Matt Monro Forum

Another one that went awol.
A new show that began last weekend where several 'pop singers' compete to become an opera star. I was impressed by the complicated opera numbers they were able to achieve for the first show, especially Jimmy Osmond and Kym Marsh.

This is also a repeat---I liked the show, and it was good to hear sdonme familiar tunes. I also thought Kym and Jimmy were good, along with Bernie and Darius.

However, the "guest singer" to me, did not appear to sing as well as some of the Celebrity singers, and she looked more nervous I thought.

Katherine Jenkins, as usual looked just beautiful-has there ever been a time when she has been on Tv looking less than stunning?

It am looking forward to hearing her sing next week

I am sorry to pour cold water on this but I thought this programme was terrible. The tone was frivolous and no-one seemed to be taking it seriously (what on earth was Meatloaf doing jumping up and down and shouting for all the time?). I would like to have seen more of the rehearsal sessions and an in-depth presentation of the techniques involved, with the differences between opera singing and popular singing explained, but this would be asking too much as the programme was clearly aimed at the lowest common denominator and modelled on the "vote a celebrity off" format so beloved of today's TV producers.

I thought most of the singers were dire, with the exception of that woman from Shakespeare's Sister (whose name I now forget) and Bernie Nolan, who was probably the best of the lot. While Rolando Villazon is a bona fide opera singer it's stretching it a bit to describe Katherine Jenkins as one of the leading opera singers around (she is a crossover singer and nothing more), as indeed is Camilla Kerslake. I didn't think Camilla sang all that well but she was better than the contestants.

Justice was done in the vote when Alex James was sent home (his performance was simply ludicrous) but I would have placed Jimmy Osmond in the final two and not that girl from The Saturdays, who I thought sang better than him ("O Sole Mio" is not an operatic aria, by the way).

All in all, this was truly car crash television and I certainly won't be watching it again.

You are probably very right Jon. I was only considering it as a not too serious entertainment programme. The standard will undoubtedly improve in the later shows.
Marian

Fopr some reason we haven't watched this programme, so can't comment, so maybe something else was more appealing on other channels, although we do like programmes where there is competition.
Katherine Jenkins is a beautiful girl and we have already purchased her CDS, but recently it has become so noticeable, her voice has developed a quiver, very much like Charlotte Church had, and have to say, we prefer Faryl Young.

Simply dreadful-could only stand five minutes! The trailer said it all!

We watched it last night but only because there was nothing else on. Can't say I was impressed.

I recorded it and we watched it this morning. The judges annoy me, but I'm sure the pop stars are trying their best. I think Marcella is head and shoulders above the rest, I also liked Bernie Nolan and Darius.
Marian

I would like to see Darius win-I have always liked him-although for some reason he has changed his suname to Campbell--I guess it certainly sounds more Scottish than Danesh !!

The programme was being slated in the papers today, calling it an insult to opera, as it takes years to become an opera singer. The audience figures are also low.
I think it ia all being taken way too seriously, it's only supposed to be light entertainment after all.

My misgivings about this programme appear to have been vindicated. I saw a report in The Sunday Express attacking it and saying that it seemed to be going out of its way to make fun of opera: my thoughts exactly.

Well, we all know that it takes years of training to be an opera star--same as Skating or Dancing--it's just something a little different--and I thought Katherine was amazing, singing from "Carmen"--I'd love to hear her sing the whole opera-like Maria Callas.

Katherine couldn't sing a whole opera-

I really do not see why not. She has recorded whole Cd's--why not a whole opera--if it was on cd, it would not all have to be done at the same time, as it is in a theatre.

Not the same!
Opera singing is not for POP singers-nor Leslie Garrett either.
Katherine is a lovely girl and no disrespect NOT an opera singer.