...as I listened in wonder
to my father's worn-out recordings of Mario Lanza singing "'O sole Mio" and
"Non ti scordar di me," I had no idea how profoundly they would affect the
path of my life, much less that I would someday be given the opportunity
to record them myself. The selections on this album reflect that early influence,
as well as the later inspiration I found in the singing of Bjoerling, Caruso,
Schipa, and others.No influence, however, was greater than that of the sheer love of singing that surrounded me at the Tri-Cities Opera. It was there that, from the age of fifteen, so many of my favorite Italian operas became old friends and my teachers began to instill in me that, above all, communication is the essence of song.
In all of these masterpieces, great composers demonstrate how clearly they understood this communication. They take both the singer and the listener on a unique journey, moving their hearts with intense passion, uplifting them with boundless joy, and touching their souls through profound sorrow. For me, singing comes from the heart, and I believe that if you listen closely, you will understand and share the wonder of that young boy sitting by his father's hi-fi.
-Richard Leech
