Despite the formulaic “nice judge, nasty judge, professional judge” panel structure that hasn’t changed since “New Faces” of the 1970s – ITV’s Popstar to Opera Star is of wider benefit than just to the contestants. It provides an introduction classical music, wrapped up in a glitzy competition – a bit like the Labour Party strategy of 1997 “if they only eat white bread – let’s wrap brown bread in a white bread wrapper”.
Having no classical music education as a child – I picked my favourites from overhearing adverts on TV: aftershave ads, World Cup anthems. I fell in love with the “chant of the hebrew slaves” after hearing it as an introduction to some programme or other, as a teenager, some 40 years ago. I hate to follow one post about my “working class” roots with yet another but to my knowledge, working class kids still do not get a formal introduction to classical music or opera which means that today’s working class kid will still have no idea about its beauty until they hear a tune they like in the background of some advert or other and will refer to it as “the music on that aftershave ad…” for many years to come.
More Opera permeating our tv please: I got a shock a little while ago to hear my seven year old grandson singing “Figaro….Figaro….Figarooooooo” – I joined in, laughing, – he was shocked “do you watch Spongebob Square Pants too Nanny Murphy?”
So – Popstar to Opera Star: please introduce the titles with emphasis and maybe even put the title up on screen so that our kids are getting the “brown bread wrapped in a white bread wrapper, dipped in sequins, topped of by “phone now to save your favourite…..” – the very same programme structure that contaminated their viewing in the first place.
Oh and Vanessa Mae – will you stop that nonense about “I brought the violin into the mainstream” – er…..I think that was done 30 years ago by Nigel Kennedy.
Eileen Murphy
www.brief-therapy-uk.com
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