Operatic tenor Lance Ingram dies in France Australian tenor Lance Ingram has died peacefully at his home in France aged 86. LANCE Ingram, described by some as Australia's greatest ever operatic tenor, has died at his home in France, aged 86. Born in the NSW town of Menindee in 1925, Ingram was Australia's principal tenor in the early '50s, and went on to be the national tenor of France for nearly 20 years. He also sang with two of the greatest sopranos of the 20th century, Maria Callas and Dame Joan Sutherland, as well as many other operatic stars around the world. Weeks before her death in 2010, Dame Sutherland said she deeply regretted not having sung more with Ingram than she had, adding that it was a great tragedy that Australians had not seen more of him at his peak. While Ingram had a successful career in Australia, it was in France that he was truly recognised. With the stage name of Albert Lance internationally, Ingram was personally given French citizenship by his most admiring fan, the late President Charles De Gaulle, who called him "maestro." Ingram died peacefully at his home in Savoie after a long heart condition, his biographer Doug Holden announced on behalf of Ingram's family. He leaves a widow, former mezzo soprano Iris Parel, daughter Marie-Christine and grandson Matthew.