The lore and legend of opera thrives on the fact that every once in a dozen blue moons a star can be born, rising from nowhere. There are stories about the prima donna who, in a fit of temperament refuses to sing, only to be replaced by the shy young understudy who rockets to stardom. I attended a performance of Simone Boccanegra at the Metropolitan Opera where the soprano, whose name I now forget, but of star quality, was ill, only to be replaced by Aprile Millo, who blew away the critics with her exquisite performance of Amelia. My mother still tells the story of the evening she finally made it to the Met to see her favorite Robert Merrill only to discover he was being replaced by a young baritone no one had heard of, Sherrill Milnes. Such a moment occurred a few weeks ago when a very shy, insecure Welsh tenor appeared out of nowhere and has set the opera world, and perhaps the pop music world on fire.

Paul Potts’ tale could become one of opera’s great Cinderella or Cinderfella stories. Only time will tell. Unlike other opera singers who are struggling for an audience, he comes complete with a ready made one, hanging on to his every note. People who have never heard a note of opera before are tuning in to listen to him. Sometimes dreams do come true. Sometimes dreams come true for people who truly deserve to have them come true.

Paul Potts canta Opera:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLF9iEXnBRo

I first heard about Paul Potts, the soulfully sad Welsh tenor last week, when the blog buzz was just getting started. When I first heard the 36 year old man with the basset hound eyes, the suit that cost thirty-five pounds, and his world-weary appearance, I was in tears.  He nailed Puccini’s Nessun Dorma like a pro.

As you watch the critique of the tenor who still works at Carphone Warehouse, watch the look of disbelief on his face. You realize this is a man who is trying one last rash stunt, appearing on Britain’s Got Talent. If he lost, he was planning to quit and throw away the small fortune he spent on voice lessons. Instead, for once, fortune smiled on the man who is afraid to smile because he is so self-conscious of his very crooked teeth.

Perhaps it is fate that the man who sounds so much like his idol, Luciano Pavarotti has appeared on the scene at a time when his idol, the great Luciano is suffering from pancreatic cancer, and has not been seen in public since December. The opera world is in need of a breath of fresh air and something besides this never-ending onslaught of mediocre mezzo sopranos with more temperament than talent. Opera loves a Cinderella story, and the Paul Potts story may be the greatest one yet.

According to IC Wales, Potts took a master-class taught by his idol, Pavarotti, who pulled him aside and asked him to repeat a song, then suggested Potts try something from Tosca. After that, Paul went back to his job stacking shelves at a warehouse until a serious of health problems forced him to quit: appendicitis, a benign tumor, and then to top it off, he broke his collarbone. His health on the mend, Paul began corresponding with a woman on-line. By the time they were married he was working at his current job at Carphone Warehouse. Potts and his wife Julie Ann have been living in Port Talbot in a small two-bedroom home. The couple, married for four years, has existed on the brink of poverty, with Julie sacrificing along side Paul to help pay for over twelve thousand pounds worth of voice lessons. But, after so many disappointments, Paul was ready to give up on his dream – until his television appearance a few weeks ago.

After his first win, and onto the semi-finals, Potts said in an interview that he always felt insignificant. But now though, after that first win, “I'm Paul Potts.”  His semi-final appearance brought down the house. The first time he sang, there was this look of abject resignation to the disappointments of life. This second appearance showed us a man who realized there was hope. Instead of the cheap suit purchased in a grocery store, he was wearing a tux.

His award winning performance was better than the first two. Potts appeared to be more at ease with the cameras and himself. The hallmark of a great singer is the range. The Welshman has the lower registers that are needed for shading and for putting depth into a piece and he has the high notes needed to please the crowds. These are high notes that are so well done, so competent, the listener does not cross fingers and grab a rabbit’s foot and hope for the best.

“Thank you for believing in me…” You must watch his winner’s performance. The look of abject resignation and hopelessness has been replaced by good fortune, which he promises not to let change his “everyman” outlook on life.

Potts announced his ‘retirement’ from Cellphone Warehouse today. With his hundred thousand pound prize he plans to have his teeth fixed and take his wife, Julie Ann on a luxury vacation. They want to start a family. But first he will be paying off 30 thousand in debts.

Gone is working thirteen hour days just to pay for voice lessons. Never again will opera agents ignore his audition tapes. The only bullies he will face are music critics who are nothing but frustrated musicians themselves. As a child he was so bullied and harassed by his school mates that all self-confidence was pummeled out of him. Now though, the bad-luck aspiring singer has the last laugh. One of these days we will be hearing him sing Vesti la Giubba from Pagilacci and the man everyone treated like a clown will have the last theatrical laugh.

Not to worry, the critics are already after Paul Potts because he once appeared as an amateur in a local opera company and once sang with a major orchestra.  They also don’t like the fact that he attempted to attend Pavarotti’s master class, only to discover he did not have enough tuition money to stay for the entire course.  Even then, though, The Great Luciano noted Potts’ exquisite tenor voice.

The critics will continue to circle like vultures, not to worry.  But first comes the recording contract. Potts begins working on his debut album next week. Then he will appear before the Queen herself.

I have a feeling we are going to be hearing a lot of Puccini, Potts’ favorite composer.

The big question though, is will success spoil the humble ‘everyman’? Potts vows it will not. Only time will tell.

Oh, the voice? Move over Andrea Bocelli with Paul Potts in town, no one is going to remember your name. Potts has the potential to be one of the great tenors.

Paul Potts Semi Final Performance at "Britain's Got Talent"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDB9zwlXrB8&feature=related

Paul Potts Winning Performance at "Britain's Got Talent"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_5W4t_CBzg