There was a time when great singers made music that carved a pathway through our senses to touch the heart. Most were not well known outside the world of classical music lovers – only occasionally did a Caruso raise his head above the parapet to become a household name.
Then along came the three tenors and the media circus began in earnest. First it was great singers staking a claim for popular interest, and of course the high fees the new popularity could bring them. Then a spate of lesser voices sought to cash in on the new interest in opera excerpts. Singers with no operatic experience, limited training and no depth of musical background were promoted as “operatic” superstars. These people do not touch the heart – they just mimic musicians who do.
BBC ‘s Maestro series gave the impression that all you had to do to be a conductor was to wave your arms in time to the music. ITV seems set to provide the same level of insight into the world of opera singing.
The making of a great classical singer requires not only exceptional talent but also years of study with expert teachers. In a travesty of this process ITV have announced a “reality” series that claims, in one short series, to turn pop stars into opera stars. Among the mentors will be Kathryn Jenkins, a prime example of a singer who mimics an operatic style without genuine experience or understanding of the real thing. By itself that might make you think that ITV classical music team had completely lost the plot. Confirmation comes with the list of judges including such notable opera experts as Meat Loaf and Laurence Llewellyn-Bowen.
There is a well-known argument that any promotion of classical music is praiseworthy if it brings new listeners to the genre. But the ridiculous absurdities of programmes such as Pop Star to Opera Star and BBC’s Maestro promote nothing but misunderstanding of a great art form. Surely there must be a better way to bring people to a love of wonderful music.