HER father established a reputation as one of the greatest tenors the world had seen with hits like Because You’re Mine, but Ellisa Lanza Bregman is only too happy to share his legacy in order to maintain a proud tradition.
Ellisa – the daughter of legendary tenor and screen star Mario Lanza and the chief guardian of his legacy – has given her support to up-and-coming Australian tenor Mark Vincent, who released his new album, A Tribute to Mario Lanza, in April 14.
Mark was granted permission to record a “virtual duet” of the classic Because You’re Mine using old video footage of the great tenor, who has been listed as an inspiration by the Three Tenors, Frank Sinatra and many others.
Ellisa said she was immediately impressed by Mark’s poise and maturity.
As the daughter of the world’s first successful opera to popular music crossover artist, she is excited to see that same diversity in modern crossover singers like Mark.
“Mark can sing pop and I find that a lot of opera singers have a very heavy way of singing when they try to sing pop songs, so it’s great when you find an artist who can do it (crossover),” she said.
She is thrilled young singers like Mark are carrying on her father’s legacy, just as Mario helped carry on his hero, tenor Enrico Caruso’s legacy in The Great Caruso, which is one of her favourite films.
“This talent (of tenor singing) and the music should never die and Mark is one who is continuing it,” she said.
Mario Lanza developed a reputation for being rebellious, tough and ambitious during his career, which took off following his famous 1947 performance at the Hollywood Bowl and ended with his premature death of a heart attack in 1959 aged just 38.
But Ellisa said first and foremost he was a dedicated family man. She has fond memories of living with him on location during film shoots in Rome and Capri, and watching and listening to him record in the studio.
She is extremely proud of his legacy, which includes several million-selling hit recordings and films including The Toast of New Orleans and The Great Caruso.
While her father had no formal acting training, a natural charisma and ability to convey emotion had translated from one format to the other.
“When he had an audience listening to him, he had a way of making everyone feel he was singing just to them. He could emote anything he was singing.”
- The Senior has two copies of A Tribute to Mario Lanza to give away.
For your chance to win, click HERE and tell us in 25 words or less your favourite Mario Lanza song and why.
Entries close July 1, 2017.
- A Tribute to Mario Lanza by Mark Vincent, RRP $19.99 available at JB HiFi.
