"His name is Love"

Sometimes you get to see a real life fairy tale. A while ago when Britain's Paul Potts sang a few bars of "Nessun Dorma" on the British version of American Idol, he brought the audience to their feet and to tears. The judges, including Simon Cowell, seemed spellbound. Since then, Potts's ensuing CD, aptly named "One Chance" has sold a million copies and of course been subject to sneering criticism from those who just can't allow an ordinary person to suddenly shine. Potts however has become a YouTube star and has also appeared on Oprah.

"Nessun Dorma" (translated "Noone Must Sleep")is perhaps the best known aria from Puccini's last opera, "Turandot," which is a fantasy romance about a Chinese princess named Turandot whose many suitors have been executed, basically for not meeting her standards. The aria is sung by her final suitor, the Unknown Prince, as he bets his life that his name will not be known by Turandot before morning. If she learns his name, which is Calaf, she will be released from her engagement to him and he will die. After a night of drama and tragedy, the ice princess has thawed and ends up in Calaf's arms where she declares his name is "Love."

So this operatic sleepless night where the stakes are as high as can be is the setting about which Paul Potts sings and which takes him from a life of mobile phone sales to international fame. I cannot listen to him without feeling chills. I cannot watch him without feeling love. Potts is such an unimposing figure and yet his own love of the music and of his supportive wife make him heroic. His diffident yet hopeful figure tells us so much about his struggle and his generosity of spirit. He seems even to redeem the unkindness sometmes exhibited by Simon Cowell, as we see softness and pleasure and recognition in Cowell's face. Potts could certainly sell me more than a cell phone.

I really wonder how many truly gifted people there are in the world who never find an audience, and I suspect they are legion. All the more reason to be grateful for the discovery of each improbable gem in each unexpected place, be it river bed or muddy road or sandy beach or the impossibly crowded 'net.

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As a footnote, I have to say something about Giacomo Puccini, whose life ended before he could actually finish the final act of "Turandot." His love for his art produced ten or so operas and many, many other musical works. Born into a family with five generations of musicians, his gift was somewhat expected, but nevertheless a true gift.