On Nov. 12, 2024, Carlo Bergonzi’s son Marco Bergonzi died at the age of 67.

The news was announced by his wife Ilaria with the funeral being held on Friday, Nov. 15 at the Chiesa parrocchiale di Vidalenzo. According to Gazzetta di Parma, Marco had been ill for over a year.

Born on Jan. 7, 1957, Bergonzi took over his father’s hotel/restaurant, which opened in Busseto in 1965 and was called “I Due Foscari.” The hotel stands a few hundred meters to the West of Verdi’s statue in Busseto’s Great Market.  Carlo Bergonzi baptized the hotel/restaurant “I Due Foscai” because he had noticed during his travels that the world abounded with ‘bars Rigoletto, Otello, Traviata etc’ while nobody had ever used the name of that less well-known opera.

Throughout his life, Marco Bergonzi attended his father’s performances and recently celebrated Carlo’s 100th anniversary.

Soprano Aprile Millo took to social media and said, “He reins supreme as a man and a friend and like a brother to me. So glad we got to spend many many hours of fun and laughter. My deepest condolences go to your beautiful wife Ilaria to your beautiful beloved mama how they left into your brother. The world will not be as fun or as beautiful place without that incredible voice I always teased you. You should’ve been a singer too. Who were a great friend and amazing human being and an iconic presence in Busseto. I will miss you terribly and send all my love to you with respect and the joy you always held in your eyes. A world mourns you today. Love you Marco Bergonzi.”