My memory of Olivis was when I was 5 years old. We went to the Hollywood bowl. Hey shoot his hands back and forth to the tempo of an opera crying. He loved opera so much. I had no idea who he was, until I was an adult. He loved music so much.
There is just something about the way William Olvis sang this song that has always had me "swooning". Yes, I said it, "swooning". I am not a music afficionado, but I know what sounds nice to me. For my taste, this is the version that I like.
Olivis' voice is so exquisite, I am surprised that I'd never heard of him--much less, that this is the only recording I could find. Every voice is unique. In terms of Olvis vs. Lanza: Why can't we just enjoy the beauty of both tenors, rather than pick at differences?
I met William Olvis in the late '60's when I was working at Sam Goody's record store on 49th street in midtown Manhattan.. I got his autograph. He was delighted to know I recognized him from "The Student Prince". He was purchasing some LPs and when he made out a check to pay for the records I recognized his name! I happened to be cashiering that evening. He told me that MGM was grooming him as the next "Mario Lanza". But along came Elvis and Rock 'n Roll and that destroyed his film career. He never appeared in another film, even through MGM kept in under contract for Almost 10 years! He was a marvelous tenor. I was so fortunate to have recognized him and get his autograph. Plus, have that short conversation with him. I have the sound track from the film "Deep in my Heart" and I have his autograph tucked away in the LP. Strangely enough, MGM issued the LP soundtrack originally under the title of "The Music of Sigmund Romberg"! I also have the soundtrack on CD, this time under the the title "Deep in my Heart, original soundtrack". It's a beautiful soundtrack! Jose Ferrer was great as Sigmund Romberg, even singing and dancing! Needless to say, I love it and the music of Romberg. I also have an RCA Victor LP box set of Sigmund Romberg conducting his own music which includes a beautiful biographic booklet.
I can not believe that. Between Lanza and Olvis are worlds apart. The film with Olvis was not a success Presley's first RCA single "Heartbreak Hotel" was released in January 1956 and became a number one hit in the United States, therefore could not have prevented Olvis career in the sixties. Phenomenon M. Lanza could replace nobody until 2018, as it sees it will stay that way.
The film was not a success, but that didn’t mean the film wasn’t. Many a great film though the years was underrated! So I guess by your thinking the film was not a good film!
Let me correct my English. The first sentence should have read “Because the film wasn’t a success that doesn’t mean the film wasn’t good!” Many a great film hasn’t been a success!
William Olvis's voice captivates me, - actually brings tears down my cheeks. He had a sublime and very unusual sound and wow, what power! ! ! I know Mario Lanza is thought of as the best, but I prefer to listen to William Olvis...... anyone agree?
After several comparisons of Olvis and Lanza, I noted that Olvis has a much more pronounced vibrato than Lanza, which lessens his performance. Also a thinner tone and more forced than Lanza.
William Olvis was the Governor in the original 1956 Candide cast and hr was also in.the Interrupted Melody singing Don José in.the Carmen scene in the movie. Leonard Berstein wanted Olvis and Barbara Cook for West Side Story but Cook rejected the role because she didnt look.the part and Olvis accepted a Metropolitan Opera offer to be member of the theatre cast and sing opera. She made The Music Man instead and Olvis sang many operas on stage.
Une excellente vidéo tant que par la qualité de la prise de vue et de la qualité du son qui date tout de même de 1954 ! Quant à l'interprétation....sublime. Adam289xx, un grand merci.
The set for this number is the exact same set used in the film with Edmond Purdom/Lanza and Ann Blythe! Deep in my Heart is marvelous for having the sadly under-appreciated Wagnerian soprano, Helen Traubel, who had one of the most perfectly produced voices, ever...
I guess a matter of personal taste. They were all great from Caruso on, Lanza especially.I like both versions, but on this song have to go with Olvis. Years ago I listened to an interview that mentioned Lanza was still generating royalties for his family. Tragic he died so early. RIP
The fact of the matter is you can be expressive , perform great dynamics, be musical but as long as you don't have the voice with the timbre, strength and sound as in this performance it doesn't come out convincingly.
I'm intrigued by the slight exchange above-I've only just realized that I had been listening to William Olvis for decades on the original cast album of Candide. He played the role of the governor of Buenos Aires and sings a delightful song, "Bon voyage", that requires comedic acting and real singing chops, as the song is a mix of sung patter and soaring, full throated passages. He is perfection on all counts and stands out in an already exceptional cast (Robert Rounseville, Barbara Cook…). Out of curiosity, I've listened to Mario Lanza, who I had only remembered singing "Be My Love" from a film I've forgotten. Lanza is considered one of the great "commercial" tenors of his time, but he could never have performed the Candide numbers the way Mr. Olvis did, as Olvis has a precision and control that Lanza lacks. In any event, their voices are actually so different that you can't really compare them. Kind of apples and oranges, you can like them both but maybe not at the same time and in the same situations.
I agree.They were different and Olvis should have made more movies. I also have the Candide 1956 version with a marveleus cast.Olvis could have sung the role of Candide too.He should have made the movie The Student Prince with Ann Blyth when Mario Lanza left the cast.
At least William mimed his own voice unlike Edmund Perdum. Lanza was the spirit of this song despite Hollywood treating him like they treated all their money making stars. Lanza needed a little more understanding, sadly though there was no time for sentiment when it comes for Hollywood.
Don't forget this was to reproduce a stage version, where the voice is expected to reach the back of the top balcony. Lanza usually sang for movies (or records), which allows for different dynamics.
@@Arkelk2010 You are mistaken. Lanza had a massive voice, and much of his career was in concert, nothing to do with films or recordings. he was highly successful at the Hollywood bowl and a other such venues. Lanza filled the 8,000 seat Albert hall without amplification.
My favorite is Mario Lanza. Yes, I have also heard Jan Peerce and have enjoyed them all! I have the recording of The Student Prince with Peececand Roberta Peters.
Mario is two notes lower on the high notes, in other words Olvis has a higher range. Mario range is easier he only hits B Natural. Olvis sings C# on the highest note.
Olvis hits C#,,,, Lanza reaches A. That is the difference. Different arrangements. Mario would crack on the final high notes and maybe halfway through. Perhaps that is the reason Mario sounds warmer. Its easy when the song is down two semitones.
Lanza was in his vocal prime, there would have been no cracking! Mario's final notes are Bb. This clip is running fast by the way causing the final note to be C#. It is a very unromantic Serenade. I'll take Lanza's performance any day over this.
This clip is reproduced at the wrong frame rate (too fast), causing Olvis’s vibrato to sound like bleating. There are other versions of him in this scene on TH-cam, and in them he sings the arietta in the key of F, thereby singing a B-flat and not a C#.
Here is another copy of the scene, as stated above, so you may prefer to watch that. My own upload came ages ago from a VHS video cassette, so no-one needs to view it, as there are indeed more recent and better versions on TH-cam, as per this link! ... th-cam.com/video/3rkG2d_xHoo/w-d-xo.html Mario Lanza's voice, mimed by Edmund Purdom, will be found in this clip, though he is singing in a different key ... th-cam.com/video/5pjEWzgz8zU/w-d-xo.html
do you hear yourself sir? Mario Lanza has enriched lives of so many people with his heart-felt singing and you are taking cheap shots at a man who is no longer with us. How disgraceful.
William Olvis was a talented opera singer who was also the Governor in the Original 1956 Candide with Robert Rounseville and Barbara Cook and replaced Rounseville in the tittle role as understudy.As Mario Lanza was out he should have made the movie with Ann Blyth.
The operetta era is long gone, but the music is forever...
I met this man and personally I found him very nice. Not to mention how good his voice was.
I only wish I had found this sooner. I never heard William Olvis before. WHAT A VOICE ~ ! ! ! ! AMAZING ~ !! ! ! !
My memory of Olivis was when I was 5 years old. We went to the Hollywood bowl. Hey shoot his hands back and forth to the tempo of an opera crying. He loved opera so much. I had no idea who he was, until I was an adult. He loved music so much.
There is just something about the way William Olvis sang this song that has always had me "swooning". Yes, I said it, "swooning". I am not a music afficionado, but I know what sounds nice to me. For my taste, this is the version that I like.
Why have I not heard this from William Olvis before? His voice is SUBLIME ! ! ! ! ! !
Olivis' voice is so exquisite, I am surprised that I'd never heard of him--much less, that this is the only recording I could find. Every voice is unique. In terms of Olvis vs. Lanza: Why can't we just enjoy the beauty of both tenors, rather than pick at differences?
I met William Olvis in the late '60's when I was working at Sam Goody's record store on 49th street in midtown Manhattan.. I got his autograph. He was delighted to know I recognized him from "The Student Prince". He was purchasing some LPs and when he made out a check to pay for the records I recognized his name! I happened to be cashiering that evening. He told me that MGM was grooming him as the next "Mario Lanza". But along came Elvis and Rock 'n Roll and that destroyed his film career. He never appeared in another film, even through MGM kept in under contract for Almost 10 years! He was a marvelous tenor. I was so fortunate to have recognized him and get his autograph. Plus, have that short conversation with him. I have the sound track from the film "Deep in my Heart" and I have his autograph tucked away in the LP. Strangely enough, MGM issued the LP soundtrack originally under the title of "The Music of Sigmund Romberg"! I also have the soundtrack on CD, this time under the the title "Deep in my Heart, original soundtrack". It's a beautiful soundtrack! Jose Ferrer was great as Sigmund Romberg, even singing and dancing! Needless to say, I love it and the music of Romberg. I also have an RCA Victor LP box set of Sigmund Romberg conducting his own music which includes a beautiful biographic booklet.
I can not believe that. Between Lanza and Olvis are worlds apart. The film with Olvis was not a success
Presley's first RCA single "Heartbreak Hotel" was released in January 1956 and became a number one hit in the United States,
therefore could not have prevented Olvis career in the sixties. Phenomenon M. Lanza could replace nobody until 2018, as it sees it will stay that way.
The film was not a success, but that didn’t mean the film wasn’t. Many a great film though the years was underrated! So I guess by your thinking the film was not a good film!
Elvis destroyed quite a few great performers! So I guess Olvis was one!
Let me correct my English. The first sentence should have read “Because the film wasn’t a success that doesn’t mean the film wasn’t good!” Many a great film hasn’t been a success!
What a Great Story!!!!
😊😊😊
William Olvis's voice captivates me, - actually brings tears down my cheeks. He had a sublime and very unusual sound and wow, what power! ! ! I know Mario Lanza is thought of as the best, but I prefer to listen to William Olvis...... anyone agree?
Yes,I agree!I think William Olvis sings this with more control. My favourite version.👍👍
Svegliatevi e riascoltate MARIO QUI C E SOLO UNA DISCRETA VOCE MA DOV È L ANIMA????RIP MARIO ❤
After several comparisons of Olvis and Lanza, I noted that Olvis has a much more pronounced vibrato than Lanza, which lessens his performance. Also a thinner tone and more forced than Lanza.
I agree for much the same reasons. I have always loved this song I first heard it 50 years ago by Jan Peerce.
Absolutely incredible version by William Olvis, whom I never heard of before watching the 1954 movie "Deep in My Heart" today on TCM.....Wow!!!!!
I just saw him now when I asked for the song on Student Prince. What a stunning version
William Olvis was the Governor in the original 1956 Candide cast and hr was also in.the Interrupted Melody singing Don José in.the Carmen scene in the movie. Leonard Berstein wanted Olvis and Barbara Cook for West Side Story but Cook rejected the role because she didnt look.the part and Olvis accepted a Metropolitan Opera offer to be member of the theatre cast and sing opera. She made The Music Man instead and Olvis sang many operas on stage.
Olvis sang Don Jose on a 1962 show on "Carmen" that Bernstein presented and conducted.@@dianaaljadeff2983
My goodness! What an experience. I never saw or heard of Olvis but will have to look him up now. He certainly is up there with Mario Lanza.
Me uno a tus palabras, estoy asombrado .
I have enjoyed the wonderful songs from this production for 65 years now.
Wonderful!
Glorious music and poetry deeply felt and passionately sung!
Thank you for posting this priceless gem! Bravo!!!
Une excellente vidéo tant que par la qualité de la prise de vue et de la qualité du son qui date tout de même de 1954 ! Quant à l'interprétation....sublime. Adam289xx, un grand merci.
What a voice best version of this song ever
The set for this number is the exact same set used in the film with Edmond Purdom/Lanza and Ann Blythe! Deep in my Heart is marvelous for having the sadly under-appreciated Wagnerian soprano, Helen Traubel, who had one of the most perfectly produced voices, ever...
We love Helen in her native St. Louis. Primadonna NOT. She was an earthy, funny, delightful woman with an effortless magnificent voice.
A very good rendition of an extremely difficult song.
Excellent!
I have long wondered what magical music might have come from a collaboration of Gilbert, Sullivan and Romberg. Wow.
William Olvis can’t hold a candle to Mario Lanza’s performance. Lanza owns this number.
Agreed. Olvis has a much more pronounced vibrato which lessens his performance. Lanza is much smoother.
I guess a matter of personal taste. They were all great from Caruso on, Lanza especially.I like both versions, but on this song have to go with Olvis. Years ago I listened to an interview that mentioned Lanza was still generating royalties for his family. Tragic he died so early. RIP
The fact of the matter is you can be expressive , perform great dynamics, be musical but as long as you don't have the voice with the timbre, strength and sound as in this performance it doesn't come out convincingly.
Θαυμασια παραστασις. Ολα υπεροχα. Σκηνικα,φωνες,ορχηστρα,εργο,
εξαιρετικα. Υπειρχε πολιτισμος καποτε...
My favorite aria of operetas and musicals. It is music in the right sense of the word.
Carlos Hugo Geib Doesn’t compare to Mario Lanza’s version or voice
It's glorious
@@fayemerlo1493 Mario. Never to be forgotten
Wonderful song by Sigmund Romberg
I have a couple of programmes from Met tours in the 60's autographed by him. He sang Gabriele in Verdi's Simone Boccanegra with Zinka Milanov.
j'écoute .... j'adore .. je pleure !!!
William Olvis was also in Candide in the role of the Governor and played the role Candide when Robert Rouseville couldnt play him
just love it
Classic.
Well I'm speechless
Wonderful singing.
I'm intrigued by the slight exchange above-I've only just realized that I had been listening to William Olvis for decades on the original cast album of Candide. He played the role of the governor of Buenos Aires and sings a delightful song, "Bon voyage", that requires comedic acting and real singing chops, as the song is a mix of sung patter and soaring, full throated passages. He is perfection on all counts and stands out in an already exceptional cast (Robert Rounseville, Barbara Cook…).
Out of curiosity, I've listened to Mario Lanza, who I had only remembered singing "Be My Love" from a film I've forgotten. Lanza is considered one of the great "commercial" tenors of his time, but he could never have performed the Candide numbers the way Mr. Olvis did, as Olvis has a precision and control that Lanza lacks. In any event, their voices are actually so different that you can't really compare them. Kind of apples and oranges, you can like them both but maybe not at the same time and in the same situations.
I agree.They were different and Olvis should have made more movies. I also have the Candide 1956 version with a marveleus cast.Olvis could have sung the role of Candide too.He should have made the movie The Student Prince with Ann Blyth when Mario Lanza left the cast.
Olvis sang at the Met, Bayreuth, etc.
did they really have to have him sing that high c-sharp??..they could have settled for a c....they really took singers to their extremes back then.
It’s running fast, increasing pitch by a semitone!
@@DiPlacido71 hah! didnt know! thanks for sharing. It did sound a bit like a slight bleat rather than a normal vibrato.
At least William mimed his own voice unlike Edmund Perdum.
Lanza was the spirit of this song despite Hollywood treating him like they treated all their money making stars. Lanza needed a little more understanding, sadly though there was no time for sentiment when it comes for Hollywood.
A powerful voice but to me, lacks the softness that Mario incorporated into the romantic songs. Although I enjoyed this rendition of Olvis.
I'm off to hear Mario now
Don't forget this was to reproduce a stage version, where the voice is expected to reach the back of the top balcony. Lanza usually sang for movies (or records), which allows for different dynamics.
@@Arkelk2010 You are mistaken. Lanza had a massive voice, and much of his career was in concert, nothing to do with films or recordings. he was highly successful at the Hollywood bowl and a other such venues. Lanza filled the 8,000 seat Albert hall without amplification.
This is a amazing rendition. However, Jose Carreras’ is still my favorite version of this song. I encourage everyone to take a listen.
My personal favorite singer for this is Jan Peerce. Stylistic choice. Mr. Orvis and Mr. Carrerras sang this wonderfully as well.
My favorite is Mario Lanza. Yes, I have also heard Jan Peerce and have enjoyed them all! I have the recording of The Student Prince with Peececand Roberta Peters.
I used to think Mario Lanza, but the setting, drama and power of Mr. Olvis's voice from this scene in the movie brings me to tears....
I'll do that. After I listen to Mario and edmund again!
@@thomashaueter9675 yes, this brought me to tears too
He doesn’t have the range, pitch or timbre of the great Mario Lanza. But who does?
Mario is two notes lower on the high notes, in other words Olvis has a higher range.
Mario range is easier he only hits B Natural.
Olvis sings C# on the highest note.
is this in Db?
I suppose I meant the exchange BELOW…
Olvis hits C#,,,, Lanza reaches A.
That is the difference.
Different arrangements.
Mario would crack on the final high notes and maybe halfway through.
Perhaps that is the reason Mario sounds warmer.
Its easy when the song is down two semitones.
Lanza was in his vocal prime, there would have been no cracking! Mario's final notes are Bb.
This clip is running fast by the way causing the final note to be C#. It is a very unromantic Serenade. I'll take Lanza's performance any day over this.
This clip is reproduced at the wrong frame rate (too fast), causing Olvis’s vibrato to sound like bleating. There are other versions of him in this scene on TH-cam, and in them he sings the arietta in the key of F, thereby singing a B-flat and not a C#.
Here is another copy of the scene, as stated above, so you may prefer to watch that. My own upload came ages ago from a VHS video cassette, so no-one needs to view it, as there are indeed more recent and better versions on TH-cam, as per this link! ...
th-cam.com/video/3rkG2d_xHoo/w-d-xo.html
Mario Lanza's voice, mimed by Edmund Purdom, will be found in this clip, though he is singing in a different key ...
th-cam.com/video/5pjEWzgz8zU/w-d-xo.html
do you hear yourself sir? Mario Lanza has enriched lives of so many people with his heart-felt singing and you are taking cheap shots at a man who is no longer with us. How disgraceful.
Voce bella, ma.... Non c'è confronto con la voce di Mario Lanza.....Mario è insuperabile... MARIO LANZA PER SEMPRE
Um,..that last note is a high D-flat. Jeez.
It's running fast, so changes pitch by approximately a semitone. Here is the correct pitch th-cam.com/video/n40vgoXaLTw/w-d-xo.html
But C sharp and D flat are the same note???
Very good. Almost gives Mario a run for his money!
No, no, no. This guy's voice is swallowed, somewhere in the back of his throat. Lanza never failed to let go and always sounded so natural
Yeah better than Lanza for sure.
I would MUCH rather hear Olvis
@@guystudiosNo way!!
William Olvis is no Mario Lanza!
William Olvis was a talented opera singer who was also the Governor in the Original 1956 Candide with Robert Rounseville and Barbara Cook and replaced Rounseville in the tittle role as understudy.As Mario Lanza was out he should have made the movie with Ann Blyth.
I liked both singers.👍👍
He had a much bigger voice in real life. When he was older he became a dramatic tenor.
No, he is not. He is more pleasurable to listen to.