Ellisa Lanza Bregman, daughter of Mario Lanza the world famous tenor, will perform a rose planting ceremony in the beautiful setting of the rose garden on Thursday 8th October at 2.30 p.m. in St. Anne’s Park, Raheny in the presence of the Deputy Lord Mayor Cllr Kevin Humphreys. The variety of rose to be planted is ‘Mario Lanza’ and one of the rose beds in the park will be filled with this variety as part of the celebrations to mark the 50th Anniversary of Mario Lanza’s death.   

Guests at the ceremony will include Deputy Lord Mayor Cllr. Kevin Humphreys; Elllisa Lanza Bregman and her husband Bobby from the USA; Dublin born Derek Mannering best selling Lanza biographer also from the USA and Pamela Latham representing the British Mario Lanza Society; fans of Mario Lanzas and other interested members of the public.

The Deputy Lord Mayor said

“I am delighted to be here as part of this ceremony commemorating the passing of Mario Lanza some 50 years ago today.  I want to congratulate the Mario Lanza Society for organising this and other events to keep the memory of one of world’s greatest tenors alive. Next summer when this rose bed is in full bloom Dubliners and visitors to this park will have an opportunity to once more enjoy ‘Mario Lanza’.”

Later on October 8th a Tribute Concert will be held at the National Concert Hall. This is the highlight of a trilogy of concerts at Cork Opera House and Limerick University Concert Hall.

Notes to the Editor:

Mario Lanza was born Alfredo Arnoldo Cocozza on 31 January 1921 in Philadelphia. At the age of sixteen he announced his intention to become a singer. He made his debut at the Berkshire Music Festival in 1942 as Fenton in ‘The Merry Wives of Windsor’, changing his name to Mario Lanza as a tribute to his mother.  In 1945 he married Betty Hicks and they had four children - Colleen, Ellisa, Damon and Marc. Mario Lanza suffered a sudden fatal heart attack on the 7th October, 1959.