Paul Potts (born 1971) lives in Port Talbot in South Wales and is a mobile phone salesman and amateur opera singer.
On June 9 2007 he took part in Simon Cowell's new search-for-a-star show "Britain's Got Talent" on ITV which was held at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff. Paul sang Giacomo Puccini's "Nessun Dorma", which wowed the judges and received a standing ovation from the 2,000-strong audience. Paul's rendition of this has currently been viewed on video upload site youtube over 2 million times In the semi-final on June 14, Paul performed "Con te partirò". He progressed to the final after receiving the highest public vote in that show.[1] He performed "Nessun Dorma" again in the final on June 17. Potts is currently the bookmakers' favourite to win the competition, along with six-year-old singer Connie Talbot. The National Public Radio programme "Day to Day" profiled Mr. Potts on Friday, June 15.
An article in The Sun claimed that some viewers felt the programme had implied that Mr. Potts was an undiscovered talent working as a mobile phone seller, when he has in fact appeared in amateur opera performances, and had paid for singing lessons from Pavarotti.[2]
Previous work and experience
Potts is said to have first sung Opera in 1999 in a karaoke competition, dressed as Pavarotti, although he had said during the show that his voice had always been a source of solace in the past when bullied, so he would have sang from a younger age.[1] That same year he appeared in the Michael Barrymore talent show My Kind of Music. Although he did not win the competition, he won £8,000, which helped to pay for singing lessons in Italy. During his singing course he was selected as one of the best students, to sing a masterclass with Luciano Pavarotti and Katia Ricciarelli, who were apparently impressed with his singing.
For the Bath UK based amateur company Bath Opera, he has performed on four occasions in the roles of Don Basilio (Marriage of Figaro), Don Ottavio (Don Giovanni) and the title role in Verdi's Don Carlos, and Turandot as Prince of Persia and Herald [3][4][5]. He also sung for the Royal Philharmonic in front of an audience of 15,000. He also toured Northern Italy as a soloist.[6]
Potts broke his collarbone in a motorcycle accident in 2003, which prevented him from pursuing opera as a career. He says that this, as well as financial difficulties, led to him entering the talent show.
Personal life
In the interview that was broadcast before his performance in the semi-final, Paul stated that he has had trouble with being bullied in school, and that it may have had an influence on his (lack of) self-confidence.
He has been married for four years to his wife Julie whom he met in an internet chat room.
Potts works as a manager at the Carphone Warehouse, a mobile phone store.
References
- ^ "Semi-final one - the public decides". itv.com. 2007-06-14. Retrieved 2007-06-15.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2001320029-2007270918,00.html - Controversy from Viewers
- ^ Bathopera.co.uk - Don Carlos Biographies
- ^ Bathopera.co.uk - Aida Biographies
- ^ ITV - Britain's Got Talent - Paul Potts
- ^ Bathopera.co.uk - Don Carlos Biographies
External links
- Biography of Paul Potts - Bath Opera
- Interview with ITV (Windows Media)
- Paul performing "Nessun Dorma" on Britain's Got Talent - YouTube
- Paul performing "Con te partirò" on Britain's Got Talent - YouTube
- Paul Potts MYSPACE Page - Myspace
- 'Paul Potts on the audition process'
- This is my lifelong dream, says the singing salesman - The Observer UK