Luis Mariano: « Le Rossignol » in the golden voice

He was originally from Irun in the Basque country. Arcangues, located in the countryside at the gates of Biarritz, Bayonne and Saint-Jean-de-Luz was his haven of peace. Mariano Eusebio Gonzalez y Garcia, better known as Luis Mariano, was the very archetype of the operetta singer, when he was predestined to become an architect or decorator. Thanks to Jeanine Micheau who allowed her to meet Miguel Fontecha, the great Basque tenor. It was he who taught him the technique of « Bel Canto ». Small shows in small appearances in « The endless staircase » in which he interprets « Alone with you », a song with text written by Loulou Gasté, the husband of Line Renaud, here he is launched. Success smiles at his exceptional voice. He triumphs everywhere. On stage as in cinema, he becomes « the prince of the operetta ». The Marianist legend was born. The composer Francis Lopez will not be mistaken in making him his headliner and his faithful accomplice in numerous operettas (“La Belle de Cadix”, “Andalousie”, “Le Chanteur de Mexico”, “Le secret de Marco Polo ”,“ Visa for love ”,“ The Prince of Madrid ”and“ The golden caravel ”).

For a quarter of a century, the interpreter with 30 million albums sold has unleashed the enthusiasm of the French public. It’s not just « La belle de Cadiz » who had velvet eyes. The singer’s charm also worked. Next July 14th, it will be 50 years since the most popular lyric tenor left us, brutally carried away by a cerebral hemorrhage caused by a badly treated viral hepatitis; a national holiday also symbolizing the loss of an artist whose career was too brief, although exemplary.

Also, to celebrate this jubilee, a collector’s box of 5 CDs is released, bringing together a repertoire of a hundred of his greatest operetta tunes with colorful refrains, which will only delight his thousands of admirers who continue to visit his falls to the cemetery of Arcangues and to flower it. A fireworks display as a tribute to a myth. A duty of collective memory.

Visuals: (C) DR./Press Service

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Daphne VICTOR

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