artillery by sunnybrook100
3) Profile Portrait of a Young Lady, 1893 by Dana Studios, Brooklyn, NY by AtypicalArt
4) WWI Soldiers
5) WW I Battle of the Somme
6) map of Picardy from europa eu
7) Guy Rose (1867-1925) -- title unknown
8) Herbert Arnould Olivier (1861 - 1952) -- title inknown
9) bertrandcarriere.com lieux memes 2 (long road)
10) Albert Edelfelt (1854 - 1905)- Under the Birches, 1881
11) Charles Joshua Chaplin (1825 -- 1891) -- Venus with Putti
12) Charles Joshua Chaplin (1825 -- 1891) -- He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not
13) Robert Fowler (1853 -- 1926) -- Dreaming
14) George Elgar Hicks (1824 -- 1914) - A Summer Bouquet
15) Princess Matoika at St Nazaire, Loire Inferieure, France. Photo taken 20 December 1918. From the National Archives.
16) Emile Eisman-Semenowsky (1857-1911) - Beautiful Girl in Rose Hat, 1884
17) British soldier -- WW1 from www.flickr.com photos 14684508@N02 4457348865
18) British Soldiers March into Battle photo from rullom.pbworks.com w page 9178138 Archives
19) British soldiers advancing wearing gas masks
20) Trench-Coat-WWI-Soldier from artofmanliness.com 2010 10 20 man-guide-trench-coat trench-coat-wwi-soldier
21) George Elgar Hicks (1824 -- 1914) - Portrait of Mrs Rose B. Sykes
22) Annie L. Henniker - Sweet Hopes that come with Spring, 1898
23) Annie L. Henniker - Spring time, 1897
24) Pierre Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) -- In the Roses, (Madame Leon Clapisson)
25) Edward Killingworth Johnson ( 1825 - 1896 ) - Galena Sojanova
26) Jules Adolphe (1827-1906) - Looking Out To Sea Breton
27) Jean Raoux (1677--1734) - Young Woman Reading a Letter, 1730
Comments
8 years ago
Palmarola2012
Who else but Mario Lanza could sing this with such passion? He was the most versatile tenor of all time. He sang lyric opera magnificently as he did popular songs; perform on the stage and screen, radio and television. There has never been anyone like him before or after who also had an amazing influence on singers and performers everywhere. A new, bestselling book, “A KID FROM PHILADELPHIA, MARIO LANZA, THE VOICE OF THE POETS,” is a wonderful homage to one of the greatest entertainers of all time. It is a must for anyone who loves Lanza and great music and great voices·8 years ago
Kudala_Mangalooru
Greetings from India! Awesome voice & singing! Mario Lanza is terrific. I read somewhere that, had he lived longer, he would have been the fourth tenor, besides Pavarotti, Carreras & Domingo. I had to listen to Roses of Picardy after the was mentioned in the TV series M*A*S*H by the character of Col. Potter. :)9 years ago
flamingarrow167
Oh my ..this was my mum's favourite song. Mum passed away in 1969 but every time I hear this magnificent rendition by Mario I am immediately with her in spirit. Thanks for uploading it :).9 years ago
James Joseph Moore
Superb rendition of a very evocatively atmospheric and beautiful song.9 years ago
Rosemarie Martin
In a word, perfection. What a majestic voice. Such a sad sad song. beautiful9 years ago
TREVOR STROUD
Lost my Mom a few months ago and she loved this song and I do in my heartMy Mom lost her Mom at 8 and her Dad came back from Picardy but only just at the end of the last war9 years ago
Aodan Peacock
Not usually a Lanza fan but I must confess to believing this to be the best version on YouTube. Sung impeccably.9 years ago
Robert Hirsch
I listen to this over and over. And enjoy it every time, So luccky to get all these recordings. Thanks; Bob Hirsch9 years ago
wenches in trenches
Wonderful thank you9 years ago
John Anderson
How can anyone listen and not tear up?Heart wrenching!9 years ago
pounder937
My grandad always sang this after a few rums.....he fought in Picardy at the age of 179 years ago
pounder937
My grandad always sang this...he fought in Picardy at the age of 179 years ago
Boru1953
Yes, the voice is beautiful, but this is not Lanza at his best, nor is this the way it was written by the composer. Lanza's vocal line vacillates between operatic and a popular vocal inflection of his own time period, which makes for a sloppy presentation of this song. If you want to hear a clean, pure and true to the composer's wishes presentation, then listen to the 1919 recording of John McCormack. In this recording you will find that McCormack's voice is exactly what the song (and composer) requires - pure lyricism, a pure vocal line, no sloppy diction or vocal inflection, and a true period nostalgia worthy of the composer's intent.My critique is not to downplay the beauty of Lanza's voice, for it was truly a marvelous instrument, but to give the reader more information with which to critically listen to this recording and compare it to one which is truly what the song's composer intended for his audience to hear. In short, Lanza's voice is gorgeous, but he did not treat it with the respect it deserved, and too much of his recordings display this disregard for the instrument God gave him. Unfortunately, this is one of them.9 years ago
Betty Mason
I have never viewed such a perfect video before on You Tube, and so right for this the 100th anniversary of the start of the WW1.9 years ago
Isaac P. Pearson
Sublime. 9 years ago
David F
the greatest singer in history.10 years ago
RiverboatJoe
i'm so glad he sang this!10 years ago
Gigi Insulana
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful! Thank you very much. A magnífica voz de MARIO emoldurada por belas paisagens é uma grande alegria para mim. Gigi. 10 years ago
Gigi Insulana
Mais um grande presente: a magnífica voz do maior tenor do mundo emoldurada por belíssimas imagens. Obrigada outra vez e um grande abraço. Gigi.10 years ago
