© 2024 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY · WNPR
WPKT · WRLI-FM · WEDW-FM · Public Files Contact
ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Outdoor Concert Celebrates the Life and Career of Tenor Sergio Franchi

This weekend marks the 20th annual Sergio Franchi Memorial Concert on the grounds of the late tenor's estate in Stonington.

In the 1960s and '70s, Italian American tenor Sergio Franchi was one of the hardest-working people in show business. With his bright lilting tenor voice, Franchi was featured in countless TV variety specials, headlined in Vegas, starred in the Broadway show "Do I Hear A Waltz?," and appeared dozens of times on "The Ed Sullivan Show." Connecticut residents remember fondly his appearances at the Oakdale Theater in Wallingford.

Franchi died from brain cancer in 1990. Four years later, Sergio's widow Eva started the first Sergio Franchi memorial concert on the singer's estate in Stonington as a way to keep Franchi's memory alive.

This year's event is expected to attract thousands of Franchi fans for an afternoon of music, including a concert featuring the winners of the Sergio Franchi scholarship competition. Giant screens will broadcast highlights of Franchi's career.

Before the concert, visitors will get a rare glimpse into the singer's personal life. "You can walk into our home. Sergio was an avid antique and art collector," said Eva Franchi. "[You can] see his memorial museum, with [Sergio's] first baby picture, to the very last picture of his life. You will see his career, his life, and antique cars. Sergio was a great antique car collector."

The theme of this years's concert is the 1960s, the decade when Franchi's career took off. Everyone is encouraged to dress in their best '60s garb.

The grounds of the Franchi Estate open at 11:00 am on Saturday morning. The concert gets under way at 2:00 pm, and proceeds benefit the Sergio Franchi Music Foundation.

Ray Hardman is Connecticut Public’s Arts and Culture Reporter. He is the host of CPTV’s Emmy-nominated original series Where Art Thou? Listeners to Connecticut Public Radio may know Ray as the local voice of Morning Edition, and later of All Things Considered.

Stand up for civility

This news story is funded in large part by Connecticut Public’s Members — listeners, viewers, and readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information.

We hope their support inspires you to donate so that we can continue telling stories that inform, educate, and inspire you and your neighbors. As a community-supported public media service, Connecticut Public has relied on donor support for more than 50 years.

Your donation today will allow us to continue this work on your behalf. Give today at any amount and join the 50,000 members who are building a better—and more civil—Connecticut to live, work, and play.

Related Content