As soon as I saw this article it immediately interested me. I thought to myself Aretha Franklin and opera? What do the two have in common and why would she be looking for the next big Opera star? Aretha is the “Queen of Soul” so this really surprised me. When I started researching this topic a little bit more I saw that Aretha is actually a really big fan of opera and classical music. The song “Nessun Dorma” was performed by her at the Grammys! “Nessun Dorma” is an aria from the final act of Giacomo Puccini’s opera Turandot. She especially loves Puccini’s melodies. She has sang many great arias in concert as well. She says that many great Opera singers are retiring and that she wants to have some phenomenal ones lined up for when they do. These singers will be signed to her record label called “Aretha’s Records.” Some people were very skeptical about this but others think it is a really great idea. I am somewhere in between.
There are many singing contests out there now like American Idol and The Voice but Aretha’s singing contest will not be aired on television. It will be a very different contest. Aretha is asking for those interested to send their CD, an eight by ten head shot, and a resume directly to her. The only restriction is that you can to be from the age of 18 to 40 and no originals are allowed. She will be signing two or three people to her record label. She says that she wants to see younger singers take older classical singers like Jessye Norman place because singers like her are retiring.
I am skeptical about this because of several reasons. I don’t think that Aretha has the classical and opera music background to judge what singers will be great like the older singers out there. She may sing opera and be a fan of opera but that doesn’t necessarily mean she has what it takes to choose the best opera singers out there. Many people are fans of pop music and sing it but that doesn’t mean they can pick the next big popstar. When I started reading the article I thought it was going to be another singing show. I’m glad it wasn’t because those ratings would have been terrible! In the article, Carter says that, “singers should be “peer reviewed” by real opera professionals, not “pop reviewed” like the singers on shows like Britain’s Got Talent.” I agree with Carter because he makes a similar point. I would be surprised if Aretha finds a singer and that singer becomes big in the Opera world.
I also think this can be a good idea because it is a chance for classical and opera singers to audition and possibly make it big. It must be so difficult to make it big in the Opera world especially that it is not one of the most popular genres in the industry. Aretha is giving younger people a chance to make it. Mezzo-Soprano Sarah Nisbett says that she definitely plans to audition and that she thinks the blending of pure classical with something a little more funky and popular is exciting.
I compared Aretha’s version of “Nessun Dorma” and a version in the real opera Turandot. Aretha’s version sounded beautiful nonethelss but very poppy and not natural like the original one. I am interested in what other people think about this. I found this article and what I researched to be very intriging.
Aretha’s version of “Nessun Dorma” on the Grammys.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DwZ-GMHyho&feature=related
“Nessun Dorma” in Puccini’s Turandot
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndMamv76plE
The article by Jennifer Guerra
7 Responses to Aretha Franklin Is Looking For The Next Great Star…Of Opera