Preston

Does anyone else think that D being left out of reports of this show is deliberate and does anyone else think that the one that sings in a foreign language will be at a disadvantage in the voting perhaps not by the opera buffs but by the general public. However I noticed one of the candidates singing la donne mobile which is very well known so perhaps they will stick to well known pieces.

The daily mail tv programme for the week puts Popstar to operastar as "Pick of the day" on friday.

My other thought on this programme is that Catherine Jenkins is mentoring them but she is NOT an opera singer, she has not done opera, she admits that herself. One of the judges the male one is an opera singer and apparently Laurence llewellyn bowen is a classic fm dj which I hadnt realised.

I think SCs artistes are coming into it becaue it is on ITV and thats his stable as such for promotion. Pity its not on BBC they would make such a better job of it. the similar programme they did many years ago when Bonnie langford took part wa excellent with a male singing teacher teaching them and you got to see the final result of all of them singing without voting coming into it but ITV and SC are all about making money.

quote PIP in that way I really hope some have their eyes and ears opened, after all say what they like, there is no way people should be saying he cant sing - it amazes me how after all he has done, some still seem totally ignorant of that fact . A large number of the media know only too well but choose to ignore the fact I think ny calling him reject all the time. I just hope we get the chance to hear him sing.

from digital spy 'Popstar To Operastar' details confirmed Friday, January 8 2010, 10:53 GMT By Alex Fletcher, Reality TV Editor Rex Features The lineup and judging panel for new ITV1 series Popstar To Operastar has been confirmed. Hosted by Myleene Klass and Alan Titchmarsh, the show will feature ten famous popstars training to perform famous opera songs. The celebrities taking part include Blur bassist Alex James, veteran singer Bernie Nolan, McFly's Danny Jones and Pop Idol star Darius Campbell. Jimmy Osmond, ex-Hear'Say singer and Coronation Street actress Kym Marsh, Shakespeare's Sister star Marcella Detroit and Vanessa White from girlband The Saturdays complete the lineup. All the contestants will be coached by mentors Katherine Jenkins and Rolando Villazon before performing live on Friday night, when one hopeful will be voted off each week. Jenkins and Villazon will be joined on the judging panel by Meatloaf and Classic FM DJ Laurence Llewlyn-Bowen. Britain's Got Talent stars Susan Boyle and Paul Potts, X Factor runner-up Rhydian and opera group Il Divo are rumoured to have been lined up as special guest performers.

Quote meg - I lived on .net rather than the official site. I hated the lack of communication on it, and much preferred the friendships early .net had. Also, .net was always best for Darius visual and audio history. So, I'm glad an official site is coming but will still miss what we had.I I definitely agree, loved the old site and my heart also sinks at the sound of official site. Regarding his name change dont know why he didnt just stick with Darius on its own, he is well known by that at least here. All these different names will be confusing for the public.

lovely to see you posting Baytree and congrats to your posting on DS. I dont know what to make of him doing this show. I feel he is setting himself up for sniping from people who have no idea what he can do and there are plenty of them. like PIP I shall probably be behind the sofa unable to watch. He is deserving of much more.

If you saw another certain site you would think that even more. I can see the thinking re the scots connection out there but I would have thought that Natashas connections would have overcome that to some degree although watching the 100 musicals programmes the other night one actor in the Lion king said he had NINE auditions before he got the part.It is obvious also in the musicals world that certain producers have their favourites.I think entering american pop idol with the change of name would have more impact but I think it is terrible after the reviews for GWTW that he has to do this especially as that sunday mail report gives the impression he is an also ran.

From todays Sunday mail. Darius Danesh among contestants trying hand at opera in new ITV reality show Jan 2 2010 EIGHT pop stars are set to try their hand at opera for a new ITV reality show. Former Hear'Say singer Kym Marsh, now a Coronation Street regular, is one of the early favourites to win Pop Star to Opera Star. But she faces a challenge from Jimmy Osmond, Blur's Alex James and Bernie Nolan. The line-up is completed by McFly's Danny Jones, former Pop Idol contestant Darius Danesh, Shakespeare's Sister's Marcella Detroit and Vanessa White from girl band The Saturdays. Katherine Jenkins will act as a mentor to the stars, along with tenor Rolando Villazon. And they will be judged on their efforts by rock legend Meat Loaf and TV makeover king Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen. Hosted by Myleene Klass and Alan Titchmarsh, the show kicks off on January15.

It isnt to say that his next album would be opera - Susan Boyle is rumoured to be duetting on this programme wih Andre Bocelli who is an opera star, however I wouldnt call Susans album operatic nor would I call Rhydians first album operatic. more crossover. Nor would I really call Catherine jenkins operatic although she does warble (she is mentoring the group) but Darius is more than capable of different styles just like he does different accents. what I do find sad is that is why his talent is being stifled .

I remember seeing a similar programme years ago but it was done very seriously and was very good but it didnt have judges like they are proposing on this one. I seem to remember that Bonnie langford was one of the candidates and they discovered that she had a fantastic voice but she doesnt seem to use it, when I say fantastic I mean operatic voice.

I can see his reason for the change but he is well known with his current surname. I also .think that the show depends on its format..

Happy n ew year to everyone We have been lucky down here to escape the snow and ice but it is cold. I m iss Baytree too. Happy new year Maria if you look in.

I dont think I can get the STV programme which is disappointing. Just been watching a programme on sky 1 which Shane richie was presenting and GG was a guest. He was on for a long time and sang several songs. including WYs better leave right now with the quip I will sing it better than him. I kept thinking why oh why is D not getting out there showing his talent.

i went upstairs to get dressed and switched on the tele and was amazed to see the beginning of Darius' Colourblind video start so watched it right through. It was so lovely to see it after so long. It was on channel 4 which was good instead of some unknown channel and the programme wa called No.1s of the 21st century.Unfortunately I missed what was said before it started as a short resumee seemed to be before each video.

A list of songs of the decade have been posted on DS and Colourbind is there at no.202 with 322,OOO sales.

Happy xmas everyone. I am fortunate, dont have to cook, going to my daughters.

Quote from WOS via rachel - do sometimes go and see things that I know will be rubbish, because my curiosity is like that. And I don't mind admitting that Darius Danesh was absolutely wonderful in Gone with the Wind. As much as he could be with that BOOK, anyway. He has a fantastic voice, and I hope he gets something good next time he hits theatres! Thanks for that rachel. It is funny as have been watching that site on the link re performers to see if D got mentioned and would have posted myself but thought I would get shouted down and then I missed the new heading re performances that you thought you wouldnt like so am so glad that at least someone has realised hows good D is and I recognise the posters name so is a regular there but I dont think he posted after the show to say the same thing perhaps he was also scared of being shouted down because of the critics. It seems odd and a shame that since those good reviews that D has gained nothing else has happened.

This is from the scottish sun in an article about the x factor winner Joe. And the first time I met DARIUS DANESH, fresh from Pop Idol, he refused to tell me his surname during an interview because he wanted to be known only as Darius "like Madonna or Prince". In fairness, Darius went on to be a top bloke with a successful West End career and an incredibly hot girlfriend in Canadian actress NATASHA HENSTRIDGE. Not that Joe seems the type to get carried away, but he hopefully has a back-up plan which involves playing Billy Flynn in Chicago rather than Mother Goose at Dundee's Whitehall Theatre.

I should have also said it wasnt a patch on Gone with the wind in my opinion. It didnt hold my attention at all, in fact I nearly dropped off. I have seen two amateur productions here recently where the standard of talent was much higher.

To some degree I agree with what PIP says especially when I read of other artistes out there some virtually unknown getting out albums it seems odd. On another note I went to see Evita last night, hadnt seen it before and hated it. To me it was a dreary with no spark. My friend also thought the same and we are both veterans of musicals generally. However at the weekend we saw my local westend star do a concert called winter wonderland and it was wonderful, he puts on a greatr concert with guest choir, female westend performer etc etc. i n aid of charity. Also performing at the Pizza music room knightsbridge on 22 december, really worth seeing.

Glad to see you back but sorry to hear about your problem. My daughter has a similar thing through having been a typist. Hers is called repetitive strain injury.

Rhydians album is completely different to his last one. It is more classical but there is no doubt about the voice. However, I think it is too soon for him to crossover, I think he should have waited to do this on a later album when he is more established. I also wonder if he is with the right label.

Chesney Hawkes (the one and only) has critisied the X factor in Gratzia magazine- this is part of what he says - Speaking to Grazia magazine, the 'One and only' singer says shows like the X-Factor rob music of it's soul. He says " back in my day, an artist had to be multi-faceted in their abilities. I am from that era of rockers, like Nirvana, Red hot Chillis, where musicianship was key. These wannabee contestants and ill-educated music moguls are ruining the music culture with these shows. X-Factor is a contempt for art. My song "One and only" is one of the last trully great rock anthems. Will an X-Factor contestant produce suck lofty art? No!" He also commented that only a few true talents have emerged from these shows. He says " Darius Danesh was incredible and an exception to the usual crap. A real artist. Zoe Birket was awesome too - she could have been our country's Aretha Franklin. But most have been diabolical.