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From Nokia to Nessun Dorma(If you love Italian opera, you are in for a TREAT!)
theage.com ^ | June 14, 2007 | Michelle Johnson

Posted on 06/14/2007 4:58:35 PM PDT by kellynla

An opera-singing mobile phone salesman has wowed judges on the UK version of hit talent show Australia's Got Talent.

Britain's Got Talent judges, including American Idol judge Simon Cowell, were left dumbfounded as Paul Potts hit the stage to belt out one of the series' most memorable performances made famous by tenor Luciano Pavarotti.

The 36-year-old sang Nessun Dorma and received a standing ovation from the 2,000-strong audience at Cardiff’s Millennium Centre in Wales.

The winning act from the show will perform for the Queen at the Royal Variety Performance and win $A250,000.

Mr Potts, who has battled a burst appendix, tumour on his adrenal gland and shattered collarbone after being knocked off his bike, told a local paper he was so well received because people weren't expecting much from him.

"I don't think they were expecting very much. I'm a bit short and overweight and had a cheap old suit on and the hairdresser had used a number two on my hair instead of a four so it made me look a bit bald," he candidly said.

"But when I sang, I made sure I looked at the judges and I saw Simon Cowell's jaw drop. I knew then I must have done alright."

The Carphone Warehouse manager and keen opera lover will now go on to the next stage of the competition.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News
KEYWORDS: opera
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To: Suzy Quzy

Recorded on tape.


21 posted on 06/14/2007 5:32:05 PM PDT by HarmlessLovableFuzzball
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To: HarmlessLovableFuzzball

So it COULD have been lip-synced? What was recorded...the Orchestra?


22 posted on 06/14/2007 5:34:00 PM PDT by Suzy Quzy (Hillary '08...Her Phoniness is Genuine!!!)
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To: kellynla

Not big on opera of any kind, but this guy has great pipes. Big plus watching Simon being surprised is “extra special”.


23 posted on 06/14/2007 5:36:00 PM PDT by mad_as_he$$ ("Courage is when you are scared to death, saddle up and ride out anyway." John F'in Wayne.)
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To: kellynla

I posted on the other thread on this on FR, but watched it again and cried again. Just so refreshing and touching. It is stuff like this that makes life some much more bright and lovely.


24 posted on 06/14/2007 5:37:54 PM PDT by GOP Poet
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To: Suzy Quzy

Watch the video and you will see the tech push the button to start the music. They can’t afford the time and money to bring in musicians for rehearsal and count on each contestant to provide a full orchestral score so they sing to a CD which they must provide. Think karaoke.


25 posted on 06/14/2007 5:38:08 PM PDT by pbear8 (Padre Pio please pray for Tony Snow and for inflorida)
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To: pbear8

Thanks.....I’ve never watched the show before.


26 posted on 06/14/2007 5:38:51 PM PDT by Suzy Quzy (Hillary '08...Her Phoniness is Genuine!!!)
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To: Michael.SF.
Bravo Paul. I curious as to weather opera could be appreciated in this country on American Idol.
27 posted on 06/14/2007 5:39:28 PM PDT by mimaw
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To: kellynla

WOW!


28 posted on 06/14/2007 5:43:03 PM PDT by DaughterofEve (Proverbs 3:5-6)
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To: mimaw
I curious as to weather opera could be appreciated in this country on American Idol.

The two shows appear to be an apples and oranges situation in terms of their target audiences. Specifically:

AI -- Appeals more to the younger crowd (12-25) and therefore they go for the more 'pop' sound and predictability.

Britain's Got Talent -- Appears to go after a larger, older crowd (judging by the audience on the video) one with a better sense of musical appreciation.

29 posted on 06/14/2007 5:44:27 PM PDT by Michael.SF. ("The military Mission has long since been accomplished" -- Harry Reid, April 23, 2007)
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To: Suzy Quzy
What was recorded...the Orchestra?

Yes. Remember the green button someone pushed just before he started singing ?

30 posted on 06/14/2007 5:45:04 PM PDT by HarmlessLovableFuzzball
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To: All
Don't overlook Amanda Holden, the female judge


31 posted on 06/14/2007 5:48:09 PM PDT by HarmlessLovableFuzzball
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To: Suzy Quzy

I don’t ever watch American Idol so I don’t know but in the beginning of the you-tube tape you can clearly see someone push a button to start the recording. Must be they can record the background music. I don’t know.


32 posted on 06/14/2007 5:54:59 PM PDT by Snoopers-868th
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To: kellynla
Takes some guts to go out on a stage like that and sing one of the most well-known and powerful tenor arias in the history music.

Great performance, but I wish the video would have continued just a bit longer. The reaction of the audience is what made the entire thing.

33 posted on 06/14/2007 5:57:42 PM PDT by SaveTheChief (Chief Illiniwek (1926-2007))
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To: kellynla
This guy will sing before the Queen, count on it.

Short, overweight, cheap suit....according to his own words.

But....anyone remember Britain's Eddie the Eagle, the skier who lost in the Olympics? He soared (kerplunked) into the hearts of the world.....and the loser became a winner!

Leni

34 posted on 06/14/2007 6:02:22 PM PDT by MinuteGal (Don't give up the ship. Keep phoning & emailing. Remember, we lost the Alamo!)
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To: Rushmore Rocks

Made me cry too. True beauty!


35 posted on 06/14/2007 6:03:23 PM PDT by Aria (NO RAPIST ENABELER FOR PRESIDENT!!!)
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To: Snoopers-868th

Mario Lanza is one of my favorite Tenors


36 posted on 06/14/2007 6:04:17 PM PDT by Kaslin (Fred Thompson for President 2008)
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To: kellynla

That was absolutely beautiful...oh my....what a voice!!!!!
God has truly given this man a gift!!!!!!

Thank you for posting this! ;-)


37 posted on 06/14/2007 6:09:04 PM PDT by LadyPilgrim ((Jesus is real, He will never fail...I will serve him now, and throughout all eternity! ))
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To: HarmlessLovableFuzzball

She is a beautiful woman. And her reaction to this piece (she clearly almost swooned) shows that she has good taste.

Yes, I’d hit it.


38 posted on 06/14/2007 6:13:36 PM PDT by krb (If you're not outraged, people probably like having you around.)
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To: HarmlessLovableFuzzball
That's not what the OP meant by the full clip. He meant that it was (close to) Paul's full performance on the show. The full Aria is too long, doesn't have the right cadence for the format (it has an early climactic inflection with the "No, no, sulla tua bocca lo dirò, quando la luce splenderà!" line), and he didn't want the "voices of women" part (he shouldn't bring any competition on stage with him!).

Here's his edit of the piece, as far as I can tell:

Il principe ignoto

Nessun dorma! Nessun dorma! Tu pure, o Principessa,
nella tua fredda stanza
guardi le stelle
che tremano d'amore e di speranza...
Ma il mio mistero è chiuso in me,
il nome mio nessun saprà!
No, no,
sulla tua bocca lo dirò,
quando la luce splenderà!
Ed il mio bacio scioglierà il silenzio
che ti fa mia.

Voci di donne

Il nome suo nessun saprà...
E noi dovrem, ahimè, morir, morir!

Il principe ignoto

Dilegua, o notte! Tramontate, stelle!
Tramontate, stelle! All'alba vincerò!
Vincerò! Vincerò!

39 posted on 06/14/2007 6:34:28 PM PDT by krb (If you're not outraged, people probably like having you around.)
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To: GoldwaterChick

Ping!


40 posted on 06/14/2007 6:38:03 PM PDT by GoldwaterChick (Never give in, never give in, never, never, never give in. Winston Churchill Oct. 29, 1941)
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