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Episode 2

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Dame Kiri Te Kanawa profiles the stormy life of singer Mario Lanza, 50 years on from his untimely death. Featuring Jose Carreras, Terence Stamp and Lanza's daughter Ellisa.

Dame Kiri Te Kanawa presents a revealing portrait of an extraordinary singing talent who influenced a whole generation of tenors, including Placido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti.

Lured away from a promising future in opera by Hollywood's millions, Lanza's career rise was meteoric. Yet his story is a real American tragedy. He suffered ill-health after years of drinking, overeating and crash dieting, there was a split from MGM, and his career was curtailed by an untimely death, at the age of 38.

The Mario Lanza Story features interviews with, among others, Lanza's daughter Ellisa, his best friend Terry Robinson, renowned tenor Jose Carreras and actor Terence Stamp.

This documentary first broadcast in October 2009, to mark the 50th anniversary of his death [on 7 October 1959].

30 minutes

Last on

Sun 13 Jan 2013 20:00

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Credits

Role Contributor
Producer Isobel Williams
Producer Mark Sharman

Broadcasts

  • Mon 12 Oct 2009 23:30
  • Sun 23 Oct 2011 20:00
  • Sun 13 Jan 2013 20:00