It’s strange because this is the sort of show that I should really like – I very much enjoyed Maestro a couple of years back, but this series just does not do it for me. That is not to say it is a poor production though because it has proved very popular with the masses and has certainly introduced the world of opera to a whole new audience – for that I would put it down to the celebrity contestants rather than the music itself.
I tuned in to the very first episode and saw that it was being hosted by Myleene Klass (turn-off number one for me…) and, surprisingly, a gardening show host Alan Titchmarsh. Myleene plays the piano and Alan tells people how to dig up weeds…then the judges. Katherine Jenkins - a pretty face that sings nicely, she is not an opera singer and has yet to prove herself to make the crossover successfully. Then the worst aspect of all – Meatloaf. Cannot stand him, never could, never will – loud-mouthed, over-bearing, over-opinionated and arrogant – and that’s just a short list of what I think of him. Laurence llewyeln Bowen - he is not a singer but seems to be the only person with any ability to appraise talent. I’ve never heard of the Italian fellow so cannot comment on him.
I tuned in for quick snatches here and there over the past weeks but decided last night to catch a semi-final and what I saw just amazed me. All the contestants were MIMING! I have seen enough live opera performed to know what a singer looks like physically when they sing those arduous arias, they are like mammoth exercises in endurance and I did not see one single diaphram move in any of those songs. The most blatant of this was the ‘performance’ by Darius Campbell; he ‘sang’ the famous Champagne Aria from Don Giovanni ‘Fin ch’han dal vino ‘. The most amazing aspect of this is that he managed it without his larynx moving at all ( a dead give-away where men are concerned…), and not being one tiny bit out of breath at the finish despite completing choreographed movements throughout the piece. I have seen the great Samuel Ramey perform this aria and if HE has a heaving chest at the last note then Darius could at least have looked as though he had raised a bead of sweat! this brought out some morbid curiosity in me so I decided to watch the following contestants to see if they too were faking it. And they were. Bernie Nolan’s ribcage never moved, neither did Marcella Detroit’s although they certainly outdid themselves with excessive facial expressions and contorted throat muscles…not good enough girls – it was a dead give-away.
Of course I am now belatedly hooked, watching these people fooling the public with pre-recorded efforts…surely I am not the only person to have noticed this…?
Down to the right is a clip of Bryn Terfel performing ‘Fin ch’han Dal Vino’ - note the amount of work in his facial muscles alone…not a convincing effort at all Darius.
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The contestants aren’t pre-recorded. They’d hardly keep their errors in if they were. I should think Bryn was performing in the whole opera – not just a 2 min section. It is obvious that they are singing live when you are there watching them.
Marcella, Bernie and Darius performed and sang live and performed very well for newbies.
I know I wont convince you but that’s life.
Never; I am a professional musician and can spot miming a mile off. Sorry, but that’s life…
Told you I wouldn’t convince you. It’s true though.
True that they are miming, yes.
Wendy you echo my thoughts exactly, having studied singing myself I was *surprised* to see Ms Nolan’s rib cage in a very relaxed state during her song – and you are spot on about Darius larynx, that was a (poor) mime job if ever I saw one. What alerted you to this?
Various things Martin. I am very cynical regarding any of these reality shows where celebrities are concerned because they are all basically projects intended to revive flagging/non-existent careers. A lot rides on the results, both for the producers/advertisers behind these shows as well as for the celebs themselves. That is why the ‘voting’ always raises questions as to who gets through and who goes – look at how Gino won ‘I’m a Celebrity blah-blah-blah’…he is under contract to ITV and then he wins an ITV show…the final of Strictly Come Dancing was a complete joke as the best dancer did not go through, that clown newsreader did – anyway…
So Darius; his aria is one of the most physically demanding pieces in the bass/baritone repertoire and yet he was gliding through the performance and the vocals he was performing were coming out of a very relaxed, smiley face…singing that song, any song in fact, requires movement of facial muscles and, especially, the adams apple in a man…his barely moved. Just look at the performance again if you recorded it and you will see what I mean. Also the cheesy choreography he did for the aria was appalling…the actual aria’s lyrics are very earthy. Yeah I know, I’m being fussy…I know he did the work required to record the piece…but he mimed to it.
Have you seen the commercial for Rolando Villazon’s latest recording. He mimes in the ad the way Darius did in the show, no throat work whatsoever.
Yep, seen it Martin. Seems too that I am not the only one who has sussed this out as this is being discussed elsewhere on the internet – and Bernie Nolan…how does one sing a song like that with the ribcage hardly moving? such singing requires deep breathing!
Darius though was a joke. A friend of mine is a resident baritone with the Bayern Opera in Munich and I am going to get his very expert opinion just to clarify.