I didn't think so. I thought he sang in simple West End style - clear notes, good breathing throughout. To me Blake and Katherine Jenkins were pseudo-operatic with loads of vibrato and trills singing non-operatic songs. Totally unnecessary in my opinion.

I was thinking performance wise, I know what you mean about vocally, I do find Darius vocals were crisper and cleaner than opera singers(who invariably I find vocally irritating and unclear)Katherine is far too warbly and Blake too I disliked, But faciallly and performance wise I felt he commanded the stage and connected with the audience imo. I also dislike El Divo, just thought I would throw that in.

 

arhh there was one bit in from a distance when he upped the power and depth in his voice- I felt if he let rip, his voice was so powerful - it sent shivers through me-

Edited January 15, 201015 yr by prettyinpink

Was it the bit about " what all this FIGHTING is for?" when the chest swelled out?IMO it definitely hinted of yet another gear!

 

has everyone seen this new bit of PTO's twitter

 

http://twitter.com/poptoopera/stars

Yes whats this fighting for did show the power of his voice.

that was the bit, and then the bit when he went up a notch on god is watching us,

 

 

mm, Darius must be rehearsing rahter than twittering ehh?? LOL

Edited January 15, 201015 yr by prettyinpink

Just had a peep a Catherine jenkins site. Someone who was also at the pilot says Marcella was the best and catherine

mentions jimmy as being lovely.

She was the best female. I think she'll be better tonight. Some of her actions were a little weird and you ended up concentrating on them. She has a very good voice. Jimmy IS lovely. I feel sorry I never noticed him before.

I think all the Osmonds come across as lovely people, well what I have seen of them/

The audience with Donny and Marie was great, they are true entertainers and have never stopped entertaining in the US as far as I know.

Edited January 15, 201015 yr by prettyinpink

OK , then............press reports.

 

We've seen the DR one. Pictures are one of Darius from PopIdol -the nice one, wearing a dark shirt; one with his mum and dad; one with Natasha at the Laurence Olivier awards - very thespian with his first atempt at Rhett's moustache and a great big one of him buttoning his suit from Popstar to Opera star.

 

I'm off to try to find the other reports online but if not, I'll type them in.

 

Next week's TV Times has a good sized picture of Darius (leaning against the wall one) and a smaller inset one of Kym.

 

It says

 

This latest talent show is the perfect mix of fun and froth for us watching at home but for the celebs it really is no mean feat making the transition from pop idols to (hopefully!) terrific tenors and sopranos. If we had to bet our bus fare at this early stage on ones to watch, the smart money's on Corrie's Kym Marsh and Pop Idol crooner Darius (Danesh) Campbell. It's still very much anyone's game,though. Who gets your vote?

 

 

That's a bit of a neat trick turning a baritone into a tenor in 6 weeks, isn't it?

Edited January 15, 201015 yr by Baytree

Scottish Daily Express

 

In the published Scottish edition but not on either site online. Why not?

 

There's a bit of cleverly written fence sitting, in my opinion, but otherwise OK.

 

Title - New name, same attitude for Darius Picture small moody one from PTO caption Proud: 'Campbell'

 

Singer Darius Danesh has changed his name in honour of the elderly grandfather who is his biggest fan.

 

The ex- pop Idol singer, who returns to the reality show format tonight with ITV's Popstar to Operastar, took the decision after visiting maternal grandfather Colin Campbell,78, in a Glasgow hospital before Christmas.

 

darius explains:"He got quite emotional and said he was proud of me and wherever I would go in life I'd always be a Campbell and always be Scottish and he loved me. That just did something to me. it's really as simple as that."

 

The 29 year old singer who is engaged to Species film starNatasha Henstridge, denied the change of name had caused a rift between him and Iranian born father Booth 67, and mother Avril.

 

He also scoffed at the speculation that he had adopted Campbell o make life easier given the current anti-Middle East bias on his adopted home of Los Angeles. " It is nothing like that. my name has always been Darius Campbell-Danesh." "When iIwas introduced on Pop Idol I was told I was going to be Darius Danesh. When iIgot my recording contract they wanted just my first name."

 

When working in the United states, he explains, he meets people who are confused by his Scottish accent and the name Danesh. "My dad is very supportive," he said " the heart of the reason is an emotional one."

 

In the new reality show, pop artists discover if they've got what it takes to perform opera. Tutored by Katherine jenkins and famed tenor Rolando Villazon, the eight contestants - including Blur's Alex James and Jimmy Osmond - will be performing classical pieces.

 

Darius has vowed to win the shw after failing with Pop Idol and the early closure of the Gone With The Wind musical, in which he starred as Rhett Butler.

 

 

 

 

 

 

vowed to win ehh..so they are already setting him up for a fall, LOL

Darius has vowed to win the shw after failing with Pop Idol and the early closure of the Gone With The Wind musical, in which he starred as Rhett Butler.

 

No he hasn't. I wondered when that was going to appear. They've cut out the laugh.

 

His performance last night wasn't on par with his normal performances. He seemed totally immersed in getting the vocal techniques right and he did really well. Maybe tonight he can relax a little more and let the Darius feelings through.

now I am really nervous

 

from daily record

 

Darius Campbell: I've changed my name from Danesh because I feel so Scottish

 

Jan 15 2010 By John Dingwall

 

POPSTAR To Operastar contestant Darius Campbell will sing Nessun Dorma tonight as a tribute to his 78-year-old grandad who inspired his name change.

 

The Glasgow singer became a household name as Darius Danesh through stints on reality shows Popstars and Pop Idol.

 

But he recently ditched the family surname he inherited from his Iranian doctor dad, Booth.

 

Darius, 29, chose to become a Campbell - his mum Avril's maiden name - after an emotional visit to grandad Colin Campbell in a Paisley nursing home.

 

He revealed: "My real name is Darius Campbell-Danesh. On my credit card and passport, it has been Darius Campbell for the last two years.

 

"In the last five years, I have watched my dad go from a life or death scenario back to full health.

 

"I've taken on the responsibility of being effectively a stepfather to two young children. And I've reached a stage in my life where I ask, 'Who am I?'

 

"Before Christmas, I visited my grandad. He is originally from Greenock and he sang The Green Oak Tree to me. He sang it in such a way it brought tears to my eyes. He was in tears at the end of it, as well.

 

"He said to me, 'I am proud of you. No matter where you are in the world, you'll always be a Campbell. You'll always be a Scot and you'll always be my grandson'.

 

"At that point, I thought, 'I feel like Darius Campbell'. That's the name on my passport. It's the name on my credit card. Back in the day when I was introduced as Darius Danesh, I didn't ever have the choice. Someone at the studio in England dropped the Campbell without asking me.

 

"I am Scottish. I am proud of my heritage and I don't want to lose that.

 

"We live in a world that is becoming very Americanised. Everything is a bit of a jumble and knowing where you are from is very important.

 

"When I travel the world, I feel so deeply Scottish. When people know me as Darius Danesh, it doesn't reflect that I am Scottish. People say it's not a very Scottish name. But Darius Campbell reflects that I am Scottish."

 

Darius also dismissed the notion of a family feud over the name change after dad, Booth, reportedly fumed: "He should just keep it Danesh because everyone knows him as that."

 

The singer said: "I don't know where that quote came from. I spoke to my dad and he told me he didn't say that.

 

"My father is one of the most supportive people.

 

"He considered changing his name to Campbell when he first moved to Scotland 30 years ago because he felt like an adopted Scot.

 

"He is happy with the name change. I'm still Darius to him."

 

Tonight Darius becomes one of several singers taking part in ITV reality series Popstar To Operastar.

 

For 10 days, he has been put through his paces by Welsh opera diva Katherine Jenkins and Mexican tenor Rolando Villazon.

 

Darius is competing alongside Blur's Alex James, Bernie Nolan, McFly's Danny Jones, not-so-little Jimmy Osmond, Coronation Street's Kym Marsh, Marcella Detroit of Shakespeare's Sister and The Saturdays' Vanessa White.

 

In each show, they will have to impress Katherine and a panel of judges with their arias, the operatic term for a solo piece.

 

At the end of each week, the weakest performer on the show, which is hosted by Myleene Klass and Alan Titchmarsh, will be sent home.

 

Surveying a studio that features winding staircases that end in mid-air, Darius confessed he hopes to win the series and fulfil his dream of being an opera star. "The set is like a cross between Moulin Rouge and a David LaChapelle pop video. It is surreal and larger than life," he said.

 

"My first professional stage experience was in a Scottish Opera production when I was 12. I fell in love with the stage and with performance.

 

"Then I got a role in Carmen and had two performances in London at the Covent Garden Theatre. That was my first West End experience."

 

Darius says he has been working extremely hard since Christmas to make his opera dream come true.

 

"I've thrown myself into this," he admitted. "It's unlike anything I've done before.

 

"I've had to unlearn what I learned for my pop career and as a musical singer. The techniques for opera are completely different.

 

"Katherine and Rolando have been explaining to me what not to do. I'm singing in a different language and have had 10 days of rehearsal to do what opera singers learn in 10 years.

 

"I see this as revisiting an old ghost.

 

"When I was 14, I made the decision to study and go to university and then follow a career in pop.

 

"That was 15 years ago, so to get the chance to revisit something and retrain is magic. It is golden in a sense.

 

"I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't in my heart hope to win it. For 15 years, I have wondered how different my life would be if I trained with Scottish Opera to be an opera singer. It has been a love of my parents for many years.

 

"They listen to Classic FM and their favourite singers are Placido Domingo and Andrea Bocelli. If I could win this, it would make my dad's year."

 

Darius first burst on to TV screens as the goatee-bearded, super-confident pop wannabe in 2002's Pop Idol.

 

These days, he splits his time between London and the Los Angeles home he shares with Canadian actress Natasha Henstridge and her two kids.

 

"But I spent Christmas and New Year in Scotland," he said. "Even though we had the harshest winter in years, there was nothing like being home.

 

"It made me appreciate it all the more because I have worked elsewhere. Scotland will always be my home.

 

"My dad had a successful operation before Christmas so we celebrated. It was important to be with my family.

 

"When Natasha's kids heard about Popstar To Operstar, they were really excited. I hope British TV accepts this type of show. It is completely new."

 

Popstar To Operastar is on ITV tonight at 9.00pm.

 

Daily mirror just a pic smallish inset and some blurb about the show on the telly page. It's Pick of the Day.

 

Title - Access all arias.

 

Remember when actors would act,singers would sing and models would model? These days it seems no celebrity can do the job they started out with.

The latest fish-out-of-water show is more fish-moved-to-another pond. But, as the title suggests they're humming to a different tune.

Eight pop stars will, under the guidance f mezzo soprano Katherine jenkins and tenor Rolando villazon, be transformed into opera divas and what's he male equivalent? A mandiva? Malediva? Gentiva? or just a div?

 

She goes on to list the presenters and participants............"and Darius Campbell, who used to be known as Darius Danesh - the Pop idol wannabe/West End star." He's swapped his dad's surname for his mum's maiden name - maybe to make him sound more Scottish as he tries to make it in LA.

 

Each week it's up to us to call to save our favourite. the bottom two will go before the judging panel ,which chooses who to keep and who to send back to pop star land/ Corrie/ La La land.

 

Judges are Katherine and Ronaldo, rock star Meat Loaf and Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen. Yes the flouncy interior designer.

 

Apparently he hosts a show on Classic FM o must know a thing or two about opera...................................

Thanks, BT.

 

I wish we had more in the English press.

i dont believe he would say he has vowed to win it, thats just spin to set him up yet again.

When we first saw the vid for Darius and watched him pretending that he's lost 2 shows and had to win the third - then laughed, Spam said how long do you think it'll be before someone takes the laugh off the end and puts it out as serious.

Is it live tonite or can they edit.

Thanks, BT.

 

I wish we had more in the English press.

 

There's another one but i decided to wrestle with my PC to try to see the This morning video. I've remembered why I hated it and used my off colour laptop all the time.