From Nokia to Nessun Dorma(If you love Italian opera, you are in for a TREAT!)

theage.com ^ | June 14, 2007 | Michelle Johnson

[HarmlessLovableFuzzball]

Recorded on tape.

[Suzy Quzy]

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

[mad_as_he$$]

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

[GOP Poet]

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.

[pbear8]

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.

[Suzy Quzy]

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

[mimaw]

Bravo Paul. I curious as to weather opera could be appreciated in this country on American Idol.

[DaughterofEve]

WOW!

[Michael.SF.]

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.

[HarmlessLovableFuzzball]

What was recorded...the Orchestra?

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

[HarmlessLovableFuzzball]

Don't overlook Amanda Holden, the female judge

[Snoopers-868th]

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.

[SaveTheChief]

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.

[MinuteGal]

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

[Aria]

Made me cry too. True beauty!

[Kaslin]

Mario Lanza is one of my favorite Tenors

[LadyPilgrim]

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

Thank you for posting this! ;-)

[krb]

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.

[krb]

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!

[GoldwaterChick]

Ping!