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 ...
A good analogy is to the Blues Brothers. Akroyd and Belushi were good but not great singers (the rest of the band was the real deal), but they helped introduce me to Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, even Ray Charles. The Commitments served a similar function for folks a little younger than I.
Paul Potts ping...
That is a representation of a real photo that was taken in 1993. Fabio really did chase her around the room and pick her up. The witch promised, but she never sent it to Peter Paul.
It is explained here - http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZY2b3Db3dGE
I think much of why opera remains unaccesable to most americans is the language barrier. one of the funniest things I ever heard was an english version of Der Fledermaus.
From memory: Frosch the drunken jailer is summoned by his deputy in the jail tower.
(deputy) Heir Director! there a ladys aproaching.
(Frosch) Ladies?
(deputy) Yes, Ladies down below.
(Frosch) Tell me, how do the ladies look...down below?
(deputy) "naughty naughty heir director!"
;0)
“. The thrill of recognition, one can speculate, may have triggered the enthusiasm.’
Inasmuch as I, like most other Americans, don’t know Turandot from touringdot.com, there was something other than recognition at work. By the same token, I am a big fame of Wagnerian opera who often hears Ride of the Valkyries played in various TV venues, the recognition of which produces no thrill, and certainly no tears as Potts does.
Congrats on your making the Times, Doug.
“Opera started out as a yard sport for Italian lunatics in the 15th Century.”
Nothing has changed, the bellowers or those that endure it.
Nice spelling! L0L
“fanfare for the commom man” L0L
The New York Times ^ | June 24, 2007 | DANIEL J. WAKIN
In each edition, the snobbish, elitist, leftist NYTs and it’s Marxist, progressive, Move on.Org worshiping propagandists spew their distaste for ordinary people, not acknowledging that it has been ordinary people doing extraordinary things who built and protected this country.
“Ordinary Americans” would not buy rotted food for their tables; they are far too smart for that, and they don’t buy the New York Times for similar reasons.
You know they are monitoring things pretty closely when they start reading singing threads.
Partly because Brit Hume made it a point to praise YouTube. Not for the silly things there and political stuff, but for the video of that guy singing that he never would have saw without youtube.
Brit played the entire video at the end of his show in place of the normal joke stuff he shows.
I had to discover Minnie Pearl, Grandpa Jones and all them on my own. Even though I grew up in East Tenn, my parents had moved beyond that when I was a boy. We had classical music, for which I am grateful.
No opera, but I discovered a bit of that on my own as well through an Austrian family I was friendly with.
“Hilliary: That’s Not Butter!”
If you think its butter, but its snot...
Opera was just entertainment for the masses.
As I posted earlier up thread, it is made some what inaccessible by language barriers. Most people, when exposed to a version in their native tongue respond to the timeless themes in opera. I tend to prefer symphony's for this reason. There are no words its just pure sound, invoking imagination
I have never been to and opera but can say that I have seen many symphonys and they are well attended by people in shorts and casual clothing. regular "folks"
I hear you, but let me also remind you that in Wagner’s time, music like his was considered screeching and decadent. Not defending some of the crap that passes for classical music today, but the new is always hard to digest.
All of this being said, I regret that people don’t possess enough musical knowledge to hear that this “People’s Tenor” is really bad.
Puccini’s “Il Triticco” is on KERA in dallas now.
You called me a snob? LOL
Great video! Love your work at Youtube!
If only ALL the people could see Hillary Rodham
for the EVIL person she is. Even the part in your video
of her talking and smirking had me cringing!!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.