There are two things that everybody is talking about in Italy this week: one is, of course, yesterday’s 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’s Got Talent on Mediaset’s Channel 5 on Saturday.
Carmen Masola is a large lady and told the three judges – singer and TV presenter Maria de Filippi, talent scout Rudy Zerbi and presenter Gerry Scotti – that on many occasions she had not been allowed to sing because of her size. “They asked me for money, which I don’t have, to let me sing”, she continued. Carmen added that her ambition is to earn her living by singing.
When Carmen sang the Casta Diva from Bellini’s Norma 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 “La Susan Boyle italiana” 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 “Susan Boyle story”, for a quick glance at Carmen’s CV – on the internet for all to see – 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 “rags to riches” 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 Susan Boyle anyway? Why can she not just be herself – Carmen?
Do listen to Carmen and tell us what you think:
