May 24, 201015 yr Glad to hear y ou all enjoyed it. Was so glad there was 18,000 there, was worried they wouldnt get a large crowd but glad he was seen by so many. Do you think there will be any reviews.
May 24, 201015 yr I don't know if this is posted somewhere else but here is the Sunday Express article http://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/view/176693 FIGHTING TALK WITH DARIUS KNEES touching chin, all 6ft 4in of Darius Campbell, formally known as Danesh, sits folded in the corner of the sofa like a hinged and expensively suited slide rule. We have interrupted the recording of his latest album to talk about his appearance at 2.30pm this afternoon at the O2 Arena as toreador escamillo in the ever-popular opera, Carmen. Campbell sang composer Bizet’s song Of The Toreador when winning the recent Popstar To Operastar television reality show. One of the world’s most familiar pieces of music, the tune is crashed out at sporting events from the Formula 1 Grand Prix circuit to boxing and football World Cups. Hoping to start the conversation on a light-hearted ironic note, I wondered if any thoughts of mortality were surfacing as his 30th birthday, known universally as a dangerous age, looms in August. Perhaps deliberately, he missed the naughty, philandering implications that provoke a nudge and a wink down the pub. “Thoughts of mortality are not alien to me,” he says, fixing me with a solemn but piercing gaze, “but certainly not precipitated by a birthday.” In particular his father, Booth, 67, was recently diagnosed with cancer. “His battle and nearly losing him before Christmas, also my grandad, Colin Campbell [78], singing the Green Oak Tree to me in hospital when he got emotional, that just did something to me.” What it did was persuade Darius to change his name to Campbell, reportedly causing a rift between him and his parents. “Also,” he goes on, “I’ve been the male protective figure in the lives of two young boys.” They are the sons of species film star natasha Henstridge, with whom he set up home in LA. He asked her to marry him, then broke it off. He denies a current relationship but sees his future as a husband and father. “I think a man’s life is incomplete unless you are willing to give to a fellow human being. All the great love stories, the stories we fall in love with, involve a father, son, lover, it’s important for a man to be all those things.” He refuses to discuss Canadian-born Natasha. Neither has Campbell, the son of Glasgow doctors, have anything to say about his dismissal from the turn-of-the- century Pop Idol show following a highly idiosyncratic rendition of Britney spears’s Baby, One More Time. The Pop Idol judges, including Nigel Lythgoe, labelled him a cocky upstart after he advised them, “I have a great gift and it would be a shame not to share it with the world.” Following his departure he said, “I was painted as this overconfident guy with an unshatterable ego but nothing could be further from the truth.” Somehow, partly by eating humble pie in public through a number of interviews, he appealed to the traditional British urge to champion an underdog and his career has ticked over for a decade. Campbell has popped up twice in the stage show Chicago. There was also a West end appearance in award-winning Guys And Dolls as well as the ill-fated £4million Gone With the Wind, which closed after 10 weeks. He had a no1 single in 2002, as well as a platinum album. He appeared on television last year and has written sink Or swim: My story, a random scatter of achievements that perhaps indicates an opportunistic approach in a notoriously unstable career, grabbing at whatever comes along instead of building on a basic inspiration. There was a long pause and my heart sank with a gloomy premonition. It was worse than I expected. Much worse. “I’m actually offended by that thought,” he said, with a slight flush on the cheekbones. “It seems to me you are ignorant of what it means to be a performer, of the necessity to move between the disciplines.” I kept my mouth shut. “I taught myself the guitar and wrote my first song when I was 12,” he rushes on. “What you said has got me fired up inside, my artistic core is deeply offended.” Oh, please. “The thought that you think I’m drifting.” At that point we were both speechless. As a paid-up member of the anything-for-a-quiet-life club I am mortified if I offend a spider and I open my mouth in conciliation, too late. “I enjoy challenge, I’m a man who loves extreme sports, I’ve done the world’s longest abseil down Table Mountain, I sky dive, bungee jump, swim with sharks. “I love starting something not knowing where I’m going. What about taking on the role of escamillo in a team of highly respected opera stars?” Carmen is top director David Freeman’s fabulous production; Cristina nassif and Louise Poole alternate as Carmen, John Hudson and Philip O’Brien share Don José. “I’ve turned down a lot of enormously financially rewarding work, 10 times the fee I’m getting for Carmen. There are few in the pop world and none in the rock world who would rehearse six weeks for one performance but if that’s what it takes, I will do it, and do it happily. Is that the attitude of a drifter?” I THOuGHT I’d build bridges and mention my dancing career. “Imagine,” he pounced back, “within the full tapestry of dance you were only ever allowed to dance the tango?” he asked, shifting excitedly in his corner. Touché. “Today we tend to pigeonhole artists, not so long ago it wasn’t unusual for an actor to burst into song. “I believe doing just one thing in life is totally boring,” he insists. “I’ve always forged my own way. I turned down simon Cowell’s multi-million-pound recording offer for a difficult path but it proved more satisfying. I said no to every reality TV offer over the past five years to pursue an acting career and only accepted Popstar To Operastar because the best people were involved. My parents wanted me to be a doctor or a lawyer. “My basic ambition as a man is to live without regret,” he finally says, “follow my sense of purpose, live responsibly and within my means and be fulfilled as an actor, writer and songwriter. I know I’m lucky to do what I love. Once in a while they all come together which is the best, like escamillo in Carmen.” so Campbell and I had experienced our crossed wire moments but I reacted like the British public a decade ago. You just cannot help liking the man.
May 24, 201015 yr thanks nina, you tel the cretin, darius - bout time he told them, he is so right. i did look out for people, i didnt see pam, or meg..who i recognise - ourseats were great, i am glad i chose the ones i did, on the aisle, and on the corner where darius played out the bulfighting, the dearer seats i could have had were probably where pam was on the orchestra end..our view o the whole stage was superb it was so much fuller than i thought it would be, darius put on an fab italian accent, and his opera voice was sensational, it ceratinly boomed out and was a refreshing chage from the tenors et. he held his own and no way would you think he didnt derserve to be up there he just looks so good on stage, it did remind me in places of gwtw, the last bit with the stylised bullfight and freeze frame. i really need to see him in phantom now, i found carmen a bit boring the story was filled to much with songs whihc tbh lyricwise and length went on and on..i think only darius sections and songs . added some excitement, the procession nd bullfight being the highlight musicals please for me Edited May 24, 201015 yr by prettyinpink
May 24, 201015 yr Thanks for that Nina. An interesting read. I do wish these journalists wouldnt keep going over the same ground. I dont see what he has done as drifting, but trying out different aspects of the entertainment business, so far songriting, pop, musical theatre, acting and now opera, whats next films. In fact someone has posted elsewhere that they thought his voice was getting more like Sean Connery.. Its about time he struck back at the journalists.
May 24, 201015 yr Thanks for that Nina. An interesting read. I do wish these journalists wouldnt keep going over the same ground. I dont see what he has done as drifting, but trying out different aspects of the entertainment business, so far songriting, pop, musical theatre, acting and now opera, whats next films. In fact someone has posted elsewhere that they thought his voice was getting more like Sean Connery.. Its about time he struck back at the journalists. Enjoyed the show, but agree with the set being too long for all to see. I thought D was a tiny bit nervous on the first song, but settled in and did very well. I couldn't understanmd hardly any of the female arias etc! so struggled to follow what was going on. IMO GWTW was much better, such a shame it didn't get a fair chance :( Fantastic to say hello to some guys, thanks to Meg and sorry I had to shoot off. Talk more when I get home, paying by the minute here at hotel :)
May 24, 201015 yr glad I am not alone..I too thought GWTW better, this seemed not a lot of story filled with an awful lot of - tbh songs that went on and on about one thing. darius' pieces added interest and were of relevance but some bits were tedious. OH kept nodding off tbh. I would have prefered more filling, Darius' songs were about the only ones I understood.LOL but then again I do find sopranos grating - and opera isnt my cup of tea, MT for me I am afraid,
May 24, 201015 yr Oh yes bring back GWTW ..but I could manage Phantom or Les Mis ...however I'd rather have his own music
May 24, 201015 yr http://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/view/176693 FIGHTING TALK WITH DARIUS Thanks Nina. This is the photo that went with it. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v78/1PamP/Carmen.jpg I'm just trying to scan the other.
May 24, 201015 yr his own music, but phantom is my dream too, can see him with that rich voice in that mask, would like some of his own music too mind you, dont suppose there is a picture of Darius in that matador getup...my binoculars were glued to my eyes , he looked abolsutely amazing!!! a total adonis tbh. :heart: Edited May 24, 201015 yr by prettyinpink
May 24, 201015 yr Author The show http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v614/megham/2010/Carmen%20O2/P1000414edsmall.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v614/megham/2010/Carmen%20O2/P1000413edsmall.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v614/megham/2010/Carmen%20O2/P1000412edsmall.jpg
May 24, 201015 yr Author http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v614/megham/2010/Carmen%20O2/P1000410edsmall.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v614/megham/2010/Carmen%20O2/P1000409edsmall.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v614/megham/2010/Carmen%20O2/IMG_4618small.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v614/megham/2010/Carmen%20O2/IMG_4618closeupsmall.jpg They aren't brilliant pics but they were hard to get.
May 24, 201015 yr Author The after show. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v614/megham/2010/Carmen%20O2/P1000418cropsmall.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v614/megham/2010/Carmen%20O2/P1000419cropsmall.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v614/megham/2010/Carmen%20O2/P1000415cropsmall.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v614/megham/2010/Carmen%20O2/P1000417cropsmall.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v614/megham/2010/Carmen%20O2/P1000416cropsmall.jpg I think I liked best the laugh when he got a hug from Surrogate mum, pip, bea and a macho one from B.P. via me. I usually don't go around hugging him but it had us both laughing.
May 24, 201015 yr Thanks Meg :D Here's the scanned ones from the Express:- http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v78/1PamP/ExpressCarmenMay2010.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v78/1PamP/ExpressFightingTalkMay2010.jpg
May 24, 201015 yr Author I would not go to the O2 again for an opera. It was very well done but we couldn't even see the faces and seeing people's emotions are so much part of it that it left a lot of the opera cold. It was a good production but in the wrong venue. I'd suggest that people saw an opera in it's proper venue before judging whether you liked it or not. GWTW wouldn't have worked at the kind of distances this was away from the public. Without seeing the subtle changes in expression or actions, no visual art form would be seen at it's best. Darius' acting knocked spots of anyone else's. The fight with Darius was good, on Friday you hardly noticed it. The Kevin Green law, the baritone on Friday, had a beautiful voice and his technical proficiency was above Darius'. Darius did really we and his higher baritone range was supberb but, more than anything, his ability to portray emotion came over extremely well. The only time you'd have known how new Darius was to this was at the very beginning of the Toreador song as he sounded so nervous. That didn't last long though and he was soon in his stride.As I said to him, he has more than enough ability become one of the best ever baritones in this kind of music in a few years time, if that's what he wants. I also added that I really hoped it wasn't. He should be proud of himself as he did exceptionally well. I just wish I'd been closer.
May 24, 201015 yr thanks, megham, the pictures are great. I didnt take a camera as it said none allowed, but lots were using their phones. perhaps an excuse for a new one, as the camera on mine is next to useless its so outdated - shame we didnt see you, I thought I recognised chris, but not sure..not sure enough to make myself look a twit going up and asking. LOL we had a look as we walked round seeing if there was a place we fancied eating, but didnt recognise anyone. we didnt even realise you could go in the back way, unitil we were in the arena and saw people coming up the steps that way. I thought Darius did himself proud, totally looked the part, I love him singing like this, but dont like opera per say. Edited May 24, 201015 yr by prettyinpink
May 24, 201015 yr Author I think it was just too big. Even knowing which block you were sitting in, I still couldn't see you.
May 24, 201015 yr LOL I knew you said opposite block..but was peering over to the wrong opposite, I didnt see Pam althoguh I was pointing out block 114? to where the more expensive seats I was offered were..and saying how good our seats were, right on the corner next to the aisle. as said it was so big I couldnt pick out faces, I am glad I wasnt up on the upper tiers though, some people were having trouble getting down the steps next to us as it was! I was all in white..so proably looked like a ghost, but did need a cardi in the arena due to the air conditioning
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