First guest to Dalhalla August 1

Franc D´Ambrosio is best known worldwide for his powerful portrayal of the title role in The Phantom of the Opera, performing the legendary masked man more than 2,100 times. Affectionately known as the “Iron Man of the Mask,” he held the distinction as “The World’s Longest-Running Phantom” for more than a decade, bringing over five million theatergoers to their feet during his remarkable six-and-a-half-year run.

He also appeared as Anthony Corleone in The Godfather Part III as the opera singing son of characters portrayed by Al Pacino and Diane Keaton. Selected by Paramount Pictures following an international search of more than 2,000 performers, D’Ambrosio also performed the film’s theme song Speak Softly Love (Burn the Earth) for the motion picture soundtrack. His performance so impressed the legendary tenor Luciano Pavarotti that Pavarotti invited him to study privately at his home in Italy.