this high note is here, yeah? it s not here, it s not here. but it s not here either. it s in the middle. when you give a masterclass and you hear different singers, you already know, when you have listened to them, who might become a superstar or an opera singer and you already know who won t. though he s based in europe, peru and latin america remain close tojuan diego s heart. he even dressed in traditional inca costume at the bbc proms in london, and still uses his showmanship as a way to attract new audiences to opera. i think it s very important that more and more people come to the opera. i was singing pop music, i had a close contact with classical music, with opera, and i liked it immediately. and i didn t have a background.
now on bbc news, it s time for take me to the opera, with zeinab badawi. i ve been an opera fan for decades, and i m on a mission to share my passion and introduce you to some of the big names today and superstars of tomorrow and ask how they re responding to the changing world of opera. cecilia bartoli, the italian mezzo soprano who originally wanted to be a flamenco dancer, and brings flair and a female perspective. peruvian born tenor juan diego florez, whose first ambition was to be a pop singer and brings rock star appeal. two of the leading lights in opera. but how are they helping to define its future? we also meet a couple of rising stars south african soprano masabane cecilia rangwanasha.
and i think, yeah, it s a beautiful art. and if more and more young people come to the theatre and enjoy that, it s a magical world. operatic singing one opera singer who, likejuan diego florez, believes that opera should broaden its appeal, is the south african soprano, masabane cecilia rangwanasha. after extensive music studies and winning a string of singing competitions, she moved from south africa to europe to further her career. tipped to become a superstar, she says she grew up with no knowledge of opera.
applause i was in love with opera from the beginning, but i actually did not know that it was opera. i just thought it was music. cecilia, as friends and family call her, was born in johannesburg in 1993, and has come a long way in a short time. cecilia is a protege of the royal opera house, where i m on the board of trustees. and i m going in to meet herfor the first time. i was singing as a child. my mum said i was a singing baby so i would, like, sing my name ce ce lia as i was growing up. and then ijoined the church choir, and ijoined the school choir. and i took part in the
it s a beautiful art. and if more and more young people come to the theatre and enjoy that, it s a magical world. operatic singing 0ne opera singer who, likejuan diego florez, believes that opera should broaden its appeal, is the south african soprano, masabane cecilia rangwanasha. operatic singing after extensive music studies and winning a string of singing competitions, she moved from south africa to europe to further her career.