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.
Here is the YouTube thread with almost 5 million hits. Perhaps some FReepers can make some comments. Come on, be nice. http://youtube.com/watch?v=1k08yxu57NA
The very hot actress Amanda Holden.
This snobbery is reminiscent of Harry Chapin's "Mr. Tanner"
Not sure what you’re tyring to say here, mom — but if you are making some comment about a DFU post, at least have the courtesy to ping the man.
This is rich! The Times quotes DFU—but about OPERA and not Shrillery! Un-effin-believable...
He began recording in the studio on Saturday. They think his first CD will be out in a month. I hope he sells a ton, but I don’t know that the music will bring people to tears as did his initial performance. That was as heartwarming a human interest story as there is.
Yes, they quote regarding something about which I know absolutely nothing, opera. I’ve got loads of quotes ready to go for them on Hillary.
Here is the best Paul Potts performance on the Internet — http://youtube.com/watch?v=UtW9Ptcmm-8 :)
Growing up down-home we'd listen in. Minnie Pearl was great to listen to. I can't get it on the radio out here in California though. Maybe I've become less sophisticated, I don't know.
A conundrum - technical flaws interfere with the enjoyment of music but flaws are what make it music and not a computer program.
I’m waiting for the NY TIMES to leak some highly classified opera secrets that get those involved in opera killed.
Up theirs. Mr. Potts made a joyful noise and I enjoyed it!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=1k08yxu57NA
zaohad1 (5 minutes ago)
I saw the NYT article.
Those people will always have their heads up their own arses, too full of self importance to care about anyone common.
Well, NYT critics I have news for you, your cosy self contained little world has just been blown away by popular vote and mass opinion.
Apparently Britain has talent and America doesn't.
Gee, the New York Times reads FR!Way to go DOUG from UPLAND!!!
"That is too funny.pingThey left out the part about being called French wine drinking, cheese-eating, and limousine liberals." - doug from upland
Opera started out as a yard sport for Italian lunatics in the 15th Century.
I posted the lyrics to the song on the original thread. Here they are again. I posted them before I knew the critics were panning Mr. Potts’ performance.
Mister Tanner was a cleaner from a town in the Midwest.
And of all the cleaning shops around he’d made his the best.
But he also was a baritone who sang while hanging clothes.
He practiced scales while pressing tails and sang at local shows.
His friends and neighbors praised the voice that poured out from his throat.
They said that he should use his gift instead of cleaning coats.
But music was his life, it was not his livelihood,
and it made him feel so happy and it made him feel so good.
And he sang from his heart and he sang from his soul.
He did not know how well he sang; It just made him whole.
His friends kept working on him to try music out full time.
A big debut and rave reviews, a great career to climb.
Finally they got to him, he would take the fling.
A concert agent in New York agreed to have him sing.
And there were plane tickets, phone calls, money spent to rent the hall.
It took most of his savings but he gladly used them all.
But music was his life, it was not his livelihood,
and it made him feel so happy and it made him feel so good.
And he sang from his heart and he sang from his soul.
He did not know how well he sang; It just made him whole.
The evening came, he took the stage, his face set in a smile.
And in the half filled hall the critics sat watching on the aisle.
But the concert was a blur to him, spatters of applause.
He did not know how well he sang, he only heard the flaws.
But the critics were concise, it only took four lines.
But no one could accuse them of being over kind.
(spoken) Mr. Martin Tanner, Baritone, of Dayton, Ohio made his
Town Hall debut last night. He came well prepared, but unfortunately
his presentation was not up to contemporary professional standards.
His voice lacks the range of tonal color necessary to make it
consistently interesting.
(sung) Full time consideration of another endeavor might be in order.
He came home to Dayton and was questioned by his friends.
Then he smiled and just said nothing and he never sang again,
excepting very late at night when the shop was dark and closed.
He sang softly to himself as he sorted through the clothes.
Music was his life, it was not his livelihood,
and it made him feel so happy and it made him feel so good.
And he sang from his heart and he sang from his soul.
(And) he did not know how well he sang; It just made him whole.
Doug my hero
Too funny and bizarro. What people will do to get on camera.
Two points:
1) Why was the NY Times permitted to quote so extensively from a clearly superior media outlet without paying compensation to Jim Robinson?
2) Opera and music of orchestral nature has been around so long that it is measured by something more than “we like it”. There has accumulated so much body of work that the various aspects of what is “good” can be defined objectively and evaluated against specific measurements.
Paul Potts is probably not “excellent” in an objective measure. He is probably good, and the key to the entire affair is that he was not merely good, he was astonishingly good. He is a man in a socio-economic configuration from which “good Opera singer” could not be expected.
In the end, money will tell the tale. He is going to give a boost to opera worldwide roughly equivalent to what the Oscar sweeping film Amadeus did for Mozart. As was true when that film came out and afficionados mentioned inaccuracies, the same will be true for Paul Potts. The response will be:
“Yes, there are problems and errors, but how can you disapprove of someone or something that is going to expose so many people to something they might never have embraced, or even encountered, otherwise?”
FreeRepublic -— your go to source for the Clinton scandals and opera.
LOL!!! (And, unfortunately, all too believable.)
This, by the way, is the second time in a short time that they've quoted FR. Coward lurkers!
;^)
Ya done us proud Dougie
Paul Potts PING
Well, the good news is they know your handle and how to find Freepers on the net.
Everyone with a heart cried when they saw that regular guy stand in front of the world and use the gift given to him by God.
I hope this one makes you cry - http://youtube.com/watch?v=UtW9Ptcmm-8
I wonder if people will be as impressed with Mr. Potts without all the hollering, howling and whistling of the audience (not to mention the good-looking lady judge). If he does make a CD, he would be a fool if he doesn’t dub in an enthusiastic audience. Without the audience, his voice would probably grace a shower stall, but not a concert hall.
I agree, I have heard many such sing in various venues.
People in that audience probably never ever had heard someone open their mouth and sing an aria,”
Many is the time, I have had opera playing in the background and have someone ask me,"What is that, it is beautiful?"
Matter of fact, Iam going to play my Turandot DVD with Eva Marton and Placido Domingo right now.
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