Ryan Seacrest visits Cincinnati

CINCINNATI - American Idol host and pop radio personality Ryan Seacrest embraced a music genre less familiar to him Saturday night, as he hosted the star-studded Gala Concert opening the Cincinnati Opera's 90th Anniversary Season.

He chuckled before the concert, " I think I'm the obvious choice... I mean you act like I'm not the obvious choice to host this 90th anniversary of the opera here at Music Hall."

Seacrest describes himself as a "student" of opera. "I've tried to sing it before and it didn't go well," he laughed.

Taking a more straight tone, Seacrest said simply, "I was invited and I felt honored by the invitation. I said that would be fun and different for me so here we are... You know I'm a music lover, I love all types of music, and this is one of the purest forms of music in the world."

Having Seacrest as host was a major coup for the Cincinnati Opera, always seeking to lure younger audience members into this art form.

Chris Milligan with the Cincinnati Opera joked backstage before the concert that his three daughters were giddy about coming, never so glad to be at one of dad's events.

"I think if young people haven't experienced it or seen it in person they should because I mean to stand up there and not have the microphone and project and perform...there's delivery and style and look that all goes into it and that's part of being a star," said Seacrest.

Speaking of "being a star," Seacrest said he still loves hosting American Idol.

"I actually really really like it," Seacrest said. "It changes every year because you have a new cast of contestants, so with every cast, there's new personalities, there's new tantrums, and there's new drama, there's new tears, and I love all that."

Asked about a replacement for judge Simon Cowell, Seacrest said, "I would like to see someone much younger replace him because it was just a generation gap between the two of us and I couldn't ever understand if he was insulting me or not. I always thought that they were compliments and people said to me...no no, he was insulting you...really?! (he would think)... I've got to watch those shows back."

"I think at this stage there are plenty of candidates," Seacrest said. "They haven't made a decision or an announcement to my knowledge."

Seacrest says he doesn't have a favorite contender. " I think the key to that role is somebody that can create electricity in a live show and there are a lot of people that can do that, but I don't know right now, I change every day."

Seacrest's next venture will be an upcoming televised fundraiser for the BP oil spill victims.