Laura Bretan
Bretan performing in Bucharest in October 2019
Bretan performing in Bucharest in October 2019
Background information
Born (2002-04-07) April 7, 2002
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
OriginRomania
Genres
Occupation(s)Singer
Years active2016–present
Websitelaurabretan.com

Laura Bretan (born April 7, 2002) is a Romanian-American[1] soprano. She was the winner of season six of the Pro TV series Romania's Got Talent, and later placed sixth in season eleven of America's Got Talent, both in 2016.

Early life

Bretan was born in Chicago to parents from Romania. She first began singing when she was six years old. Bretan was taught how to sing by her mother. At age eight, she began singing at Elim Romanian Pentecostal Church. Both she and her parents are active members of the Romanian Pentecostal Church of Chicago.[2]

Career

In 2016, Bretan was the winner of Romania's Got Talent.[3][4] Following that win, Bretan auditioned for season eleven of America's Got Talent when she sang "Nessun dorma" from Giacomo Puccini's opera Turandot.[5] The act received a standing ovation from Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum, Mel B, and Howie Mandel; afterwards Mel B pressed her golden buzzer, sending Bretan directly to the quarterfinals.

Bretan performed in the first live show on July 26, 2016, and advanced to the semifinals with the audience vote. She gave another well-received performance in the semifinals, but missed out on the audience vote later and lost the "Dunkin Save" vote. However, Bretan won the judges' vote and passed onto the finals.[6] Bretan performed "O mio babbino caro" in the finals, earning very favorable reviews from the show's judges. "Today you look like a princess, but tonight you rule the stage like a queen," said Klum.[7] She finished in sixth place overall.[8]

In 2017, Bretan performed "I Dreamed a Dream" in the finale of season one of The Voice Kids Romania.[9] In December 2018, Bretan was announced as one of the semi-finalists for the 2019 edition of Selecția Națională, Romania's national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 in Tel Aviv, Israel. She performed her song "Dear Father", winning in the televote but finishing 3rd in the jury, being the runner up in the overall results.[10]

On 15/09/2023, she also sang the song Adagio with its writer and original singer Lara Fabian for the anniversary concert of Gheorge Zamfir.

Personal life

Bretan holds dual citizenship from Romania and the United States.[1] In October 2018, Bretan appeared in an advertisement calling on Romanians to support the 2018 Romanian constitutional referendum which would constitutionally ban same-sex marriage.[11]

References

  1. 1 2 "Laura Bretan și-a luat cetățenia română. Prin ce probe a trecut soprana". Click! (in Romanian). 15 December 2018.
  2. ↑ Ong, Czarina (June 8, 2016). "13-year-old Pentecostal girl wows judges, audience on America's Got Talent with her operatic performance". Christian Today. Retrieved June 13, 2018.
  3. ↑ Romania Insider (6 June 2016). "Who is Laura Bretan, the winner of this year's Romania's Got Talent?". Irina Popescu. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  4. ↑ "Laura Bretan's singing technique 'raises deep concerns' says singing teacher". Classic FM. 14 September 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  5. ↑ America's Got Talent 2016 Laura Bretan 13 y.o. Belts out an Amazing "Nessun Dorma" – Full Audition on YouTube
  6. ↑ America's Got Talent 2016 Semi-Finals Round 1 Results Part 4 Judges' Pick S11E19 on YouTube
  7. ↑ Swartz, Tracy (September 13, 2016). "Northbrook teen singer makes final pitch to win 'America's Got Talent'". The Chicago Tribune. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  8. ↑ Laura Bretan – Opera Singer Stuns With "O Mio Babbino Caro" – America's Got Talent 2016 on YouTube
  9. ↑ "Vocea Romaniei Junior - sezonul 1: Laura Bretan - I Dreamed a Dream" (in Romanian). Pro TV. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  10. ↑ Farren, Neil (20 December 2018). "Romania: Selecția Națională 2019 Semi-Finalists Announced". Eurovoix. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
  11. ↑ "De ce ar fi fost sabotată Laura Bretan de doi juraţi străini la Eurovision România, aceiaşi care recent au ridicat-o în slăvi". adevarul.ro (in Romanian). 19 February 2019.
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