If "popera," the fusion of pop music imagery, attitude, and marketing with operatic vocalism (even the pop-arranging of opera and classical music) must exist, then thank God Simon Cowell, of American Idol fame, finally stepped into the picture.
With his quartet of GQ male opera singers and their self-titled album Il Divo, producer Cowell has taken a big step toward making this music - a genre that rock and pop fans find cheesy and opera fans find insulting and, uh, cheesy - more palatable for both.
Il Divo are American tenor David Miller, Swiss tenor Urs Buhler, a French pop singer named Sebastien Izambard, and Spanish baritone Carlos Marin.
I'm an opera singer who listens to pop music at home if I'm not studying music, and I don't mind making it known that I like to keep my peas and carrots separate most of the time. As my not-so-nice review of a group called The Ten Tenors showed, I have in the past found "popera" and the artists who do it grating, with very few exceptions.
My main problem?
That rather than being a "gateway drug" into liking and supporting opera, the typically sub-par voices that seem to characterize this style of music give the wrong idea of what opera should sound like, what you might experience if you drop hard-earned money on your local opera company's next production of La Traviata.
What bothers me most of the time is that opera is a visceral experience; a lot of what passes for "popera" lacks that gut-punch. Opera connoisseurs know that there is almost, for the real fan, a sporting-event element in watching live opera singers without microphones. It's part of the thrill. If you don't think opera-singing requires figurative cojones, let's see how well you would do cloaked in 30-40 pounds of costume, three layers of makeup and a very uncomfortable wig, navigating a tilted or turning stage under shifting lights for the better part of three hours while still singing page upon page of music in a language other than your native tongue, at a volume that would normally be reserved for great anger or cheering at a ball game.
One reason opera is thrilling is because the constitution required of the men or women who trod the old-school stage and do it is such that the sound you get is one that reeks of power. Opera is far from the effete stereotyped view many Americans in particular seem to have of the art; it is, at it's best, red-blooded and gutsy.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Ann
Re "Nella Fantasia"... sorry but that's Carlos singing the entire lead! You can really enjoy Sebastien's voice on "Every Time I Look at You" and "Passera". I absolutely love Sebastien's voice! I know it's not as operatic as the others' but it's still powerful, with a laid-back, breathy quality. (Yeah, yeah, and he's a heartthrob to boot.) :)
2 - N icolette
This is a very good review -- it gave me a desire to possibly purchase something I had no plans to purchase.
3 - Temple Stark
Steve, great take. Breaks a few of the stereo types.
This work of yours now has another venue for success - and more eyes - at the Advance.net Web sites, a place affiliated with about 12 newspapers.
One such site is here.
Also please let your contact know, if you had one, that this article, is published at one more place. That helps a lot.
Thank you.
Temple Stark
4 - maryj
dear simon thank you for giving me such joy and listening pleasure, my husband who would have loved album this passed away in april im sorry he missed it.
5 - Michelle
I enjoyed the review. I first heard Il Divo perform on Oprah, and I was very excited. As a music teacher I strive very hard to get my students to understand what singing "opera" is or isn't. What gorgeous voices these men have! I spent a lot of time trying to figure out which man was singing which solo. I love the harmonies; that's one thing I miss while singing. I also love the fact that Italian and Spanish languages are so well represented. Two of my favorite languages to sing. It is just so nice to hear beautiful voices.
6 - Luciana
I'm not a music teacher, I don't know who's the baritone, or who's the tenor, I don't often listen to opera, as a matter of fact, never. But I do know this....Il Divo is an absolute pleasure to listen to! Every song sends a shiver up my spine and the fact that they are drop dead gorgeous doesn't hurt either! I tip my hat off to Simon, who, without a doubt, is a genius. I await anxiously for their next album. I wish them much success, which undoubtedly will be easy to achieve.
7 - Tilly Flop
I am a big fan of Il Divo & have this cd playing for most of the day. Thankyou Steve for a wonderful review. I will be posting it on the Il Divo forum website www.ildivo.com where I am sure it will give pleasure to the many divas all over the world. A big thank you to you on their behalf.
Many thanks,
Tilly Flop
8 - Mariajoy
I am a big fan of Il Divo and I listen to the CD all the time. Thank you Steve for this wonderful review. I'm glad you like them as much as I do. I don't think that Simon is nasty at all. He just has the guts to speak his mind with the honest to God truth and that truth hurts sometimes. Which is why the contestants on American Idol respect him more than the others and take his advice to heart.
Many thanks,
Mariajoy
9 - Minstrel
I've loved Il Divo since the first time I heard them and seeing them perform live is sensational. I'ld like to point out that on Nella Fantasia, Carlos does not sing the entire lead. He does sing the first verse solo, but the second and third are headed off by Urs, with Sebastien joining in with beautiful clarity and David rounding the both verses off with a resounding tenor. Carlos still is in there however, providing background harmony. Carlos does sing the greater part of one song and that's "Ths Man You Love".
Il Divo, what a breath of fresh air!
Minstrel
10 - christina
excellent review....seb's opening of the chorus passera is breathtaking...his voice is so mellow....and yes....david can hit those high notes well!
11 - jenny brown
I have been mad on these guys since the parkinson show for me they can do no wrong there singing is out of this world and as for there looks faboulos
Jenny
HAIL IL DIVO
12 - Christine Perry
Congratulaltions to Simon Cowell for putting together such an awesome group of singers ... they are absolutely fantastic and their voices are in perfect harmony. I love them all but for me Carlos Marin is drop dead gorgeous with those lovely sensual eyes and a smile that makes his whole face light up, warms my heart and sends shivers all over me everytime I hear his voice and see him on DVD. He is a very charismatic performer and I know all will agree with me. Sebastian is also gorgeous and very suave and like Carlos has the 'S' factor. David and Urs also are pleasing to the eye and have exceptional voices ... especially David's Spanish pronunciation is spot on. Keep up the good work guys, love to meet you!
Waiting anxiously for their next cd and dvd and would love to see them come down under (Australia) for a Concert.
With love and many thanks.
Christine, Sydney, Australia.
13 - Christy
Listening to Il Divo in my car moved me to tears...Or was it the testosterone building up inside the windshield? Magnificent music from magnificent men!
14 - Jo
I love this group, I can't get enough of their music. Where will they be performing?
15 - Michael
I heard Il Divo while visiting family in England, what a treat, I do hope they come to Canada in the near future. Looking forward to the next recording.
Thanks Simon for introducing us to this fine singing group
16 - Marie stirling
I heard Il Divo for the first time this afternoon on the Young and the Restless TV show..OMG..what a sensation i am a classical fan and this group sung exceptionally well together..and super to look at!!! Good luck with all your future albums. I most certainly will buy your albums!!!
17 - joni
I also heard il divo for the first time to day on y and r. I had never heard of them and I had to look it up as soon as the show was over. It made me cry when the harmony really starts to push at the end. It brings out something very special that you don't hear in pop during your day to day. Very refreshing.
18 - spring
GUYS : i can listten to you guys forever over and over !!!
well doen and good luck hope to see you here in belgium
19 - Your Big Fan
mygosh! this guys is truly magnificent with gergeous looks and truly unique voices...cant't stop playing the songs for at least a day..... you'll always be the number 1 in my heart and love to c ya real soon in malaysia!
20 - Dina Renwick
I just fell in love with Il Divo from the start. But please Simon let us have a DVD on them now, I am dying to watch them sing. The brief shop on Oprah was not enough.
Dina