Pop Star to Opera Star : Week 1 - Marcella Detroit sings "Casta Diva".

[@LANCEASTON]

THAT'S MY WIFE!!! Yes the nerves are for real!!! SOOOOO PROUD!!! That was FANTASTIC, I'm so glad I'm not the the only one who gets this beautiful talent. Thanks ITV for letting us al hear this magnificent voice again.

[@kimnoble486]

i loved her on the show. She was my favourite !!!

[@danielwoods7325]

Wow this takes me back! I remember watching this on TV and being totally mesmerised by her voice. Still think she should have won!! 😊

[@elfneedsfoodbadly]

I listen to a bit of opera. I’m far from an expert, but I have seen a fair amount live. This was my introduction to that aria .… now my favourite and one of only a few that I could recognise and place. I am also not a reality TV fan but I saw this go out live on terrestrial TV back in the day. It’s not fair to judge all the singers the same as opera is much more difficult than many will understand. She knocked it out of the park. The big section was just explosive. I remember hairs on the back of my neck, goosebumps. I periodically come back to hear her sing it again… It was that good.

[@mark902]

i get shivers from her voice.

[@jonnythong22]

How in the hell is a tribute like this horrible? She's freaking amazing!!!! She has a great voice for classical music, are you kidding me??!?!? ugh i love marcella detroit she f**king rules.

[@Nettledust]

This is the only performance that moved me to tears. Beautiful. She should win.

[@GuitarlosCarlos]

The human voice communicates with tones as with words. With the voice of an angel , the heart of a lion and the soul of a muse ,Marcella gives it all to the arts. BRAVO. BRAVO. as one not as civilized, I can only weep at the beauty of it all. Sounds like forever........

[@hugoforth]

I watched this when it was first broadcast and i am an opera fan, .....but i was pleasantly surprised at Marcella's performance, she has a very nice tone to her voice and in my view sounded the most like a pucker soprano..... should have won the whole thing.

[@jaxgal618]

She really does have a beautiful and strong voice. I think she did brilliant for her first performance.

[@TheKaleno]

You must give these artists credit for taking on such a challenge. Marcella Detroit's performance was absolutely amazing. She looks incredible and her voice is so beautiful. Her performance brought tears to my eyes too. WONDERFUL!

[@AtotheA21]

I am italian and i can say that she has a really good pronounce. She is amazing

[@JaneM4277]

she blew it away. loved it........

[@avocate201]

I've only seen snippets of this show, but I think it gives both the pop stars and the audience a better idea of how difficult opera-singing really is and that it requires more than raw vocal talent. This show isn't about giving people an authentic opera experience, but like "Dancing With the Stars," it gives the participants an appreciation for something they hadn't done before. Marcella has a strong voice, so she can probably pull this off better than many other pop stars can.

[@nmozen]

what a magical and heavenly voice; Marcella Detroit you are one of a kind; we love you!

[@vulfig83]

I'm a huge opera fan myself. I watched all of Marcella's performances and know the arias she sung really well. What took me most by surprise was her GIANT progress from week 1 to week 2 and even though they gave her 2 other really tough arias right after that, she did really well. I think, with a bit more training, she would be an adorable Adele from Fledermaus! And I really like the sound of her voice!

[@dennywinstone5666]

simply stunning. one of the most emotional 'real' voices i have ever heard with real emotion. extraordinary. she should do this professionally.

[@ethana.8653]

Her placement on the higher register was actually quite lovely, especially on 'ee' vowels. However, that middle...goodness... Decent pitch-accuracy. I've heard worse from trained Wagnerian sopranos, if I'm being honest. Technically - her voice was quite well-produced. Brava, for doing this in a single week when other singers will work a month on the 'Casta Diva' alone.

[@Eurafrican]

your wife is amazing and an inspiration to us all. here's to the rest of the competition!!

[@supermashriq]

Marcella has a fantastic voice.

[@jewelmarkess]

I see, I might've misunderstood your comment, but I thought you didn't quite appreciate how difficult opera really is. BTW, I am not a singer, but I had some private lessons for personal enjoyment and it taught me much how difficult classical singing is and the exceptional talent and hard work it requires. My guess is that the reason opera singers may feel upset is that the show gives a mistaken impression of what opera is; also on the show only Villazon knows anything about opera.

[@digivoka]

To carry on - yes, it may even lead to people buying, or at least having a new found appreciation for opera & classical music. I know personally it has opened up my eyes (and ears). I think it's a great show. Something very different for a Friday night. And Marcy's doing great!!! Go Marcy!!! Woo!! :D

[@jewelmarkess]

Additionally, what a lot of people don't understand is that singing in operas is about a lot more than just hitting the right notes while sounding pleasant (and yes being heard). Phrasing, diction, expressiveness, adjusting one's voice to suit a role - these are all important, sincere emotion. And nobody wants to keep music for themselves. Most will be delighted if more people liked opera especially young people, they just want people to simply understand what opera is.

[@decimal_five]

Love her. Beautiful lady

[@weloveannanetrebko]

She was the best. Was also worried the public wouldn't like her but I want her to go far.

[@1welshdevil]

She has an incredible voice and is a wonderful person

[@kiimmaritz2827]

Its a very emotional song..well done

[@bradstar91]

she stuns me with this performance. so beautiful.

[@iannapavelieva4018]

Simply amazing.I'm damn sure I couldn't manage it in 5 years!

[@RosieAndTheGoldbug]

INCREDIBLE!!!

[@Eurafrican]

she's the one to beat... was worried the pop politics voting was going to screw her over... she's so talented and adorable with her nervousness, really wanna see her there in the final!!! Go Marcy

[@Taydad]

i wish she knew just how good she is. Marcy - you're incredible!!

[@childstar413]

Don't be such a snob! Right, she's NOT trained classically for decades, and nobody ever said she'd go on to be a real opera star, but damned if she didn't move me to tears with the Madame Butterfly selection. My brother worked with the Greater Miami Opera back in the 70's, and my dad listened to opera all the time. For what it's worth, and considering the limitations, I'd say she did a great job! Don't be so mean!

[@bellarules2007]

WOW! I think Marcella is the best so far.

[@chelmondeley]

Some of the other contestants did very creditably, but hers was the standout performance. Sent tingles down my spine and sung with so much passion. Often it's the flaws in a voice which makes it interesting and gives it character, as purity can be quite bland.

[@Kirshneroo]

Such a shame that today's American pop singers could never do that. Marcella has an amazing voice and she could sing anything!

[@DMBKristen41]

We need this show in the States

[@kahuna3901]

i love her so much

[@bobwise1977]

love it! is that what marcella said in the live version of catwoman? she was awesome and i hope she breezes into the final. a true talent

[@marinagst74]

Amazing!!!

[@drkmagneto]

Bravo Marcella!! Bravo!!!! ((STANDING OVATION)) All I can say is wow!!

[@markymnstr]

Beautiful, humble, sings like a Luscinia megarhynchos...what's not to love. Go Marcy. Thank you England.

[@nicksantus5307]

She rocks 4 octave vocal range, given a couple of months training she could do it for a living but i hope she sticks to what she does normally

[@Nettledust]

Here here!! Well said digivoka!

[@mabel8179]

Marcella did very well for a first aria and at the age of 58 too! She looked a lot younger than her age.

[@kittenimp]

She's got to win - come on get voting! ;-))

[@claritovictor]

wow...just wow and that explains everything...

[@filithom44]

That was amazing.

[@RachelGerrard]

@JAS576 can you explain why that performance was appauling? (leaving the predudices against 'pop' singers at the door)

[@tongapuss]

Don't worry Digivoka. Whatever subject is on youtube you will always get people who try and spoil it for others. I agree with what you say, but there are some people on whom it is not worth wasting your time. I enjoy the show, bet you do as well and that is all that matters, us and the other thousands of people who love it too!

[@2HonestIam]

My mistake on her age,my friend said she was 50 over the phone and mistook it for 60! looked it up and she's 51.Still brilliant for a non opera singer!lovely resonance in her voice!

[@elunedwoo]

This is one of my favourite Arias and usually listen to Maria Callas singing it, all things considered this was amazing and I was suprised she lost out to Darius!

[@Amberszone]

Ooooh Meat I MISS You!!! 🤗 Xxoo

[@postcodews41nu]

hope she wins it. best in the show.

[@ALIKJ09]

Well I don't think that show is stupid...I like that ppl bring attention to opera - in any way they doing it)))

[@Problembeing]

She is clearly the BEST technical singer in the competition. If she doesn't win, it is a travesty. MARCELLA TO WIN!

[@WaddlingWithTheWallaces]

Totally agree!!!

[@kittenimp]

he's an itv "star" now - new show Monday and he has a slot on classic fm I think!

[@llaslah]

God, she's amazing, especially considering the short time she had to learn this in!

[@sanfordallan]

Wow!!

[@babybunful]

wish they would do another series

[@anotherblonde]

He is also a DJ on classic fm..............

[@xinthrau8520]

ppl dont seem to get the concept these are non opera singers

[@digivoka]

It's quite amusing, all the comments saying how "terrible" this show is. Those leaving that type of comment are obviously watching it......and you can bet they'll continue to watch it, just so they can leave more comments to say how "terrible" it is. ;)

[@Sk8erMonkey]

omg with the blinking

[@scaleshchess]

with no classical vocal training and she sung it that good?! wow!

[@SR-jx8yu]

Marcella was the best one ... and this show is meant to be a bit of fun. I hate it when they call arias 'songs'! It was an entertaining show, nonetheless. For someone who is a pop singer, it was fun to see how she tackled Bellini. I prefer this to seeing the opera wannabe tragedies on Britain's/America's Got Talent murdering Nessun Dorma or Oh Mio Babbino Caro!

[@acerr40]

@byronmills dont forget PAVORATTI's duet with Elton John...magnificent.... if I spelled his name wrong...sorry...Im a yank...

[@P-adam]

This is supposed to be a fun show, which is exposing regular people to Opera music, which can only be a good thing right? Would you rather the show hadn't been made at all? I for one am glad it's on tv and very pleasantly surprised that Bernie Nolan and Kim Marsh have got such excellent voices! The programme title isn't meant to be taken literally. Nobody is expecting these guys to become Opera singers overnight. Although I'm sure there'll be some kind of cd cash-in!! Lighten up!!!

[@Problembeing]

She can, and I know this as she sang it to me.

[@2valiumland]

OK, you're right, my lack of knowledge in opera jargon is apparent. However, you're arguing against a point I was not aware of making. I realize they're using a microphone on this show. I realize that "just anybody" cannot become an opera singer with a little training. And I further realize that competence as an operatic singer does not guarantee making a living at it. The point I was making, which you seem to ignore, is that there is no reason for opera singers to feel "upset" and "insulted"...

[@felicianomusic]

I wouldn't pay to hear them sing opera BUT at least it will get some new people interested in our art form. all things considered it's not horrible

[@2valiumland]

...by a reality/talent competition. It in no way denigrates opera, and in fact, could make it more accessible. People complain on one hand that people don't appreciate or understand opera, and on the other hand that someone might try to demystify it.

[@sparkly82]

Eh can someone tell me why the hell an interior designer is a judge on an opera contest???

[@Problembeing]

Hahaha. At Soho Revue Bar? :P

[@philipxhsmx]

@thaieler i agree !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@AudreyN]

Casta Diva is an aria that only the true greats can sing (Sutherland, Callas, Caballe). Women who trained for decades before performing it. While she doesn't sound... awful on it, it is completely inappropriate for her. I could write a book on what she's doing wrong, technically. She's better than everything else I've heard from this atrocity of a show, but that's not saying much, honestly.

[@2HonestIam]

Here here,Very good for a woman nearly of pension age!and her voice is far more pleasant on the ear than the conceited,mediocrity of Jenkins.When is the UK going to wake up to this?Rebecca (also from Neath)Evans ,soprano ,won a Grammy in2008 for best opera recording,yet hardly a ripple in the Welsh media!Her Grammy to a Brit award is like Harrods to Kwik Save!Marcella can sing more natural and beautiful at 60 than Kath can at 29!Wait and see the K.J. fans bite!

[@wazzy1975]

marcella rocks...............but i wish she would make up with siobhan, because artistically, their work with shakespears sister was original!

[@TheSmithDorian]

Ok it's not great compared to Callas but why would anybody think that it should be? Callas was a phenomenon who was coached and voice trained from being a child and who sang in this style for decades. Why would anyone in a million years expect a a pop singer in her 50's with a weeks training to produce a performance like one of the greatest ever sopranos, Under the circumstances I think it was a great performance. Try putting Britney Spears or Miley Cyrus up there - and see what you get.

[@KC-sm7gm]

youd get shit with Miley and the the other talentless fuck

[@ChristopherPettersen]

She's really wobbly as a singer

[@Eurafrican]

This was her first Operatic performance, which I think should be taken into account. Please watch her other performances. She more than compensates especially in "The Laughing Song" and "Queen of the Night".

[@ChristopherPettersen]

I am well aware of that. She did make great progress. I'm really impressed with how well she did. Even though there are much better arias that she could start if singing. Vedrai Carino, Per La Gloria, etc. She doesn't have the breath control yet to do this aria justice.

[@JohnathanCepeda]

@RaWrZzZz Ok NEVER silly.... lol "Stay" was a really great SONG & showed her vocal ability. This just proved she CAN SING opera. MAYBE NOT the best but she can sing her lil' but off lol

[@hugoforth]

@angel55676...what are you on...."fake" how can it be a fake show ?? as for Rolando Villazon....he is one of the top five Tenors in the world today,.. that's why he is there..however Marcella is great, and this performance was the best performance of any of the contestants....she should have won hands down.

[@Angeltots]

lol.. this is too funny.. XD

[@rabautios]

Detroit is not only an experienced pop singer, It think she had professional training before and maybe later ... she is of course not an opera singer ... but she could have been ...

[@magicmonkichi]

She manages well, but to give a person who's not an opera sing Casta Diva, that's just mean lol.

[@digivoka]

If you think it's stupid, why waste your time putting a comment on here??

[@JAS576]

"A little touch of jealousy"? I'm not an opera singer or a pop singer at all, so why on earth would I be jealous? Good Lord, can't someone voice a differing opinion? I cannot watch the program, as I live the States and it isn't broadcast here.

[@acerr40]

@jonnythong22 LONG LIVE MARCELLA !!!

[@sweetaztecangel69]

@digivoka what VCDartay is trying to say the point is more than amateurs don't sing these arias for a reason - because they CAN'T, not successfully, not without injuring themselves. The people who know this piece, or much about opera at all, will know what's wrong and will probably laugh. Or be offended. (Sing like an opera star in six weeks! Who needs all those years of training?)

[@digivoka]

Of course this isn't "proper" opera - and yes of course, the contestants on the show probably don't even come close to some of the opera greats. BUT, the whole point of the show is that it is taking these singers, into an area of singing that they would otherwise NEVER have ventured into & experienced. Yes, it's light entertainment for the TV viewers - but it's exposing them also to a different type of music. And it may even lead to people buy, or at least having an appreciation for opera.

[@jewelmarkess]

Maybe. I don't have a particular problem with a show like this except for maybe they should've actually showed a little of real opera. Demystifying opera is great, but show what opera is as in include a scene from a staged opera with some introduction to the plot, maybe even in English or subtitled e.g. /watch?v=E2XyHfi50yE . An aria sung with a mic doesn't really demystify opera as it doesn't show opera. "What's opera doc" cartoon does a better job or if you want competition - Operatunity.

[@sarahaprincesa]

MARIA CALLAS®

[@JAS576]

You CAN'T leave the prejudices against pop singers "at the door"! They're singing music not written for their vocal types at all. "Casta diva" is one of the greatest arias ever written, and to hear this woman massacre it (breaths in wrong places that ruin the vocal line, pop style scooping that is not appropriate, the wrong "voice") is very painful. What I find appalling is the crass commercialism of this. I'm all for making opera popular, but this is NOT the way to do it..

[@LoopyTheBubblebrain]

Marcella has me convinced anyways...

[@2HonestIam]

This woman is about 60 and a pop singer,have you heard how high she could go in the 80's and 90's?I sing tenor,and was very impressed by her.Unlike most opera singers she can sing any genre,Katherine Jenkins has got skin like a rhino to be judging a singer like this who is a far better singer in general than herself!Kath.J will never be good enough for top opera,but has an ego the size of a country!My ex was in college with her ,she was disliked for her pretentiousness and ego by better singers!

[@Milylily4Ever]

i think it was a nice try...she has a beautiful voice...hope she learns how to use ir correctly...it could sound heavenly

[@waltercastillor.9658]

It was really sad for her sing this aria without the proper training. It's not fair that some people gets years of training even before try this aria and she has to be ready in couple of days. Bad TV Show!!!

[@philipxhsmx]

@VCDartay i agree with @digivoka OMG get over yourself well its bringing the opera world to a wider audience and lets face it opera wouldnt exist without paying customers anyway u should be embracing this show because lots of people make fun of opera because they have never had the chance to see one and appreciate its beauty .and its stuck up people like you who are the cause of its lack of popularity on a global scale compared to other types of music .and if u dont like this show dont watch it!

[@cistercian0girl]

she's like a female perry farrell. see perry farrell interview...

[@digivoka]

Oh please! "Trivializes and demeans"??? I'm sorry, but you're coming across with a very snooty and snobby attitude. You say that it's "disrespecting" the composers?? How on earth is Marcella disrespecting the composer of this song, and the others that she has performed on the show??

[@cazziekins]

Quite right i'm with you on this and if you look at JAS576 YT page you will see he has favourited this very video!!!!!!!!!!Nowt as queer as folk is there??? ;o)))

[@handrionurhan]

It wasn't bad at all~!