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In the News
Dame Kiri's No Whizz-Bang
May, 21 2010
The many recent operatic pop performers credited with introducing the art form to a broader cross-section of the public have faced criticism from an operatic clique disinterested in the genre’s crossover potential, including most recently, outspoken soprano Dame Kiri Te Kanawa.
Dame Kiri is keen to use her status to find opera stars of the future by launching her own Kiri Prize, but she’s quick to dismiss any claims that the endeavor bears any similarity to a certain television talent show. “You insult me by even wanting to bring it into this conversation,” she told a Radio Times interviewer. “I’m not interested. [My competition] has nothing to do with The X Factor, which I can't bear. It's whipped up for one night and it's over.” Britain’s Got Talent contestant Susan Boyle was “whizz-bang,” she said, a comment in line with previous criticisms leveled at Katherine Jenkins, Andrea Bocelli -- who she claimed had “sold out” -- and fellow New Zealander Hayley Westenra, who “doesn’t move in my world.”
Commentators have described her remarks as diva-like, but it does seem that dissing reality television is a popular – and easy -- sport among musicians who are keen to separate themselves from the masses of upcoming usurpers. One thing these soundbites can assure is column after column of press, and whatever your artistic credentials, that’s never bad for your career.
