Popstar to Operastar - new ITV reality show.

[mihizawi]

Thanks Dave, yes, I read it but somehow missed or didn't remember you put the videos... Sorry, today was a kinda busy day. By the way, the divx link seems to be broken, but the wmv quality is good enoguh. And, I have to say wow... no, I mean WOW! XD...

Michal

[Dave]

Feb 8, 2010 0:47:26 GMT mihizawi said:

the divx link seems to be broken, but the wmv quality is good enoguh. And, I have to say wow... no, I mean WOW! XD...Michal

Hi Michal, yes, he was is impressive!

Sorry about the broken divX link, I've fixed it now.

Cheers, Dave

[Jeff]

Darius got through to the final last night in spite of initially refusing to sing the aria they chose for him from Don Giovanni. Bernie also got through (she's Rolando's favourite, they'll duet in the final and my money is on "O soave fanculla" from La Boheme). To be honest I've never really taken to the woman, maybe because I never really liked the Nolans to start with. She's loose-tongued and has a tendency to screech her highest notes. If I wanted to hear sounds like that I'd get myself a pet owl ! Out went Kym, deservedly so but Lloyd Webber's "Pie Jesu" was never opera (nor are choirboys for that matter). Surprise of the night was the demise of Marcella, back to form with the Laughing Song from Die Fledermaus but throughout the series she came over as too intense and this American never really engaged with the British audience. Still, for me she was the best singer by a country mile and she joins Faryl Smith and Susan Boyle as one of the best singers never to win a reality show. But hey, what do the public know?! You didn't really expect the best singer to win, did you?!

So, what of the final ? If Bernie wins her screams will be heard all over Ireland. I'm rooting for Darius. He's kinder to my eardrums and if he sings Largo al factotum (which Alex failed with in round 1) he should excel, but I don't know if they'd use the same aria twice. Be good if they did. It would suit him down to the ground.

[Dave]

I don't really buy the "Marcella never engaged with the British audience" thing at all, she engaged fine with most people I've seen commenting and she made the last four. But she isn't as well known as some of the others over here and that may have been a factor.

One problem is I think that they decided to have only two out of four in the final, to drop two people at this stage was a big mistake in my opinion. I can't think of another reality show that does that and this one was supposedly modelled on the others (necessarily so, if it was to get decent viewing figures). If they'd done it "properly" and only dropped one, I have little doubt that Marcella would have been one of the three as she's clearly been one of the top three "opera" singers in the competition, right from the start.

Meat Loaf's performance of Bat Out of Hell, with Juliette Pochin, just didn't work and I winced.

Overall, my main feeling about this series, with one week to go, is one of disappointment, there have been very few good performances and as often happens, the final result will be a bit of a lottery. I'll probably record then watch the final but judging by the standard of performances so far, I am not really looking forward to it.

Dave

[nicola]

There will be a spin-off show to this called 'Popera'. I don't know any other details for this at the moment, but all my criticisms are silenced with the much more appropriate name.

[Jeff]

If anyone is still bothered and just to wrap this thread up, the final last night was won by Darius Campbell. The duets surprised me (usually in opera a man sings with a woman !) but the series as a whole was an interesting experiment but one which I feel is unlikely to be repeated in that format. If you thought that was bad, same time next week it's Michael Winner so what more reason do you need to go out on Friday nights ?!