Latest news with #NessunDorma
The Guardian
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Nessun Dorma podcast: a 1980s and 1990s football odyssey
The European Championships of 1980 and 2000 were only 20 years apart. They also belonged, both literally and figuratively, to different millennia. Euro 80 was a violent mess of negativity, apathy and hooliganism, Euro 2000 a joyous, sunkissed celebration of 21st-century football. That jarring contrast was the spark for the latest series of Nessun Dorma: an odyssey through the history of football in the 1980s and 1990s. Our aim is to highlight, via a series of subterranean dives into each football season, how it went from being a 'a slum sport played in slum stadiums and increasingly watched by slum people' – as a Sunday Times editorial called it in 1985 – to a multi-gazillion pound industry. There are multiple episodes per season, as well as deep dives into the major international tournaments and some diversions into the wider world of sport and pop culture. Guests include Pat Murphy, David Goldblatt, Dominic Sandbrook, Kieran Maguire, Tony Evans, Gordon Smith and Scott Murray. There are Patreon exclusives, too: Q&As and a regular weekly feature called, er, This Week, in which we kick around seven dates from football's past. We'll soon be launching a Discord channel in which subscribers can hang out (okay, nerd out) with one another and the Nessun Dorma team. The more subscribers we have, the more we can all bathe in the past and pretend 2025 isn't happening. Think of it as a charitable donation. The main series is ongoing – we're currently at the business end of a quite glorious Euro 84 – and will probably end sometime in 2029. Here's what we've covered so far. We start at the bottom: the European Championship of 1980, a miserable, violent tournament played largely in front of empty stadia in Italy. Then we turn to the 1980-81 season, memorable in this country for the exploits of Aston Villa, Ipswich, Tottenham Hotspur – and Liverpool, who made amends for an unusually dismal league campaign by winning the European Cup for the third time. Euro 80 | Ipswich, Villa and Spurs (pt1) | Ipswich, Villa and Spurs (pt2) | Crystal Palace, Team of the Eighties | Liverpool's European triumph | Man Utd sack Dave Sexton | Cricket: Botham's Ashes? There were underdog stories galore in 1981-82, from Swansea's rise through the divisions to Liverpool rumbling inexorably through the field to win the title. Okay, that's hardly an underdog story but they were 12th at Christmas. We also look at the brief dominance of Spain's New Firm, Real Sociedad and Athletic Bilbao, and how a young Sven-Göran Eriksson led IFK Gothenburg to an emphatic Uefa Cup triumph. Liverpool, Swansea and more | Hooliganism and the Falklands | Sven, Gothenburg and the Uefa Cup | Spanish New Firm If you're aged between 44 and 54 – you are, aren't you – there's a fair chance you'll regard 1982 as the best World Cup of your lifetime. We devoted eight episodes to a festival of football in Spain. England | Scotland | Northern Ireland | Algeria and Cameroon | Brazil | Italy 3-2 Brazil & West Germany 3-3 France | Post-mortem | The draft The shock of the new was a recurring theme of the 1982-83 season. We discuss the other New Firm, the one established in Scotland by Sir Alex Ferguson and Jim McLean, celebrate the rise of Watford and Luton in England, investigate how Hamburg beat Juventus's galacticos to Europe's top table and trace the oft-forgotten origin of the ferocious rivalry between Arsenal and Manchester United. We also talk to Brighton striker Gordon Smith about one of the biggest what-ifs in FA Cup history and recall the retirement of English football's unassuming giant: Bob Paisley, who slipped quietly away from Liverpool after winning his sixth title in nine years. 'And Smith must score…' | Scotland's new firm | Origin story: Arsenal and Man Utd | The rise of Watford and Luton | Hamburg winning the European Cup | Bob Paisley's retirement On the morning of 25 April 1984, there was a fair chance that the three European finals that season would be all-British affairs. We cover the dramatic, brain-melting events of that day in a bumper pod, while also devoting episodes to the European runs of Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur. Spurs were making headlines off the field too: we talk to Kieran Maguire about their groundbreaking floatation and the impact it had on football over the next 20-30 years. Nessun Dorma regulars Gary Naylor (Everton) and Mac Millings (Watford) do their best to remain impartial while recalling the 1984 FA Cup final between the sides. And the great David Goldblatt recalls the Los Angeles Olympics of 1984. The Division One season | 25 April 1984 | Kieran Maguire on the Tottenham flotation | Liverpool's European Cup triumph | Spurs' Uefa Cup run | FA Cup final | David Goldblatt on the LA Olympics It's hard to believe now, but the European Championship was an endangered species going into the 1984 tournament in France. Sixteen days of pulsating, unfettered football changed all that – although you wouldn't necessarily have known it in England, where only two of the 15 games were shown live. We've set aside seven episodes to cover the tournament, including two on the qualifiers alone. When you hear some of the stories – like the botched three-on-none attack that cost Bulgaria a place in France – you'll understand why. Qualifiers (pt1) | Qualifiers (pt2) | Group 1 | Group 2 | Semi-final one We are also running a sport draft for every year of our odyssey from 1980-2000. Mike Gibbons, Mac Millings and Gary Naylor each try to capture the sporting year with their choices, while also attempting discreet drive-bys on each other's selections. 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 We've done a handful of other drafts as well, including a couple of World Cups from the 1990s. Cricket World Cups. Division One 1984-85 | England in the 1990s | Premier League 1992-93 | Champions League 1999-2000 | Cricket World Cup 1992 | Cricket World Cup 1999 Since our last Sport Network post – where did those two years go – we've relived USA 94, from the shocking murder of Andres Escobar to the genius of Gheorghe Hagi, Romário, Roberto Baggio and Hristo Stoichkov. Preview | Groups A & B | Groups C & D | Groups E & F | Last 16 | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Final and post-mortem Last but not least, there are a number of one-off episodes on a variety of subjects. When Italian Football Ruled Europe | Elton Welsby interview | Gary Lineker | The 1994-95 English season | Remembering Sven Nessun Dorma is available on iTunes, Spotify and Substack. You can also find it on Bluesky and Patreon.
Daily Mail
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Karaoke star who stunned stag do revellers with stunning version of Nessun Dorma says he's 'ecstatic and flabbergasted' after video went viral
A Karaoke star who stunned stag do revellers with his astonishing version of Nessun Dorma has said he is 'flabbergasted' after a video of the rendition went viral. Welshman Timothy Richards was recorded belting his heart out in Tallinn, Estonia where he gave the 'once in a lifetime' performance to a room full of Brits. Footage filmed in the Satumaa Karaoke Bar shows dozens of men brought to their feet by the powerful performance as they sing along to the iconic piece of Italian opera. But the most soul-stirring moment of all comes at the aria's climax where the partygoers raise their arms high in the air with whoops and cheers as Mr Richards perfectly hits the famous concluding note. Following the spectacular showing of May 11 this year, a video was finally uploaded last night - though it was only a matter of hours before it surpassed one million views and amassed thousands of likes. Speaking to MailOnline, Mr Richards, who currently lives in Germany but had been performing in Richard Wagner's romantic opera Lohengrin the night before in Estonia, said he had arrived at the karaoke bar in a group of six - having never previously been to one in his life. The singer said: 'I was in town at the same time as these guys - I didn't even know who they were. 'We had a few drinks and soon I was up. I enjoyed it. They [the revellers] all knew it that's why sang together. 'I just went with it. I left the building straight away and then sort of forgot about it - until today. 'I only heard about the video from children who use TikTok. I was ecstatic and flabbergasted to see the response and I am still pinching myself.' Mr Richards, who studied at the Royal Northern College of Music Manchester, made his professional operatic debut in 1998 as Alfredo in La Traviata for Welsh National Opera. The Tallinn stag do groom, Sam Stride, who Mr Richards is now in contact with, also recounted the memorable event which he described as the last night of his stag do. Mr Stride also told MailOnline he was now looking into the process of 're-uniting for the big day' with Mr Richards. He described the experience as a 'just a complete right time, right place'. 'It's not something you expect to see. I've seen Fulham get promoted and a lot of other big things. But this was better than all of that together. Mr Stride recalled the bar was 'pretty packed with British people'. He said people from the smoking area came 'flooding in' as the song was performed and the moment was 'pretty magical'. Following circulation of the video on X, a number of people commented to sing the praises of Mr Richards. Someone said: 'Cancel the wedding, it does not get better than this.' Another person added: 'Absolutely unreal.'
Wales Online
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Paul Potts' life now after BGT win 18 years ago as he calls for show shake-up
Paul Potts' life now after BGT win 18 years ago as he calls for show shake-up EXCLUSIVE: Paul Potts was crowned Britain's Got Talent's first ever winner back in 2007 after impressing Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Piers Morgan with his vocals Paul Potts won Britain's Got Talent in 2007 Eighteen years ago, mobile phone salesman Paul Potts took a life-changing leap of faith when he auditioned for Britain's Got Talent and astonished the nation. Taking to the stage in a suit and shirt at the time, he belted out his rendition of Nessun Dorma and left the three judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, and Piers Morgan speechless. During the feedback, Simon said Paul was "a complete breath of fresh air" and called the operatic number "absolutely fantastic". Piers confidently predicted a potential win for the tenor, while Amanda affectionately referred to him as "a little lump of coal that is going to turn into a diamond". Paul later became the ITV competition's first ever winner, after securing the highest public vote over his fellow finalist Connie Talbot. Since his victory on the show, the 54-year-old has gone from strength to strength in his singing career. His first album, One Chance, soared to the top of the UK charts upon release, and remained there for six consecutive weeks. His discography expanded over time with the addition of six more studio albums, which includes his latest record, Musica Non Proibita. Britain's Got Talent winner Paul Potts is still touring across various venues Paul's incredible journey was later turned into a movie named after his first album, which starred James Corden. The winner has since toured in various venues across the world, and will be making a return to the stage for a number of gigs in Germany this year. According to Paul, he is "singing better" now than he did during his initial rise to stardom. In a collaboration with Sky Vegas, he expressed: "I'm now doing what I love to do all over the world – and it's been 18 years. "In two years, it'll be 20. I still remember critics saying my voice wouldn't last a year, yet I honestly believe I'm singing better now than I ever have. "I'm incredibly grateful for the support I've had from people around the world throughout these years, and I allow myself a little pride in that." In 2019, Paul made a triumphant return to the stage on Britain's Got Talent: The Champions. His vocal performance once again wowed judges and audiences alike, though Simon claimed it was "shaky" at first. Despite giving it his all, he did not progress to the final, with the spot going to daredevil duo Bello and Annaliese Nock instead. At the time, Kseniya Simonova was also the recipient of the golden buzzer. Paul Potts was praised by the BGT judges Piers Morgan, Amanda Holden and Simon Cowell Reflecting on this year's Britain's Got Talent competition, Paul discussed his own familiarity with the "pressure" that comes with public voting, especially once the coveted golden buzzer is off the table. He remarked: "The golden buzzer works, but it has to be used live to keep the energy and excitement. "Having competed on Britain's Got Talent: The Champions, I know how it feels to perform knowing you can't get that golden buzzer because they're all gone!" "That adds a real sense of pressure, and it makes the public vote feel even more important. That's the kind of drama we want – positive drama – not the negativity that comes with red buzzers." Sharing more thoughts on the series this year, Paul said the show could benefit from welcoming KSI back as a fifth judge. The YouTube star stepped in for Simon and Bruno Tonioli at different stages of the competition, and returned as a guest judge for the semi-final last week. He shared: 'I think there is certainly a potential for him to return as a permanent judge. I have never heard of him before this year, and I probably don't travel in this circle! "There should be five judges to even things out and makes things fresh. It also means when there is a jury vote then it'll never be a draw – it has to always go one way or another.' Article continues below Britain's Got Talent: The Final airs tonight at 7pm on ITV and ITVX.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Where Amanda Holden's Britain's Got Talent golden buzzer singer from North Wales is now
It is in our nature to feel extremely patriotic seeing Welsh people compete in different things. It could be Jade Jones from Bodelwyddan competing in the Olympics, or perhaps someone from Swansea on Tipping Point. Regardless, of who it is we love seeing fellow Welshies doing well, and one Welshman who did just that is Gruffydd Wyn Roberts who competed on Britain's Got Talent in 2018. The North Walian singer from the Isle of Anglesey, shocked the judges with his impressive audition which lead Amanda Holden to press her golden buzzer. He sang the challenging operatic number, Nessun Dorma and automatically progressed to the semi finals. Gruff, who lived with his nan at the time eventually made it to the live grand final of the show. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter. READ MORE: BBC Casualty's Barney Walsh flooded with congratulations following exciting news READ MORE: BBC Countryfile's Adam Henson inundated with support after sharing farm update His audition video has amassed over 10 million views on YouTube as his performance lead the judges to do a stand ovation. Amanda then pressed the big golden buzzer and the singer jumped off the stage to give her a big hug. He later moved on to the final of the competition, where he later placed in fourth. This season of BGT was won by the comedian and disability rights activist, Lee Ridley also known as Lost Voice Guy. Gruff who was 22 at the time was later nominated for a National Reality Television Award for 'The Best Overall Performance'. He later won the Cân i Gymru (Songs for Wales) competition in February 2020 with his own song, Cyn i'r Llenni Gau. Shortly after the competition he released his debut album, Chapter One, which featured his winning song. It also includes covers of Creep by Radio Head, Rule the World by Take That and Perfect by Ed Sheeran which he performed in the final of BGT. Since his time on both shows, he has sung across Wales and has a gig lined up for this summer in Caernarfon. He'll be performing with North Wales choirs Côr Ieuenctid Môn and Côr Meibion Caernarfon Male Voice Choir. He shared on Instagram: "Looking forward to returning to Galeri (Caernarfon) for another show! New songs, new arrangements, some of your favourites and a surprise or two!" View this post on Instagram A post shared by GRUFFYDD • WYN (@gruffydd_wyn) He now has taken on a new role, as Gruffydd and his partner recently welcomed a little boy in to the world. He announced on Instagram in February 2025: "Welcome to the world little man! Croeso i'r byd dyn bach! Hari Wyn Roberts" Family, friends and fans of the singer all took to the comments of the post to share their congratulations and 'llongyfarchiadau' to the family.
Associated Press
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Italian Conductor Hosts 'Opera Unbound: A Sunset Serenade' at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Innovative Italian conductor returns to DC on a mission to bring opera to unexpected places–from outdoor stages to TikTok WASHINGTON, DC, UNITED STATES, May 21, 2025 / / -- Opera Italiana is in the Air, a unique outdoor global concert series, returns to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool with Opera Unbound: A Sunset Serenade on Sunday, June 15 at 6:30 PM. The free, open-air concert invites audiences of all ages to experience the beauty of Italian opera in an iconic, welcoming setting - far different from the fancy gilded concert halls where it's normally showcased. Timed for Father's Day weekend, the event reimagines opera as a shared celebration — perfect for families, date night, passing tourists, and anyone opera-curious. Founded by Italian conductor Maestro Alvise Casellati, Opera Italiana has introduced new audiences to high quality performances in iconic public spaces, such as the Lincoln Memorial, Central Park, New York, Bayfront Park Amphitheater, Miami, Sforza Castle, Milan, Villa Borghese, Rome, and Galleria Umberto I in Naples. Casellati aims to make opera accessible to all while inspiring and connecting new and diverse audiences and artists. Now in its fourth Lincoln Memorial appearance, the 2025 performance will feature classic arias including Nessun Dorma and famous arias and pop works performed by internationally celebrated artists: - Leah Hawkins, soprano, who has captivated audiences at the Metropolitan Opera and Washington National Opera. She is a former Cafritz Young Artist and the 2024 recipient of the Met's prestigious Beverly Sills Artist Award. - Murat Karahan, tenor, an internationally acclaimed performer with leading roles at Vienna State Opera, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Arena di Verona, and other European opera houses. TikTok Challenge Brings a New Voice to the National Mall Casellati's efforts are helping people find new relevance with younger audiences - something that's happening online too. The hashtag #OperaTok has racked up 55M+ views on TikTok. So this year Maestro Casellati is launching the #DCOperaChallenge - inviting aspiring vocalists to post a one-minute performance of themselves singing opera by May 27. One winner will be selected to travel to Washington, D.C., and sing the U.S. National Anthem live at Opera Italiana is in the Air's June 15th concert, with a $1,000 travel reimbursement provided. 'Our concerts bring opera to the community at large in unusual spaces,' says Casellati. 'Now, thanks to social media, Opera has a new voice. For the first time, we created a TikTok challenge that provides a once-in-a-lifetime chance for a big unknown talent to debut on one of the most iconic stages in America.' Special Performance at Children's National Hospital As part of the weekend's programming and Casellati's mission to widen the reach of opera, Opera Italiana is in the Air will also be a special guest of Children's National Hospital for a private performance on Friday, June 13, highlighting the healing power of music to uplift and heal. 'Opera Italiana's dedication to sharing high-quality opera with diverse audiences was especially meaningful in our setting, where children and their families are navigating some of life's most challenging moments,' said Dana Kristina-Joi Morgan, Performance Coordinator at Children's National Hospital referring to a concert presented last year. 'The presence of such world-class artistry transformed a typical day into something extraordinary, offering comfort, distraction, and a touch of magic to those who need it most.' In 2023, UNESCO recognized Italian opera singing as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, underscoring its enduring cultural value. That same spirit drives Opera Italiana is in the Air: bringing this timeless art form into public spaces to inspire new audiences and keep opera vibrant for future generations. Lincoln Memorial Event Details When: Sunday, June 15, 2025 | 6:30 PM Where: Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, National Mall, Washington, D.C. What to Bring: Admission is free. No tickets or dress code required. Guests are encouraged to bring blankets, or lawn chairs and picnics for comfortable seating. ABOUT: Founded by Alvise Casellati, Opera Italiana is in the Air is a public initiative dedicated to celebrating Italian opera while reimagining its role in contemporary culture. With an emphasis on openness and artistic excellence, it promotes the idea that opera is part of everyday life, accessible to anyone, anywhere. WEBSITE: #OperaItalianaIsInTheAir #OperaItaliana #AlviseCasellati #NationalMall #LincolnMemorial #thingstodoindc #freeindc MEDIA CONTACT: Sheila Jaskot, Laura Evans Media, [email protected] MADE POSSIBLE BY: Intesa Sanpaolo, Ferrero, the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) and Limak with the patronage of the Italian Embassy and the Foundation for Italian Art and Culture. Sheila Jaskot Laura Evans Media [email protected] Visit us on social media: Instagram Facebook YouTube Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. 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