If you can bear to revist the nauseating display of utter naffness that was
Pop Star to Opera Star last night, here's a quick write-up followed by Franco Corelli singing Nessun Dorma, which should clear the air a little.
http://standpointmag.co.uk/node/2626
4 comments:
Prior to Popstar To Operstar BBC4 showed Christopher Nupen's rich 1973 documentary on Carmen (still available http://bbc.co.uk/i/pwstr/). It closes with these prophetic words:
"... precisely because of its popularity, the fundamental idea of Bizet's masterpiece has tended to be lost in the familiarity of the overworked tunes. The tragedy of the true femme fatale who must destroy both herself and her lover tends to be obscured by the attractiveness of her sexuality and the seductiveness of her music."
This becomes even more poignant if you read her as Katherine Jenkins, and lover as the trusting public.
Another antidote here from the US is this article about the PBS broadcast of "The Audition": Art vs. schlock: comparing Met Opera's 'The Audition' to UK's 'Pop Star to Opera Star'
I do agree that the show does not do opera music justice, and you definitely need years more training to perfect opera singing. What I would say however is that maybe, just maybe, a new generation of opera lovers will stem from seeing this show? What do you think?
No, Rose, I'm afraid I don't think a show as asinine as this could possibly create a generation of opera-lovers. It has nothing whatsoever to do with opera!
Post a Comment