Posted on 06/24/2007 3:42:55 AM PDT by BlessedBeGod
A 36-YEAR-OLD dentally challenged cellphone salesman wins a nationally televised talent contest in Britain, and suddenly, all sorts of questions are raised about the role of classical music in our world.
That is because the winner, Paul Potts, from Wales, triumphed with a rendition of “Nessun dorma,” the tenor aria from Puccini’s “Turandot,” at a contest with the trappings and audience — seemingly — of the mass entertainment world.
By the standards of music critics who ply their trade in opera houses and concert halls, it wasn’t a particularly earth-shaking performance.
“Mr. Potts is the sort of bog-standard tenor to be found in any amateur opera company in any corner of the country,” wrote Philip Hensher in The Independent of London. “His tuning was all over the place; his voice sounded strained and uncontrolled; his phrasing was stubby and lumpy; he made a constipated approximation only of the fluid sound of the Italianate tenor....”
On the blogs, many comments seemed to reflect resentment that the “snobs” of the opera world would look down on their swoon for Mr. Potts. On freerepublic.com, a conservative forum, dougfromupland addressed “all you opera snobs.”
“He may not be the greatest opera singer. But we who don’t know dip about opera like him and can’t wait to see him perform. We know what uplifts us and makes us feel good. Go away, snobs.”
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
You’re mentioned in the New York Times!
Doug, me and Mr. Sneakers watched your video of Paul with the “hillary” subtitles. It was hilarious!
ping
ATTENTION NY TIMES: SURRENDER TIM MCGIRK
Classically trained musicians can appear snobbish when in fact they aren’t. I listened to him sing and was impressed, not because it was an earth shattering performance but because it was heartfelt and because of who he is. I was touched that opera, my great love, could be appreciated by many who would normally turn their noses up at going to the Met or even a very fine regional house. To be honest there are lots of famous singers out their who have lost it and I wouldn’t pay the big opera bucks to go see them.
ping
I also love opera, and this young man did what all opera singers strive to do - he moved his audience to tears. He was technically not that great but never mind - it was an uplifting, loving performance and I hope that he saves “Che Gelida Manina” for his victory encore!
Zuckerman hit the nail on the head in his statement in the last paragraph of this article:
“People in that audience probably never ever had heard someone open their mouth and sing an aria,” said Eugenia Zukerman, a flutist and director of the Vail Valley Music Festival. “Could they also have been responding to, ‘Finally we’re hearing something that has meaning, something really special,’ instead of what’s being churned out to them?” The audience, she said, “got it right away.”
Venues like iTunes has opened the vista of classical music to a much wider audience. I wonder how many downloads of "Nessun Dorma" iTunes had after people heard Potts sing it. Millions, I'm sure.
I'm not a snob, but I certainly do like opera.
I remanced my wife and won her over while following the librettos and listening to her father's Wagner recordings. And she's a musician and has played in many major productions; I always got a big kick out of that. But--as a matter of fact--music has always fascinated me--even when I was a small child.
I can say this: Paul's music towers over the screeching that passes for "popular" music out there on the airwaves.
It also towers over the rubbish put forth at some of the more pretentious though less respectable music schools, e.g. tape recording bolts rattling on an auto engine or one microphone squeeling as it's placed next to another--and passing such foolishness off as "music".
Talk about snobs. It's that pot/kettle thing.
There is a class distinction between snobs and those who just appreciate hearing something they like.
That is too funny. They left out the part about being called French wine drinking, cheese-eating, and limousine liberals.
Go to YouTube and put in their search engine - DFU PRESENTS: Paul Potts
I hope the NY TIMES enjoyed the songs by Potts, including Hillary as the anti-Christ, Nifong, Lott, Sheila Jackson Lee, and Katie’s colonscopy (when the doctors found her brain)
Perhaps they will enjoy this one about treason at the NY TIMES - http://youtube.com/watch?v=s2Rq2ryhy4Q
And I certainly hope they saw this one about Hillary’s felonies - http://youtube.com/watch?v=qcbg72tK_ks
Yes...that’s Dan Rather’s scalp on the FR lodgepole. Why do you ask ?
There are several Potts threads. This one has almost 5 million hits. I made several comments on that one. They even have a link to the NY TIMES story.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=1k08yxu57NA
Thanks for the ping!
Classical Music Ping List ping!
Hope you all enjoy this one!
If you want on or off this list, let me know via FR e-mail.
Thanks,
sitetest
First I’ve seen or heard of this guy.
Who is the woman judging? She’s very pretty.
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