There was a time when opera was reserved for an older, more mature audience who appreciated its artistry and nuances while the younger crowd opted for more exciting music. That’s all set to change thanks to Simon Cowell – famous on this side of the pond for his quick wit and cutting remarks as an American Idol judge – who decided that opera could endear younger music fans, especially if it had a twist of pop, and featured four charismatic, hunky young men.

Enter Il Divo.

Il Divo - which ironically translates roughly to male divas in Spanish - is certainly not an overnight sensation. In fact, it took Cowell more than two years, and thousands of auditions, to find the right blend of talent and personality to form Il Divo. In the end, he chose American David Miller, Frenchman Sabstien Izambard, Swiss Urs Buhler, and Spaniard Carlos Marin in 2004.

Certainly not new to the music scene – and having seen thousands of musicians perform throughout his career – Cowell was so impressed by the quartet that he publicly declared he has never before been in awe of such talent.

Once Cowell assembled the men of Il Divo, everything went full steam ahead. Critics lauded the quartet “the ultimate supergroup” and “the next big thing,” following the release of their 2004 debut album, “Il Divo.” Perhaps more impressive than the critical acclaim was the fact that the album shot to the number four spot on the Billboard charts. But, nothing could have prepared Il Divo for the massive increase in sales that followed an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show, a worldwide phenomenon.

Il Divo’s entrance into the music world was nothing short of a spectacular success, as their debut album charted in 38 countries. Il Divo hit number one in 13 of those countries.
The quartet not only won fans, but they took old songs – among them Toni Braxton’s “Unbreak My Heart,” Mariah Carey’s “Hero,” and the Righteous Brothers’ “Unchained Melody” – and transformed them into a whole new sound, making them instant hits.

The following year, Il Divo entered the seasonal market, releasing “The Christmas Collage.” Their latest album, “Ancora,” was released in the United Kingdom in late 2005 and in the United States in early January. Due to the massive success of their first three albums, Il Divo concert tickets are white hot as the quartet is currently touring the world in support of “Ancora.”