There are two things that everybody is talking about in 天美传媒 this week: one is, of course, yesterday鈥檚 physical attack on the Prime Minister and the other is the extraordinary performance of a 38-year-old soprano called Carmen Masola on the first ever edition of Italia鈥檚 Got Talent on Mediaset鈥檚 Channel 5 on Saturday.
Carmen Masola is a large lady and told the three judges 鈥 singer and TV presenter Maria de Filippi, talent scout Rudy Zerbi and presenter Gerry Scotti 鈥 that on many occasions she had not been allowed to sing because of her size. 鈥淭hey asked me for money, which I don鈥檛 have, to let me sing鈥, she continued. Carmen added that her ambition is to earn her living by singing.
When Carmen sang the Casta Diva from Bellini鈥檚 the judges were visibly moved and Gerry Scotti was in tears. The audience gave Carmen a standing ovation and after the programme the media went wild, dubbing Carmen 鈥淟a Susan Boyle italiana鈥 and talking of a classic fairy-tale- come -true for Christmas.
But is it?
Some commentators are wondering if the channel, eager for the success of its new show, could have contrived a 鈥淪usan Boyle story鈥, for a quick glance at Carmen鈥檚 CV 鈥 on the internet for all to see 鈥 reveals that her singing career began in 1989, that she has won several voice competitions, attended professional courses and master classes and already has an impressive repertoire.
It is the CV, in short, of a professional soprano. None of this detracts from the fact that Carmen Masola has a wonderful voice which deserves to be better known or implies that she has not encountered prejudice; it merely indicates that hers may not be the 鈥渞ags to riches鈥 story we would all like to believe in at this time of year. And, as one internet commentator points out, why does she have to be an imitation of anyway? Why can she not just be herself 鈥 Carmen?
Do listen to Carmen and tell us what you think:
