Last fall, I was shopping for a fabulous diva dress at a well-known bridal chain, and the sales lady was helping me go through gown after gown after gown. Finally, curiosity got the better of her, and she asked me what event I was going to attend.
I told her that I was going to be a soloist at the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra’s performance of Verdi’s Requiem.
She had a blank look on her face.
“I’m an opera singer,” I explained. “So I need a dress that makes me look like a diva.”
“Oh, an opera singer!” she exclaimed. “You mean like Jackie Evancho?”
My heart sank. “Um, not really,” I said. “But if it helps you to think of it that way, then yes.”
Jackie Evancho
We classical singers get a lot of that: well-meaning, but completely ignorant comparisons to whatever pop-opera crossover sensation is in vogue. My coloratura friends get a lot of “You sound just like Sarah Brightman,” even though they don’t realize Brightman’s high E in Phantom of the Opera was brief and digitally enhanced on the recording, or that Brightman’s career as an opera singer has been limited to playing the ROLE of an opera singer in that musical. As for me, people don’t know any famous mezzos, so they just pick a name that they’ve heard recently — like Jackie Evancho or Charlotte Church, or even Josh Groban.
Now, before we get too far in this post, let me state that I think there is nothing at all wrong with the pop/opera crossover genre. I personally don’t like it, but I also don’t like most country music, gangsta rap, or bluegrass. Groups like Il Divo and individuals like Josh Groban and Andrea Bocelli have done very well for themselves in this genre, and there are plenty of people who are willing to throw their money at the marketing machines that follow them around. More power to them. I wish I had a staff of 20 to do all my PR for me.
What really upsets me is when those folks set their sights on a little girl.
Jackie Evancho is a very cute girl. She is well-behaved and knows how to conduct herself in on television and radio (as I discovered while driving to rehearsal one day, listening to Michelle Norris interview her for All Things Considered. Shame on you, NPR, for buying into this fraud. Although, maybe I should thank you: you are the reason I’m ranting right now). Evancho is only 11 years old, and she has been thrust into the spotlight very quickly. Even she admits she spends more time on a plane or a bus than at home, and that can’t be healthy from a psychological perspective.
But let’s put all the psychological stuff aside for a moment. We all know growing up in the spotlight is difficult. Some people can hack it (Shirley Temple, Ron Howard); some people can’t (Corey Haim, the Olsen twins). I don’t know where Jackie falls in that equation, and frankly, the emotional effect of her fame doesn’t worry me nearly as much as the physical effects.
The human voice takes a long time to mature. One of the reasons babies can make such excruciatingly high sounds is that their vocal cords are tiny and thin (think of the difference in size between oboe reeds and bassoon reeds; the ones that make higher pitches are smaller and thinner). As we grow, our vocal mechanism changes shape and becomes less elastic, and the sounds we can produce are rounder and fuller. You don’t have to hear trained opera singers to find the difference in sound; just listen to the difference in sound between the speaking voice of a 16-year-old versus a 30-year-old. That maturity comes with age. It’s a physiological phenomenon; it has nothing to do with talent.
Which brings me back to Jackie Evancho. The remarkable thing about her is that this mature-sounding voice is coming out of the body of a cute little girl. What nobody realizes is that she is achieving that effect by modifying her voice to mimic the sound that she thinks everyone wants to hear. The sounds she is producing are not the sounds that any 11-year-old would make without modification. And while there is nothing really wrong with modification on occasion, too much can cause serious damage to her voice.
Here is a video of her singing “Nessun dorma” (a tenor aria from Turandot by Puccini. It has been transposed down a minor third so that she can hit the high notes)
Watch the full episode. See more Great Performances.
Take a look at her mouth when she sings. Her lower lip and jaw are wobbling, which is a classic sign of tension in the neck. If she was producing these sounds naturally, there would be no tension at all. Charlotte Church also had a huge jaw wobble, and she just got worse and worse and worse until it impinged on her cuteness and people just stopped hiring her.
The other thing that bothers me about her singing this kind or repertoire is that it is so clearly not suited to her. This aria is sung by Prince Calaf, as he vows to conquer the tyrant queen Turandot with his love. Here is the translation:
Nobody shall sleep!…
Nobody shall sleep!
Even you, o Princess,
in your cold room,
watch the stars,
that tremble with love and with hope.
But my secret is hidden within me,
my name no one shall know…
No!…No!…
On your mouth I will tell it when the light shines.
And my kiss will dissolve the silence that makes you mine!…
(No one will know his name and we must, alas, die.)
Vanish, o night!
Set, stars! Set, stars!
At dawn, I will win! I will win! I will win!
Now you tell me: is that a song that an 11-year-old girl should be singing? Do you think, watching that video, that she has any idea what this song is about?
If Jackie’s long-term dream is to be a singer for the rest of her life, she should quit touring right now (but save her agent’s phone number!), go back home and back to school, study music history and music theory, learn about math and grammar and philosophy and biology, study languages (French, German, and Italian at the very least), and when she’s grown into her proper voice, THEN kickstart her career back into motion.
Because the path she’s on right now has a huge potential for ending in disaster. And all the well-meaning, ignorant people of the world are helping her down that path.
Do you agree? Disagree? Let me know in the comments.
This post was featured on Studio 30+, an online magazine for bloggers over the age of 30. I got a bunch of comments from one big Jackie Evancho fan, which I tried to rebut as nicely as possible (and hey, he complimented me at the end, so he can’t be all that bad). You can read those comments here.
Someone on Twitter also slammed me for being hypocritical (I started singing at age 7 myself, at the San Francisco Girls Chorus! And my San Francisco Opera Company debut was at age 10 in Werther. I had one line, “Merci,” which I sang to Renata Scotto, but it was enough to get my name in the program). So perhaps I should clarify: I don’t have a problem with children learning how to sing and getting performance experience. My problem is with Jackie’s extremely unnatural vocal technique, as detailed above.
I’d love to hear from some other singers in the comments, too. I know you’re out there! Don’t be shy.
I know I could go back and forth ad nauseam with anyone whose admiration for Jackie Evancho transcends the desire to actually listen to what I have to say…and really, I don’t expect Jackie and her parents to change what they are doing. Why should they? They’re making way too much money. I just feel the need to feebly shake my fist at the reality-star obsessed society we live in. By exalting the mimicry that Jackie Evancho produces, we negate all the years of training and experience people like me go through to produce a legitimately natural sound. Jackie isn’t the first of her kind, nor will she be the last. But I sure wish NPR and PBS wouldn’t showcase her.
"I don’t expect Jackie and her parents to change what they are doing. Why should they? They’re making way too much money."
I'm not going to debate you on the musical questions, which have been addressed by others. However, the above quote reveals a lot of naivety on your part. Jackie is currently releasing her second album. Do you really think Columbia/Syco hasn't kept most of the money for themselves? Basically, they have been charging Jackie's parents for part ot the expenses and charged the residuals towards the next album. It won't be until Jackie gets to do more touring, product endorsements, and has a series of high-selling albums that they can be said to be making much money.
This comment, posted while I was typing, does concern me.
"t won't be until Jackie gets to do more touring, product endorsements, and has a series of high-selling albums that they can be said to be making much money."
That's a heck of a lot to expect of a girl still in school with vocal chords not yet formed. Heck of a lot.
This is no more than a carnival sideshow. Where will she be in ten years? Voiceless!
I guess I am the only person alive who hates Jackie Enancho’s voice! She may as well be humming every syllable, for I cannot understand a word she sings! The tone is pretty, but pronunciation is absent. Several times when she has been singing on stage, the words are written out as she sings. If the words weren’t there, or if I were not already familiar with the song she was singing, I could not understand one word she sings. Hum away, Jackie, for what you are worth as a singer…I challenge anyone to listen, really listen, to her singing!
Michon
Michon,
I guess you are the only person. Try taking the wax out out of your ears, that might help.
Michon, think you should get a hearing aid for your self, a very amplified one at that. when you made those comments on jackie evancho you were talking complete rubbish !!!!
I have truly mixed emotions/thoughts about this blog.
I am not a singer – I'm just a Mom. But I have always attended music events of all kinds. I feel that I can recognize bad, okay, good, great and extraordinary singing. But this girl has me flumaxed. You mentioned that you feel she produces her sound unnaturally. I'm interested in exactly how you mean she does this – through what mechanism? Modifying the position of her larynx? If that's your opinion, how can we be certain she's doing that, and if she is, what is the effect of it?
Having said that, I do think she is gifted. She has an extraordinary talent if not yet an extraordinatry voice.
What bothers me, like you, is all this singing she's doing. I remember the care Josh Groban took as a teenager not to tour and to do limited promo. His manager was maniacal about protecting him for overwork. Of course, he's not an opera singer, but he's what she has said she wants to be. I wonder if she'll be able to do that after singing on her little vocal chords at this young age. It seems to me there is no template for this.
And I do agree with you that her repertoire seems very wrong for her age.
However, despite these concerns, I also have concerns about this blog. I don't think it's fair to write a blog with this title and a few of these sentences (just a few) about an 11 year old child whose friends, family or whomever may come across it. I believe you could say almost the exact same thing, and certainly make the same points, without the use of the term "fraud" attached to a child and without the big headline that you don't like her.
I don't think you really don't like her. I think you don't like what she represents in society with regard to appreciating or not appreciating skill. That's a much more fair (and kind) statement than announcing for all the world that you don't like an 11 year old.
It is entirely appropriate, though, to ask – why haven't any critics or interviewers tried to look into whether this is really safe? NPR has significant resources in the classical field. Have they bothered to ask the question? Perhaps they would give their approval, perhaps they wouldn't. But, how are we to know if the "gatekeepers" don't bother to ask.
She will have no voice by the time she's grown. Like Charlotte Church, her instrument will be destroyed. It is a shame because there is talent there and it is not being nurtured like the gift that it is.
Crystal, check out Jackie's repertoire. It is mostly Christmas carols, standards and pop ballads. And if you listen to the way she sings "Nessun Dorma", and everything else, it's very gentle. I don't see why everyone assumes that she is hurting her vocal chords. Her parents say they are limiting Jackie's performing, although Jackie always wants to perform more. If you look at her performing schedule, she has been singing between one and three concerts per month. Shouldn't a child's parents be given the benefit of the doubt with respect to what they allow their child to do? Listen to her album "Dream With Me". It's a gift to the public. If her career is short, so be it – she wants her day in the sun.
The problem with this society is that people do not understand the value nor the intent of constructive criticism. We are so concerned with insulting a child when correcting one, that most of us do not take the time to model and nurture expected behaviors. The only harm in constructively criticizing the results of actions that belong to a child comes when the intent is not understood. As a mother, it would behoove you to foster an understanding of how to cope with criticism. Most children do not have the emotional capacity to handle criticism unless they are guided and instructed on how to do so.
That being said, the criticism in this article is directed at the adults who are handling Ms. Evancho's performances. This is also something that needs to be made very clear.
Opera singers have a built in resistance to getting "gobsmacked" by anything other than opera. Long-suffering years of training and the resultant sophistication and elitism their craft engenders in them disallow good opera singers from validating gifted upstarts who circumvent this process. Since it's just not fair that their quasi-operatic "pop" style should garner such acclaim and supposed wealth, the only recourse is to pity the "inevitable" decline they will suffer at the hand of the illegitimate genre they have chosen to sing. Meanwhile, without need for assurances through pop chart rankings or YouTube hit numbers, those who can't help but be "gobsmacked" by Evancho and whomever know that the experience is priceless and will support what is best for her and the others.
The irony of you writing about elitism and then posting this comment is probably lost on you…… but it won't be lost on those of us reading it.
I would like to actually have a constructive debate on this blog. I feel this blogger brings up good points, if couched badly in places. There are real reasons to worry about Jackie Evancho's vocal health in a few years. And well-trained singers are more able than untrained fans to see potential physical problems. That doesn't make them elitist – it makes them educated and experienced.
Reasonable people wonder if this is safe. I know the reasonable people in my life do. It's a natural question when you see an 11 year old singing Nessun Dorma. Frankly, if someone doesn't even consider her vocal health and whether what she's doing is physically and emotionally safe, that's odd and I worry about that person.
I do, as I said, agree that certain comments were inappropriate.
Still, you have devolved this conversation considerably with your condescending post, which, despite its attempts to appear highbrow, lacked any nuance of understanding.
You sound really jealous.Why?Cause you will never mean what Jackie does to people all over the world
You're a moron. If you understood what was being said, you wouldn't answer in such an ignorant way.
Might I offer you a saucer of milk.
You would like for her to "go away" as that would possibly give you more exposure; however, that is her natural voice and her appeal is tri-fold: first her beauty – she could be a model that would be incredibly successful even if she was tone deaf; two – she is extremely polite and complimentary of others – a real jewel who somehow always seems to say the proper thing for the situation; third – she does have a very pretty (comfortable) voice that others – me included – like to hear because of the goosebumps I get from hearing her.
I had been a professional classical orchestral musician for over 20 years when I decided that supporting my family was more important that enjoying playing in multiple orchestras (french horn).
Sure, when she sings Nessun Dorma, I can only remember hearing Pavarotti and the power of his voice singing that piece; however, this is not a reason to put down her efforts. Most people have never heard nor will they ever hear a recording of Pavarotti singing this aria; but they will hear Jackie Evancho. I believe the world is richer for everyone when classical music is presented instead of the "crap" we normally hear on the airwaves. Think about it: every person that hears and likes Ms. Evancho may someday become more involved in the classic genre and actually listen to you and like what they hear.
I am in total agreement with you. I too am a classical musician (clarinet) and I believe that Jackie is a fresh inspiration to the music world. I think that instead of trying to dissect her singing ability (as is common for many musicians to do), we should for once just listen and enjoy the moment. Who knows what will happen when she gets older. We can worry about that when the time comes. For now, I am an avid listener of Jackie Evancho. As far as I am concerned, as long as she enjoys what she is doing, then God bless her for following her dream.
Totally think she is beautiful If there HATERS on here PLEASE GO AWAY. She is gifted and extraordinary! I have only heard of her 2 weeks ago…….
Spread love in the world
There was an episode on the TV series, Star Trek Voyager, that relates to your argument. In this episode, an alien race is encountered who loved music not for its beauty or expression. They loved it for it’s mathematical precision and the technical difficulties that could be conquered by the music masters of their race. The fact that a singer could jump 3 octaves and then back again in a single line of music brought an audience of these aliens to their feet in thunderous applause.
For us common folk (about 6 billion of us), it’s not so much the technical precision of the art, it’s the beauty, expression, meaningfulness, and emotion that we feel when we see and listen. It takes one sort of master to technically master a symphony or other work of art. It takes another to master a connection with the audience that bring tears and joy to them. It is an unmeasurable and unknown quality that few possess and Jackie, at her young age, is a master of connecting with her audience. She has that unknown quality and millions and millions will love and adore her for it.
q
You have obviously never seen an opera so I won't comment further on your ridiculous comparison. There's more emotion in opera than any other art form I know.
And wow, the fact that you credit a girl with bringing tears and joy to millions by how she expresses herself in something like Nessun Dorma is…….. creepy.
I think she absolutely IS destroying her voice. I agree with the poster who wanted someone to look into that.
How do you arrive at the conclusion that she is destroying her voice? Is it by professional knowledge or just pure conjecture? Should I believe you or the blogger or should I believe the teacher from Julliard who she and her Mother checks in with on a regular basis and will study under once she is old enough or one of the finest voice coaches in the world who works with her on her performances and recordings…Hmm who to believe? As far as the chin wobble goes Her Mother via the same teacher says it is not relevant at this point and can easily corrected in the future. Her vocal chords are checked on a regular basis. Her parents,in their love for their daughter do their best to keep her psychically safe and it would make no difference if she chose to never sing another note. This is Jackie's journey . It is her dream. Her parents dream is for her to be successful in whatever she chooses to do just like all parents.
Jackie is here …Jackie is real…and no matter what negative conclusions the small minority may jump to, She's still gong to be here..Singing her little heart out.
Should I say 'hello' to Jackie's Mom? Dad? Aunt/Uncle? Well, 'hello' anyway.
Regarding whether you should believe the blogger who is a trained soprano and me with moderate knowledge or a Julliard teacher, it would depend on the teacher. Is it someone on faculty? Someone who claims they're affiliated in some way? Which field of study? I'm not thoroughly schooled on coaches and teachers but I know they vary widely. I have no reason to believe an instructor would necessarily know more than Maren – or the others commenting here, on her personal site and on her FB. But, it depends on the instructor.
If you can point me to a link where this "teacher from Julliard" discusses his/her work with Jackie, that'd be welcome.
I also googled to see who "one of the finest coaches in the world" is working with Jackie, and I mean no disrespect, but I see no classical sopranos listed as successfully trained by this Yvie Burnett. She lists pop singers as students. That's an entirely different discipline. And she lists no specialty in children. This actually makes me more worried. This "coach" hasn't EVER done this before.
One thing I know – you can check vocal cords 'til the cows come home but it means nothing. No teacher or doctor can tell what's happening to growing cords, unless there is a crisis.
Finally, a chin wobble is always relevant – if it's a repeated occurrence. If a coach or teacher or whomever said it wasn't, I would get a new one or two.
Yvie Burnett is a former opera singer.
Any sane professional singer who has been properly trained in classical singing can hear that she is destroying her voice. The same thing that happened to Charlotte Church (remember what a beautiful voice she had when she was 12? What happened to it?) is going to happen to Jackie if nobody does anything about it. It isn't her fault – it isn't even her parents' fault. It is her teacher who will be held responsible.
I agree with Celia that chin wobble is ALWAYS a concern. It is a sign of unhealthy tension and any classical singer knows that. No professional teacher worth her salt will allow it to go on for so long without doing anything about it – singing without tension is one of the few things that a child can learn safely. It takes years, even decades, for the vocal cords to get so damaged that it shows up on medical equipment. But just because it takes that long to see it, it doesn't mean that the damage isn't already being done right now. You can choose to believe what you want to believe, but I hope and pray for the sake of this innocent girl that a responsible teacher who has worked with young voices comes along to protect her voice before it is too late. I want her to have her beautiful voice for a lifetime, not just 10 years.
(I am a classical singer, before you think I don't know what I am talking about.)
Given her background, I'd say professional knowledge…
@Celia,
I do know opera, and you sound like a fool
You know opera? Name three lyric baritones.
Nice
))
She connects because she's a cute child, not because she really feels the music
The Naysayers say the attention drawn to Jackie is only due her age, and really she doesn't have anything on older more higher trained singers. That she wouldn't stand out if she was older.
Here's the kicker- They say Jackie should wait until she's older to pursue this sort of singing.
Well, phooey to that. She has potential for millions of smackeroos right now. According to "them" her skills wouldn't stand out in the future, so, if that's true, she would be just another struggling singer, with basically little or no future.
With that, if the naysayers would like her to stop and wait a few years, I suggest they collectively contribute to a multimillion dollar fund right now so that Jackie will have something to fall back on if the naysayers plans for her falls short. I'd suggest if you can't put a few million in her pocket right now, then you have no business asking her to pass it up right now.
LMAO … very true, start the fundraising calling it JE Naysayers or JE Stop Singing ASAP!
Like Mr. Hayashi said "For us common folk (about 6 billion of us), it's not so much the technical precision of the art, it's the beauty, expression, meaningfulness, and emotion that we feel when we see and listen! I am just one of the 6 billion!
Nowhere in Merlon's post does she give even a single example of a child who could sing like Jackie Evancho who stopped singing and went to school and studied music history/theory until their height caught up with their voice. I suggest Merlon purchase a copy of Websters dictionary and look up the words Prodigy and Precocious. Those words are real and are in the dictionary for a reason.
The root work for prodigy implies extraordinary ability. As the mother of an opera singer, who has been singing for 20 of his 27 years, I can tell you that her talent is not so extraordinary. I have heard many others who are superior to what she has, but whose parents are more nurturing of their instruments.
Beverly Sills.
I can give you an example. Beverly Sills. She sang publically at the age of about eight and then her parents took her out of the spotlight, let her be a kid for a while, then got her a good teacher, and when Sills emerged into the public eye again, she was an adult, fully trained singer. Check out her video on YouTube at age eight. She sings with her natural child's voive instead of dropping her parynx ot produce a more mature sound the way Jackie does. Sills's voice lasted over a career of many years. I agree with Maren that Jackie is singing with bad technique that could potentially ruin her voice.
amen
Have you heard of Beverly Sills. As a child her name was Belle Silverman.
Pardon…I meant Maren…not Merlon, endless apologies.
Maren,
Are you really that jealous of a little girl who received the spark of music by watching Phantom of the Opera with her mom and brother?? Stories like Jackie's are what dreams and fairytales are made of and here I find another opera singer who disapproves for absolutely no reason.
Please let Jackie pursue her dreams without blasting everyone around her. Be happy that she is the right age and born at the right time and in the right place. And lastly, let's quit psycho-analyzing a little girl's incredible voice and success. By the way, she will be singing with the Pittsburgh Opera on Oct. 16. Perhaps you should attend. Thank you.
I went 2 her concert last night in Santa Barbara and It is one of the highlights of my life. I have never been a opera fan, but she has changed that, and what a gift from God. She was a delight. I feel sad that Maron can;t embace her talent with a more positive" voice". In this troubled world we need more Jackies. God bless her and our world.
With all due respect Maren, this is a blog that was probably better off not written. It certainly doesn't portray you in the best light. Your writing style drips of anger and as an earlier poster pointed out using the word "fraud" to describe a 10 year old is regrettable, . Extending an olive branch to "whatever pop-opera crossover sensation is in vogue" might enlighten more people to the beauty of opera. Since Jackie Evancho came on the scene last August I have watched/listened to more operas than I had in the first 49 years of my life, and that is solely because of Jackie Evancho. It seems to me anyone who can attract a larger audience to your profession would be welcomed. Oh and lastly, I hope the dress you chose made you "look" like a diva.
Why do you start with all respect and then insult her personally? She was actually rather polite to Jackie, and she had valid points – the comments to her blog, in contrast, have been mostly personal, lacking good taste, not focusing on the question. The latter part of your comment is factual and valuable, you provide an insightful counter argument from your own experience, but the first (and very last) part is just throwing dirt.
I thought the blog was a respectful, insightful analysis by someone who apparently knows what she's talking about. I don't read anymosity or jealousy in it, just a succinct observation as to the perils of exploiting a fragile instrument too soon. Like playing a new guitar before the glue has dried. It will need to be fixed sooner or later. Only time will tell if the child's voice can withstand the abuse.
Don't shoot the messenger.
The Jackie lovers sure read alot between the lines that just wasn't there. Guess that's what blind love will do.
And, Evancho lovers will obviously disagree with any criticism sent her way, be it constructive or observational. I suggest you all just read the author's points and don't insert jealousy that isn't there between the lines. Your lashing out is sounding a little too protective of this 11 year old "prodigy", a phenomenon which deserves a blog all it's own (Maren?)
Oh Maren,
I could not agree more with your primary objective here – we must do everything we can to protect our largely irrelevant art form from the unwashed masses! Otherwise, how could be continue to be such pompous snobs?
I also agree Jackie Evancho should not be allowed to sing any of the classics – she is making us look bad and creating far too broad of interest in Opera. We must STOP this by any means possible. Goodness, I think there should be a law against her singing Puccini. Also, did you hear? That traitor Renee Fleming is actually reaching out to Ms. Evancho. Can you believe it???? It is complete heresy I tell you!
Like you, I know absolutely nothing about Jackie’s parents, but that won’t stop me from also concluding they are exploiting her for every penny they can get. I’m sure they care nothing about her health or her future happiness! They certainly would not be frequently having their daughter’s voice check for any damage by experts in the field – that would make no sense at all.
Oh, and those stupid record companies. I’m sure they could care less about Jackie having a long and successful career like that horrible Andrea Bocelli. He has only sold, what, 70 million albums? Why would a record company care about that?
Maren, I must congratulate you doing your part to “Keep Opera Elite”. Oh goodness, I think I just came up with our new vision statement! I was very pleased to watch your performance of “Helian – IV. Frühling”. This is perfect for our cause. Only the most fanatical Opera fan could possible listen to, much less, watch this performance!
Thank you again for leading our cause and remember “KEEP OPERA ELITE”!
I think that's so cool that you do opera. As for Jackie, I think that she's way to closed up on her low register and a little bit shrill on some of the higher notes. I am worried about her voice though.
I'm not completely "all for" the broader interest in opera, but I do like the possibility of it drawing people in to really understand and enjoy the world of opera. For many though, the interest stops right at the door through which the entered. I also don't have a problem with crossover artists because it's only natural that music evolve and change (Who among us would not have, for the sake of "purity of the art", scoffed at some of our favorite composers if we were alive in their time?). The reason the classical music world has been stuck on the same record groove is because we refuse to let in the new. I wonder how it would be different if we had been more accepting of change decades ago… would we even have the kind of gross disparity between classical music and vernacular or popular music we have today? Or would it just all be music? I love both, and sometimes I wish we would all get along. I also wish singers would take their instruments seriously, but mostly I just want everyone to get along and for musicians to stand on merit of their musicianship.
How many times have you commented on here? Maybe you should find a better hobby that's a little less insulting and a little more productive…
It is not about snobbery, it about opera damaging a child's voice. If you think opera is an irrelevant art why do you listen to it? I think the end of your comment was of low style and hurt the writer's feelings.
There is something wrong with people like you and anyone else that is anti jackie evancho, you are very sad and desperate people.
Oh you opera snobs are so much smarter than us regular folks. We're just too ignorant to know anything about music. Let us all bow down at the altar of your inflated ego. By the way, who are you? You obviously are suffering from a superiority complex. I understand, you've found yourself to STILL be unimportant amongst the masses. Your family and friends tell you you're a wonderful singer, but you remain in the distant background. Aawww, my heart bleeds for you,….NOT. Pack it in and start your immenent career as a barista. Oh, one more thing. GET OVER YOURSELF.
Face it, you're jealous because she's relevant, and you aren't. Her CD OHN went platinum in less than a month, Her next CD DWM will reach that goal just as quickly. She has throngs of fans all around the globe, while your name is STILL UNKNOWN. How many platinum albums do you have?(in how many years?) How many people fawn all over you because of the profound effect your singing has had on them? Your snobbery is something this world needs LESS of, so crawl back under your rock of obscurity and whine to yourself. Nobody cares what you think.
Actually, plenty of people care, but they are in the minority because most people do not have the patience to take the time for vocal study. I love America…everyone thinks that just because they have an opinion, it's right. I go with those who have spent their lives studying voice over what the great unwashed say, but your self-esteem is more important than reality, so by all means, keep on touting ignorant nonsense because you "like" something.
Okey-Dokey. So, it's alright for you and your ilk to criticize and defame an eleven year old little girl, but apparently, it's heresy to offer a rebuttal. I only refer to those opera singers and fans as snobs, that show themselves as such. I can plainly see that this is going nowhere. Fake artists? You don't see anything wrong with that statement? I actually pity you. BYE-BYE
Maren M wasn't defaming J Evancho. She was telling the truth. Don't pity her; pity J Evancho because she will just be another Charlotte Church.
OH MY GOD, what is with you people? Accusing someone in Jackie's camp of buying her own CDs to boost sales numbers? Calling her a fake artist? Are you serious? This is an kid! Are you so insecure in your own abilities, and disappointed with your own lack of success that you call upon "your own" to somehow boycott her or go out and publicly put her down? Wow, your mom must be proud of you. One more thing, if you were blocked from Jackie's twitter, perhaps it was for your inability to understand, she is a child, and she doesn't need you running her down because you don't like her. If you don't like her, just shut up and keep it to youself. You don't see her going out and attacking other artists she might not care to listen to. Let me guess, you're a democrat, a member of the tolerance party, the party of acceptance and diversity. Until someone disagrees with you and then it's ATTACKATTACKATTACK.
Jackie's parents do keep an eye on her twitter account and I applaud them for that. I have seen some things on twitter and YT that if they were directed at my 11 year old daughter, I'd hunt those people down. No you're probably Maren's spoiled brat 13 yo son or nephew that's doubling as her bodyguard. I can't imagine her needing one though. Very successful?! ROTFLMAO! At what, playstation? Oh, reloading the page and voting for yourself and voting against those you disagree with is SO grown up. You are such the child, you didn't even recognise the sarcasm in diva's rule's post. You just keep voting it up. Repeating me and others you diagree with, another dead givaway you have a child's mind.
Why did you bring politics into this? Jackie is an animal rights spokesperson; an ambassador for the Humane Society. She has stated she wishes we would all take better care of the planet; an environmentalist. She loves Obama and his family. These are horrible traits in the eyes of a typical republican. Maybe you should join this anti-Jackie crusade.
where did the democrat gargage come from? I agreed with everything you said, and I am a staunch DEMOCRAT, so you have done the same thing. I thought diversity, acceptance, tolerance, were positive words. NOT ALLLLL tolerance, and ALLLL acceptance, etc. Women's rights will vote against anti birth control laws, etc, but anti abortionists will shoot doctors and burn down clinics who help millions with alot of health problems, because they don't agree with others. Who does the attackattackattack, wow.
"true artists"? You ARE a Snob. Looking down your nose at anyone you feel doesn't fit the parameters laid out by you and your hoity-toity bunch of elitists. There are more people, good and honest people, descent, caring and loving people that enjoy the young and talented Ms. Evancho than your very own Maren, because she represents what's good in the world. You are being eclipsed and left behind and it's burning you up. If being a fan of Jackie Evancho makes me one of the unwashed masses, I'm in good company. I'd rather be me than you any day. Having fans like you, 'Jealous', I don't see her selling many albums, or concert tickets. I don't see her being booked on any of the networks or appearing on international television, no TV concerts. Oh, that's right, she's too good for that. Exposure means nothing to a "true artist". They don't want to be recognised for their abilities and efforts, right? They'd rather live out their lives in mediocrity. They'd rather sit at home and write about why they don't like an aspiring young ARTIST. Good luck with that! I've said all that needs to be said on this tired, old subject..
Eric nailed it!
Oh Maren,
I'm SO WORRIED about you with all this talk of dangerous chin wobbling. But it is so confusing. Which of your chins is it dangerous to wobble? The first or second? Oh goodness, there might even be a third one there. Do I count from the top or the bottom? Is a jiggle as dangerous as a wobble?
Please be careful to avoid any dangerous jiggling or wobbling any of your chins and stay strong for the cause!
The chin wobbling referred to is call vibrato, which is a pulsating of the air stream (simply put). In the classical music world proper vocal vibrato is done with the diaphragm and abs and certainly never done with the jaw (which is common in pop music). Jaw vibrato in classical vocal technique indicates tension, which is undesirable, as classically trained musicians want the least amount of tension as possible.
You sound so educated, please enlighten us further.
I don't know of an opera singer who doesn"t alter their natural voice to produce what is accepted as proper sounding opera. If operatic voice was natural than all who could sing on pitch could sing operetic. I don't hear that happening. If opera was "natural", Ray Charles would have sung a great Nessun Dorma. Opera style singing can be gorgous when it is CLEAR, ON PITCH, with RAW EMOTION. Jackie has given all those points with spades. She sang with Brightman and showed the world Jackie is a better singer. She sang with Jenkins – Opera Diva – and Jenkins was surprised at the raw talent and pure quality of Jackie's voice. I'm just worried she doesn't get a childhood that she can remember having true fun when she is 30 much less 50 or 60. As for possible loosing the voice, age and pure genetics could cause that anyway and Jackie needs to take it to the bank while she can so she doesn't become bitter like the originator of this blog is.
Good opera singers do NOT alter their natural voice in any way at all. It is simply a different technique of singing. One that takes years and years of study to achieve. It is not something that we can achieve in perfection, but we work our entire lives to do the best we possibly can. AND in Jackie's case, singing this music too early with poor technique (as she does) will ultimately ruin her voice, it is an extremely difficult and athletic area of study. Jackie does indeed sound beautiful, but it won't last long if she continues the way she does. I am as glad as anyone that she is shedding more light on the opera world, but it also makes me sad that there are so many amazingly talented classical singers in this world whom people do not know about until they see an 11 year old on a television talent show?? It just doesn't make sense to those of us who make this our life's work.
The perfect comment. Exactly what I am trying to express. I agree in some parts with Maren. She is not some type of hater. She is just being a good critic. I think she does the right thing by saying something about Jackie. Oh yes, I love Jackie, and she sounds great. I sing along with her at times.
However, she has poor technique. The girl can sing. However, she needs to develop. Take her out of the spotlight for some years, teach her about the Romance languages, get her a renowned vocal coach, then have her make another debut. I'm familiar with other artists, such as Callas, Franco Corelli, and Rise Stevens, and they sing quite better.
While I love Ms. Evancho, and would love to meet her, she needs some work. Good voice, but get her better. If they listen to the plans others have proposed, I am sure Jackie Evancho will be a name the world shall never forget.
Maren,
You are just jelous that Jackie can work hard for about 2 years, invest properly, and live better than you ever thought about, and still out-sing you all before the age of 13. Crossover is the only reason Opera survives as prevolant as it does today. Justin Bieber is a very limited in his talents but has already made enough to retire comfortably because he went with Pop music. Jackie is already taking the harder road singing anything close to opera. If you were such a good opera diva I would have heard of you, you would be headlining at the Met, and PBS would show your opera if it was worth the price of admission. PBS shows opera from the Met regularly.
It's not about the money. It's about the vocal health and emotional well being of this child.
. . . and you, sopurrano1, know nothing about either. You're just another one of the pesky flies that Maren's repugnant words have attracted.
I agree with what you said. I’m an english soprano, and prefer clear pure tones that just spin all over. Being visually impaired I didn’t know that her jaw wobbled as she sang, but listening I kind of figured it out a little later. I wonder what she looks like though? I’ve been told that she’s rather small.
Oh Maren,
I was so pleased to visit the "Adventures of Supermaren" web site. It's just so super! Please, tell us your super powers. Is it "SUPER OPERA SNOBBERY"? "SUPER JACKIE JEALOUSY"? "SUPER MACDONALD SIZING"? This list of possibilities is just endless!
Stay strong for the cause!
I am a nobody – not a singer, not a parent,, just an average girl from Brooklyn.
She freaks me out and not in a good way. She is an adorable child, lovely to look at, bright, and sparkly like a 10 year old should be, so this is not personal in anyway.
That said, listening to her ( against my will, as my father was blasing her in the next room ) reminded me of the Exorcist. That deep voice coming out of Linda Blair’s child body.
I also like it is very inappropriate for a child to be singing lovey dovey torch songs. Yikes. The lines between adult woman and child are becoming more and more blurred.
Thanks for putting it this way; I've felt evil myself for thinking that this child who ihas been referred to as having a "voice of an angel" actually is very "creepy"! It is so un-natural to see her sweet littl girl face with that rather dark adult voice coming out.
Back to the classroom suzannefjones. You belong there, not here adding further dopey completely off-base comments about a brilliant young superstar soprano who, notwithstanding a few mean-spirited and vicious commenters that seem to be attracted to this site like flies, has a brilliant future with a voice and artisitic expression that will be celebrated and remembered long after all of you are gone.
You don't get a vote on what is 'appropriate' for anyone else.
As someone who sang both popular and operatic music, I understand completely where the blog's author is coming from. Children's voices need to be protected lest they sustain permanent damage. Lee Ann Rimes anyone? Pushing her 10-16 year old vocal cords the way she did, without proper training (which includes adequate rest) resulted in a much narrower vocal range for her now as an adult. There are many similar examples, but she is a very visible one. I hope Jackie has a very wise vocal coach because she surely needs one
I don't see Lee Ann Rimes suffering or a total loss as far as her career is concerned. She seems to be doing great. What am I missing?
Just my opinion but that Jackie girl is popular mainly because she is a child tha can sing like an adult. Personally, I am not concerned for her vocal cords or whether her career can last. That is for her and her parents to worry about. In a nutshell, she sounds nice and looks nice so she can sell records. That should not be a surprise to anyone living in the real world. If that works for her, more power to her.
And just for the record, all of the people on here to feel the need to insult someone in defense of Jackie…..really weird….really.
Annie, you do have a point about the insults. That said, don't you agree that it is "really weird" for Maren and others to accuse the Evancho's of exploiting their daughter for financial gains?
No I don't think it's weird to note that the parents are pimping out their kid. Any legitimate voice professional will tell you that this kid is damaging the instrument in her body. Her parents have undoubtedly heard this and they chose to continue down this path to destruction.
It's not an accusation, it's an observation that they are doing this.
I am so glad that you mentioned Jackie Evancho's tongue/lip wobbling singing "technique." The sound made by that "technique" is so irritating, let alone the "technique" is a bad one. Unfortunately, I bet she cannot sing without wobbling.
Jackie Evancho sings all songs the same way – slowly and sadly. There's no appropriate passion in her singing, one reason being what you said – she does not know what she is singing. The lyrics are too much beyond her.
Jackie Evancho has a creepy adult voice, and that's it. She is not an opera singer. All true opera lovers know that.
Thank you for your "brave" blog entry. You said exactly what I wanted to say.
When you say she doesn't know what she is singing about, you are wrong. They tell her what the words mean. I hear as much passion in her voice as I expect to hear from an 11 year old girl. You all seem very jealous and you can live in your jealousy and gain nothing from it. Or, you could perhaps not criticize an 11 year old girl (especially at your' age). It makes you seem heartless. People who normally wouldn't bother with opera are being inspired by this little girl. I assure you, they are not being inspired by your' singing and no one will know your name.
She's 12 years old, she never once even implied she is an 'opera singer', thus your entire post is based on stupidity. You don't know the first thing about the subject matter. Thus, shut up.
The real question is why ANY adult (Let alone A Diva Wannabe) would spend any time or effort attacking an 11-year-old little girl ??? Sad, very sad !!!!
If there's any "attacking," it's on the American culture, in which few people appreciate opera. However, when an amateur, especially if it is a kid, sings like an opera singer, the whole world goes crazy. Suddenly everyone is an expert, and everyone can claim the newly-found genius is the best ever. The amount of attention paid to, praise given to, and time and money spent on Jackie Evancho are way out of line with what her ability deserves. If America is so amazed with opera singing, everyone please divert half of your admiration for Jackie to support the professionally-trained real opera singers, who sing a lot better than Jackie Evancho does.
What professionally-trained real opera singers who sing a lot better than Jackie Evancho does? I've yet to hear one. That's assuming that "sing a lot better" means to produce a more pleasing sound, because after 50 years in the music business I can safely suggest that the purpose of singing is to produce a sound that pleases the listener. Jackie can. Most opera singers can't.
By the way, most of the time she doesn't wobble her chin so don't say she can't. Spend an hour watching her PBS concert before shooting your mouth off.
Cecilia Bartoli and Ying Huan to name a couple. That first sentence shows your ignorance of opera. So you like a little girl who sings like an adult, very YouTube of you. Lots of people like this kind of stuff, in fact they prefer it as indicated. But it doesn't make her voice better, and it doesn't stop what she is doing from damaging her voice. The purpose of entertainment is to entertain, in this respect Jackie is quite good. The purpose of singing is quite different.
@Daniel
"The purpose of entertainment is to entertain, in this respect Jackie is quite good. The purpose of singing is quite different. "
Possibly the most bizarre comment I have ever read. If the purpose of singing (other than to oneself) is not "to entertain" then what, pray, is it?
@Opera Lover
Who do you refer to as better singers than Jackie Evancho,? Who, by the way, is not an opera singer. Would it be you or Ms Montalbano? Since I haven't heard of either of you, then I doubt either of you are much of a genius in telling the American public who they should or should not listen to. Don't think I will be giving either of you much praise or money either. Morons like you who think the American public are the unwashed masses and need guidance from experts, give opera a bad name. As I have said many times, pure raw talent will sail passed good and professionally trained any time.
Just to let you know, I was a season ticket holder to the Cleveland Opera for a number of years.
True that.
I totally agree with all your comments about the specific singer that Jackie Evancho is and others in the past. I am a singer, mostly in choirs and chamber choirs so I know a bit about the mechanics of singing. I am not a professional so I don't have that 'threatened by something better than me' neurosis! So, I am coming at this as a person who knows what should be and can burst that 'pop bubble'! I too cringe when someone says out loud that "Charlotte Church' is great, brilliant! (Don't get me started on Sarah Brightman, vertebrata central she is!!)
Many go for these young kids for two reasons: the Carnival Factor (wow, a bearded lady!) and the social climbing aspect. It's usually the low-brow not too experienced spender who forks out for this tripe. As Maren says, the Ignorant don't really know what's so wrong with all this as they are more taken with being part of something they see as more sophisticated than themselves but with the child singing, they now have an in. to a world that ususally they are excluded from due to ignorance or opportunity. The first is their responsibility but the second is a constant problem for the Opera community: how to bring Opera away from the Black Tie and back to the Black jeans folk.
Never mind that the child shouldn't be singing ANYTHING like that. ( It's a criticism of the Suzuki method too: how can a 6 year old play the intensity of a Brahms Violin concerto…?)
Charlotte Church crashed and burned spectacularly, divorcing her parents, ransacking her trust that was set up to hold all her millions earned at that 13-16 age career, at 18, marrying, divorcing and having two children all by 25. And is now presenting her own late night talk show/variety 'coming home from the pub' entertainment in which she consistently takes the piss out of herself… she's now married to one of the Welsh rugby stars and never sings…
Aled Jones ("We're Walking in the Air" ) has tried to get back to professional singing but heck, his voice broke into a bass of all things so no one will buy that! Bummer!
There's a time and place for everything and this child is not in the right time or place for her voice but there's lots of money to be made out of suckers every day so… just don't buy it – literally.
@Irish Lisa,
My God !! What arrogance ! And from someone who claims that she is not a professional !
Spoken like a true opera snob (my apologies if this offends). Ever hear of the word Prodigy, like Amadeus Mozart. Well most professionals consider Jackie Evancho a Prodigy and many of these so called professionals
are really professionals in the music industry.
i agree with the technical criticisms and worries that she brought up. what i think is kinda sick about all this is that this ten/eleven year old girl gets to attempt to sing one of THE biggest soprano arias of all time that opera singers all over the world train til they are 22 years old to accomplish, and in one moment the little girl is famous. i dont argue with what you're saying, yea i think she may be a prodigy, but there is no way for the entire american public to sit in their seats watching this girl and know the repercussions of what she's doing to her voice, to the classical music industry, and to the starving artists out there who fight their way to the Met. if you remember: they said charlotte church was a prodigy as well, and we all know where she's at now. it just upsets me that we're supporting the idea of someone pretending to be something at such a young age, and (now im trying to be as non-arrogantly sounding as possible) in order to understand where Maren is coming from, you have to understand all the training and wisdom in her history as a musician.
Charlotte Church is worth more than 10 million pounds. More than she ever would have made as a straight opera singer.
@ToscaTraviata
I couldn't care less about the starving artist who fight their way to Met, its the process that weeds out the good from just average. If you think its the number of years you have trained and not the quality of the voice, then you really have no love of opera. Also, all of Maren's training doesn't seem to have given her any wisdom, otherwise she wouldn't be having such a childish meltdown over another singers success.
To bad you cant write and tell Beverly Sills how she too ruined her voice singing opera at an even earlier age than Ms. Evancho. July Andrews and Maria Albeghetti are still alive, so its fortunate that you can write and inform them that they ruined their voices singing at the same age as Ms Evancho.. They will appreciate your wisdom
There are voices far better than Jackie Evancho's out there who have had the years of training. They go together, there has to be a great voice before the training, but without proper training that voice will be doomed no matter how wonderful it was.
This post is not a meltdown, it is simply trying to explain a very popular concern for a young singer. Also, it is extremely frustrating for the opera community to see people falling over this 11 year old "opera singer" when she is truly no such thing. I do believe that she sincerely loves singing and that makes me so happy!! But there is so much more than that, and people just don't realize our reality on this side.
All the singers you listed were properly trained…..
*Julie* Andrews. Seriously??
Sorry CO, you're melting fast. Your negativity is your downfall, along with being totally wrong. History will show just how sensational Jackie Evancho is. For people who can hear and think, Jackie's brilliant star is apparent now.
There may be voices better trained than Jackie Evancho but for all the kids singing anything on You Tube or in choirs and conservatories, I haven't found one that sounds better than her….maybe someday I will but I'm not looking for one….and neither are the hundreds of thousands (if not millions) who like Jackie's voice and singing and who buy her albums and attend her concerts.
At age 12, she has already accomplished more in life than most will in a lifetime. If nothing else, that alone earns my admiration and respect ! It should also earn Marens and everybody else's respect!
History shows that there have been others like her and there will be more like her in the future….but they are rare and precious and should be valued as such !
@Tosca,
You think that Jackie, a 12 year old girl is pretending to be an opera singer ? She's not. Both her and her family have repeatedly stated she is a classical crossover singer. So far, Jackie has stated firmly she wants to stick to being a classical crossover artist.
And as for her singing some (3 only) operatic arias … so what? Its not like she is singing opera day in and day out. According to her and her critics, she doesn't even practise that much. How is that going to ruin her voice?
At age 12 she has sold over 2 million albums and has brought increasing notice and attention to classical music…if that doesn't help starving artists I don't know what will.
Maren's article would have been fine if it was objective…its not !
Anwaar, I just recently (today) started watching videos of Jackie singing and I think I watch a hundred or more I was so entranced. OMG, I honestly don't think the people commenting on here have ever heard of a Prodigy. I don't know anything about opera, not a singer, not famous, not rich, and definitely not a snob of anything. I do know that by pure accident I ran across a video of a little girl who totally caught me off guard, blew my mind with her talent, and truly drew me in with her voice! The very first thing that came to my mind was Prodigy!
@Irish Lisa, since NO ONE IS GUARANTEED TOMORROW, just wondering what you consider the right time and place for this girls talent? When America has been bombed so many times and more innocent people are taken out of this world who will never have the opportunity to showcase their talents, whatever they might have been? Do you recommend that she wait, train for years and years, and then y'all decided it's now "Her Time?" Just wondering………..
Just a friendly reminder that you posted a comment 22 weeks ago about how short lived Jackie's career would be. Well 22 weeks later she is even more popular than before….would you care to comment on why that happened !
Because her fans would pay for her shit just because she put it in a jar and sold it.
Probably because it isn't as bad as yours
!
I think she has a right to sing what ever she wants if she is good at it and is trying hard then she deserves having a brilliant voice!!!!!!!
Is this fact, accusation or speculation? Not arguing, it just seems you know a lot and I wonder how or why you possibly could.
Sounds like you are emotionally scarrd and mentally drained yourself. Big difference is, you never had the success or the money. Lol.
We thoroughly enjoy Maren's Lulz therefore own this board in favor of her. Our thought:
The music companies and the media will do what they can to hype Jackie Evancho then squeeze every dime they can out of the Jackie Evancho campaign until Jackie is left emotionally scarred and mentally drained then it's time to move on to the next pot of gold. It will be the shortest career in history.
Jackie's parents put their greed first and her well-being second.
Set sail for fail.
Too many people making authoritative statements about her and her family. They're just your opinion. The facts are obvious, just as sure as your jealousy.
In libel the test case for a comment being defamatory is “Could a 3rd party have found the comment demeaning” not what was the intent of the defendant. _Your comment here, "Jackie's parents put their greed first and her well-bring second.", is all that is require to bring an "opened and shut, slam dunk" case against you. There would be a long line of lawyers volunteering to take the case Pro Bono. I sure hope it happens.
Oh Irish Lisa,
I can't agree with you more. Charlotte Church is the perfect example for use as an example. But for goodness sake, don't mention any of those other young singers that started at Jackie's age that went on to have long and successful careers. If you mention Beverly Sills, Julie Andrews, or Deanna Durbin, you would just make yourself look like an uninformed idiot, don't you think?
Stay strong for the cause dear!
Beverly Sills, Julie Andrews, or Deanna Durbin…. ..they didn't try to imitate a mature sound.. don't you hear the difference?
Yes, they were not in Jackies Class. She is much better at 12 than they were as kids and she is better now than they are.
Here is a voice expert and voice teacher commenting on the first know recording of Deanna Durbin at age 13.
This is NOT a 13 years old. I'm a singer and voice teacher specialized in kids and teenagers voices and this a mature woman voice.
freespiritQC 2 years ago
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5wMS47-Wwg
This generated this response from the poster.
For all of the fools who claim this isn't Durbin, I just uploaded the full radio interview, ending with the unedited "One Night of Love". Egg on all your faces.
The mature sound of Durbin is the same as Ms Evancho.
We compare Jackie Evancho to getting a new puppy. A puppy is adorable and so much fun to play with. It's like her pet ducks that she has in her yard. The fascination with Jackie Evancho will eventually fade away into oblivion and so will her CD's.
Wanna bet? You will be wrong, Lulz Security.
We can only hope, can't WE! Yes, people like us that pack up the puppy and send it to the pound will abandon Jackie Evancho in droves. I fear I don't share your optimism though. Sometimes the unwashed masses can be ridiculously loyal. The fact that Jackie's voice just keeps getting better is not helping our cause at all. Like you, I do fear for our future. I just don't know how we can continue to feel superior about ourselves with all these ordinary people listening to OUR repertoire. It is just maddening.
Still, we must stay strong for the cause – sigh.
Jackie Evancho is a puppy!? I thought she was a girl. Puppies can't sing.
way to attract govt types on your hacking prowess
Yes,yes,yes if we can just keep our genre dependent on private donors and grants we can keep these uneducated, low brow losers from listening. My niece has a wonderful classical voice for a young girl and I keep telling her not to practice because she must wallow in obscurity for a at least twenty to thirty years before she will be accepted by the people that really matter, you know the ones who are embittered by their lack of success. We must keep discouraging young talent so we can keep our legacy alive. Diva's rule, I am so glad there is someone out there who understands the importance of this mission and will work hard to keep our Art away from the masses.
Your post is immature at best. Opera has, in the past several decades taken a beating from those who want to modernize it and use microphones and sound effects and hire singers based on their looks . When there is nobody left who can sing the arias in their proper key and nobody left who can sing the difficult passages, we'll just rewrite them to dumb them down to your level. . We'll just use sound effects to make someone sound correct. Why bother .
In case you didn't realize, it's the pursuit of perfection that is the reward and people like me enjoy it. Meanwhile, back to your fast food hamburger there buddy. Why wait for Jacques Pepin to prepare a meal for you. I mean he's been cooking for about 60 years. Go get your dinner from some teenage burger flipper… That's your level of quality
I'm not a big opera fan, though I enjoy some of it just as I enjoy a great variety of music. I am a musician and sing myself, though I am not a professional and never will be. I'd like to see the best of both worlds: Those of us who enjoy listening to Jackie can listen to her and Jackie's parents will take precautions to keep Jackie's voice and future from going to pot.
I remember well when Charlotte Church debuted…and I have to say that Jackie's phrasing and ability to imbue her performances with emotion far outstrip Ms.Church's. Just compare Charlotte's rendition of Ave Maria on her Christmas album to Jackie's version sung for America's Got Talent. Charlotte's version is mechanical, sounding like she's just trying to keep up with the orchestra, with none of emotion one would like to experience in listening to this piece. Jackie's may not have the expression of an adult, but keeping in mind that she IS a child, she does extraordinarily well. While the strain that Ms.Church's voice was being put through showed terribly at age 12, Ms. Evancho's is far more pure and effortless sounding. With care, she may be able to develop her voice naturally.
What it comes down to, for myself and many others, is do I get pleasure from listening to Ms. Evancho? Yes, I do. Do I hope that her parents take the steps necessary to help her keep her pleasure in singing alive all her life and ensure that she continues to be able to pursue the career she wants as long as she wants to? Yes, I do. Only time will tell. There is a precedent that one hopes is not followed, that of the young Judy Garland, with a voice that far outstripped her years, put through the Hollywood meat grinder.
As far as the inappropriateness of her repertoire, I have to say I would rather hear an 11-year old sing Nessun Dorma than some of the pop lyrics out these days.
Jackie Sucks, and she thinks she is way better than you she should loose the little b**tch attidtude.
this world is full of nasty people
I feel compelled to weigh in on the Jackie Evancho debate. I guess it's a debate, at this point. Lots has been said about the use of her voice, in the style she sings. Will it be ruined?…Does she abnormally alter it to get the "operatic" sound she gets when she sings? First of all, children's bodies are flexible in all aspects…and heal themselves quickly, when injured. And, if using your voice in a screaming or loud manner, as a child, could cause irreparible damage, every one of us would have ruined our voices years ago. So, as far as the potential for damaging the voice, there's not much chance of that happening to a child.
And using your voice to mimic, or create a particular sound is nothing new in singing.
As a final note…let's not forget the amazing way Jackie presents the songs she sings: the beauty, elegance and grace of a seasoned veteran. And millions and millions of people love her performances.
I know this is an old post but i do have to point out the error in your argument. Yes most kids scream a lot when they are young but they don't make a career out of it. Furthermore most kids don't go on to become opera singers. What will damage a singing voice will not necessarily damage a talking voice. Most people don't care what you sound like when your talking.
lawl, you're so jelly it's sad. grow up, kid.
I prefer THIS review of Jackie Evancho. http://popzu.blogspot.com/2011/04/pre-review-of-j…
I'd also like to point out that while singing opera is a singularly beautiful art form, not just anyone can do it well regardless of how long they train and regardless of how they lay claims to their own personal greatness (e.g. Maren). Opera is also a form of acting. Jackie nor her parents have ever claimed this is the arena in which her art lives. YOU made that leap, not her. And as for the appropriateness of song choices, this is a hollow argument and completely assumes that you and only you know who should be singing a particular piece. I found this blog so full of bitterness and resentment, it was hard to sort out if there were even any valid points made. I found none. I feel sorry for you and can only hope you hit stardom soon as it's apparent you're already sliding into the abyss of the embittered and failed "almost famous" group who, instead of achieving their own greatness, knocks down others to deflect their own failings.
Bravo Bravo Like that audience in Houston . They had it ALL wrong by Jumping up after
song and shame shame All experts ??
Or this review… http://popzu.blogspot.com/2011_05_01_archive.html
Everyone want to compare Charlotte Church to Jackie Evancho, Church made so many mistakes in life, drinking, drugs and who know what else. But Charlotte was young and is trying to make a comeback, she has two young children that she says is the most important thing right now and there's no close 2nd. As for her being a complete failure like some have indicated she still has a net worth of almost 18 million us dollars. Comparing Jackie born in 2000 to opera developed before electronics is like comparing the telegraph to the iphone 4.
I don't know what's wrong with all these people who read the blog entry and interpreted it as hatred, jealousy or snobbery. What a simplistic and irrational response.
It's true that if Jackie were an adult she would not have made it to the finals, just like if Susan Boyle were beautiful or average looking she wouldn't have a million hits on youtube. Their singing is just ok, nothing spectacular, but they grab people's imagination, and it will always be easier for the general public to identify with them, or be moved by them, than with a polished art form like opera that although more worthy of praise technically, is, let's face it, an acquired taste! (I love opera and don't particularly like Jackie, but that's just me).
Thanks for your post and ignore the haters.
Oh and congratulations on being a professional opera singer, which is something I envy a lot more than being a popular child sensation about to make lots of money.
Has anyone else noticed that almost everyone who speak against Jackie are very gifted. Take nittai for example. She/he is a fortune teller.
I am a little confussed as to why she/he thanks Maren for her post, but then in the same sentence tells her to ignore herself and her supporters.
I don't understand this "it's not her natural voice" stuff. Seems to me that whatever sound a person can produce is their voice. they used to say that about Jim Nabors and countless other enviable singers. "that's not fair, she's cheating." Who's the real child here?
No – not every sound a person can produce is their natural voice. If you can imitate Alvin and the Chipmunks, does that mean it is your natural voice? 11-year-olds don't have Jackie's sound – they cannot because the vocal cords are not designed to work nor sound like that at her age. There are kids who sound mature for their age, yes, but not to this extent. When I listen to Jackie, I hear tremendous tongue and larynx pressure, I hear a child being taught to mimic a mature, adult sound. I hear an inherently beautiful voice with a lot of potential being slowly destroyed. Jackie has a lot of raw natural talent, but her teachers and coaches need to take better care of her voice. Children are malleable enough to recover quickly from any injury/damage, but if she keeps up her current technique, she is going to want to continue singing the same way when she grows older, goes through puberty and the voice cannot be made to work the same way anymore (because she will have a young adult vocal structure by then). Then as the cartilages begin to ossify, she will wind up with a lot of harmful habits that she won't be able to recover from as rapidly. And that will gradually cause permanent damage.
I've just found this web page (August) after spending a half year following Jackie Evancho since I was first introduced to her via one of her AGT performances. Maren, your article is nicely written and in part I must agree, that said I am totally smitten by JE's singing and think that it would be wrong for her to stop at this time. I do agree that there are some songs she should not sing such as Nessun Dorma but in my opinion most of what she performed on her Dream with Me Project was sung as well or even better than her mentors. Nella Fantasia as an example was first introduced by Sarah Brightman after she obtained permission from Ennio Morricone to change Gabriell's Oboe solo from the film "The Mission" into a song. I believe Jackie Evancho 's version is far better than Sarah Brightman's found in her CD "Eden." (It is posted on YouTube)
The major focus of this article and commentary though is not on how well Jackie sings, or her incredible musicality, but whether she is singing properly and or damaging her voice. I have never had voice lessons, but I have sung in choral groups for better than 50 years. I've had numerous chorus masters that spend a substantial amount of time warming up the choir making us sing a great number of exercises non of which has ever made me feel that it I was the better for them. You are absolutely correct that most peoples voice improve with age or at least up to a certain point, but I have never heard a voice as beautifully colored as what Jackie does in "A Time For Us" from the "Romeo and Juliet" film. To say to Jackie at this time with her love of singing that she cannot perform because she might hurt herself vocally or emotionally would be just plain cruel. Also note that Jackie always sings with a mike, not that it stops her from throwing her body and soul into a song, but it should reduce the strain on her voice and her recent venues have been large, some with crowds of 3000 or more.
Jackie Evancho at this time has the ability to reduce grown men to tears. This is not a universal phenomena but seems to be quite specific. I chatted JE up among my fellow chorister and there were only a few who were as smitten as I was. Most are fairly neutral or puzzled at the phenomena. Also there are more that a few who think that an old man's obsession with a child's vocal ability is just a bit creepy. But I also find it interesting that quite a few of the more professional singers I know are quite put off by this kid and that seems equally weird.
I have to end this for now but I think Jackie Evancho will be around for a long time.
I completely agree with you, and firstly, I am not at all impressed with Jackie Evancho. Let's forget for a moment that she is 10 years old. She sounds like a weaker version of an opera singer. Her voice has no power and no range. The only reason people are awed by her is because of her age.
Finally! Someone who understands me! I can sing really well like her and people are impressed. I can "spin" sound without wobbling my jaw and making weird faces. And I'm 13!
I don't think Maren Montalbano is jealous. Why is it that if somebody tells the truth that happens to be unflattering to someone popular, she/he is accused of being jealous. OK, I'm not an opera singer, and I am not impressed by Jackie Evancho or Charlotte Church, and I am jealous of neither of them. Don't I have the right not to be impressed by them? I don't think that — from the way they sound — Charlotte and Jackie Evancho deserve their fame.
Jules,
The problem is that the truth is Maren's truth. Which means its just her opinion and the opinion of others on this forum.
Also, notice that fame and fortune don't necessarily validate the truth. Charlotte and Jackie have achieved fame despite the condemnation from a few opera snobs !
Jules like everyone else you have the right to be not impressed by whom ever you do not want to be impressed by. Hell you even have the right to be impressed by whom ever you want to be impressed by.
No one is here to tell Maren that she can not be not impressed by Jackie. She has every right to be as not impressed as she wants to be.
Most of the people commenting about her post just want to let Maren know that they are not impressed with her for the way she is expressing not being impressed with Jackie. Maren is an adult, and it is completely unimpressive for an adult to attack a child, even if only with words. And even less impressive is slander, and as an adult Maren's statements would make any case filed in any civil court in the U.S. A. a Slam Dunk.
Jackie is not singing in her natural voice. Children at this age do not even have vibrato.She is mimicking operatic tones,but she is not opera.Children imitate sounds in early years. Not as unusual as some people think. Jackie is also using a technique where you keep your tongue as far to the back of your throat. This is why she does not resonate her vowels properly and most of the lyrics are hard to understand. I almost want to refrain from mentioning what her producers & promoters are doing.The over amount of digital enhancement and amplification is ridiculous. The amount of reverb in her cds, plus over amount of orchestration to fill in where she uses straight tone too much or loses her notes.I think what many are taken by is they believe shes one in a million.There are actually many children with far greater technique in conservatory schools, being trained for the future.I compliment this article for being honest. along with articulate, by no means jealous.
OMG THANK GOD FOR THAT!!! What you just said is exactly what I think!
I just attended Jackie's Dallas Concert and was blessed beyond expression by this little girl's talent. Her time is now and if she has a long-time career it will be because of the fan base she's developing now. I can appreciate the negativity and where it's coming from, but there are exceptions to the rule and I can't help but think Jackie is one of them. It may not be healthy to be mimicking a mature voice, but the fact she can do it may just mean she'll survive doing it without consequence. The writer can thank Jackie that I'm even listening to some opera as I had no interest in it prior to hearing her on America's Got Talent. I think the fact Jackie is compelled to sing this type of music says a lot about her character, even as a little girl. Not too many 8 years olds see The Phantom of the Opera and decide they are going to learn to sing those songs. I predict Jackie and her family will handle her career with loving care.
The great Maria C wobbled and vibrated her larynx and vocals throughout her whole career. I am a classical sophist and have been going to opera performances for 50 years and on most occasions I sit in the front or as near as possible to the front. I can assure you Maren I have seen more larynx’s and vocal chords at work than you have because where you stand you are looking at me in the front row and not at your fellow divas and divos (tenorissimos?) Me? , I’m looking at the performers and their chords and most of them are dynamic and quiver and vibrate with perfection to deliver the magic. Maybe you don’t vibrate but then you can always find another way or see a therapist!
I agree completely with Maren. Jackie really is in danger of damaging her voice. Perhaps worst of all is the fact that her mother, who knows nothing about teaching singing, is now Jackie's coach. This is pretty terrible. This girl needs an ecperienced voice teacher who knows what he or she is doing.
@Florence,
If I may ask, what good would an experienced voice teacher do? She's too young and her vocal cords and Larynx have not matured yet, so formal training won't be starting until that happens. All her mother does is maintain what Yvie Burnett asks her to keep an eye open for. The one thing they don't want is Jackie singing at her present high note (G6), or even close to it. Jackie is not stupid, and she certainly wouldn't risk doing any harm to her voice. She loves to sing far too much for that to happen.
What I would like to know from all these self professes "experts" here, is you people are so smart, how come none of the top schools, all over the world have nothing to say on the subject, one way or the other. How come it's always the wannabe singers that aren't quite good enough to make the cut, so they get bitter and try and take it out on an extremely talented child. One blog, run by some moron named Norman Lebrecht even allowed someone to question her wholesomeness as a child! All I might add without knowing anything about Jackie or the Evancho family!
Contrary to a lot of the opinions on this blog, Jackie's voice is very well looked after. Sony has a vested interest in her future, and they are not about to let anything happen to her voice! To the people who think that it's all about money, guess again. If it was about money, she would be singing Pop! Personally I prefer the type of music she does sing. Having been a 10 year old prodigy myself, I know exactly what it is like for any child
If her voice is "very well looked after", she will not be singing Puccini at her age. Many people (even some teachers!) seem to think it is okay to allow 10-year-olds to sing full-blown opera arias as long as they "sing it lightly". What they don't get is that opera arias, especially something like Nessun Dorma, are written for more mature voices that have the physical stamina to sing it healthily. It is not about how many high notes or loud sustained dynamic levels, it is about how the phrases are written, the area of the voice that the music stays in (the tessitura), and the emotional demand of the lyrics.
A physically mature vocal structure can probably sing about grief and despair without having to force artificial vocal manipulation, just because the whole physical structure is stronger to handle the intensity of the musical and vocal demands. An extremely young and fragile instrument cannot. It is completely different from playing an external instrument. It is going to leave a permanent mark on the voice if it is allowed to continue.
If I may be allowed to cite a brief personal anecdote – when I first started singing seriously (and I was into my teens by then), I did exactly what Jackie did. I adored opera singers so I tried to sound like them, and I did a pretty good job of imitating. It gave my teacher the false impression that I had a much bigger voice, when in fact I didn't. I tried to carry all that sound up into my higher range and wondered why I always sounded so tense on them. But still I didn't know I was hurting my voice. I didn't feel like I was. It was only when I moved away and transferred to a new teacher, that she made me realize what I was doing. She heard right through it and made me sing with my natural voice instead. My entire high register freed up and I felt a lot more comfortable throughout my entire range. And I can sing for longer without tiring.
Jackie's case may not be as extreme as mine, but the point is I was lucky enough to snap out of my damaging habit soon enough that it saved my voice. Jackie's voice teachers/coaches are allowing her to walk the same path I did by letting her sing all these big arias with such a big sound that someone her age cannot possibly have, no matter how talented she is. For the sake of her incredible instrument, she needs to sing lighter things so that she does not need to artificially darken or manipulate her voice to express the music.
(Sorry this is so long – I had to split it into multiple posts)
And actually – it is an unstated 'rule'/norm that undergraduate voice majors in legitimate music conservatories do not get to sing big arias (especially Verdi, Puccini and the other 19th century opera composers) at least for their first year of study. No matter how big of a voice they have. I am presently studying in a conservatory, and also have friends who are voice majors in other conservatories, so I know how things are run. "Nobody" has stepped out to say anything about it because they don't need to. Professional voice teachers know it and the responsible ones stick to it.
. . . and you Ana-Grace are – - Nobody. So, who cares about your uninformed opinion – - Nobody.
I LOVED THIS ARTICLE!
I totally agree with you and I'm so glad this was written ( I too am a training mezzo ). I also hear these kind of statements all the time and I feel such frustration at the lack of teaching that is out there (especially in public school systems with financially valid programs) where this should be basic knowledge. Shame on teachers really, even if you are a "band" person. You should be an educated musician/ teacher first.
As a classically trained singer, myself, I find this child to have an extraordinary gift. I do not see any signs of her visibly straining or modifying her voice. It would appear, that in this isolated instance, the laws of physiology of the human voice may not apply to this individual, as she has a very mature sound at such a young age. I'm not aware of any other 11-year-olds who can "mimic" the adult voice to such an astonishing degree, as you claim. While I do hope that she is under some professional tutelage on the proper use of her voice & that she is not overworked so that she may preserve it, I do find your remarks a bit offensive & quite frankly, tinged with what sounds like jealousy of this child's remarkable talent.
I personally have seen young children mimic anything from cartoon characters ,pop singers,and classical music,almost to sheer perfection, at least as far as tone and pitch.Most children do not choose classical genre,while most parents are not willing to take a risk with children this young. When Jackie sings Nessum Dorma ,the struggling in her facial expressions is painful to watch.Most producers are not usually willing to go through using this much technology and adornments to enable an artist.
.
I still have questions as to whether or not Jackie is really 11 years old. A very young looking proportional dwarf appeared on China's Got Talent the same year(2010) she was on AGT. Face it, AGT is associated with Jerry Springer, and Springer is famous for midgets on his show. Her behavior comes off as strange and contrived to me. As I said on Youtube, if she is a dwarf, her singing probably won't get any better, so she better get the money while it is good for an 11 year old. I've also read others say they don't believe her voice will last more than 2 more years.
I guess you could classify me as the ultimate Jackie skeptic. AGT is obviously a classless act, and most likely fixes the results. I know a thing or two concerning statistics and how colleges determine likely cheaters on exams. Plus, throw in the history of game show fixing, and all signs point to ripoffs. Everything surrounding Jackie seems crooked, so I don't know why anyone would pony up their cash for a girl who comes off like a con-artist.
Bottom line: She is boring, weird, comes from a questionable promotion, and flat out does not sound the best.
I am a singer and classical voice teacher. The shake in her jaw is an indication of tension which will continue to worsen with this heavy of singing. I predict her voice will not last, which is a shame. She could have a long, healthy singing career ahead of her.
As a former singer, and more importantly, the mother of an 11 year old with a beautiful voice, I think most people here are missing the point – Jackie Evancho is damaging her voice. People may love the sound that is currently coming out of her, but it will not last. While I'm sure she's very talented, she is a mimic, children that age do not have a natural vibrato – physiologically it does not exist yet, and forcing one is very dangerous. She will damage her voice and it won't develop properly. Period. I am so sick of hearing children belting at the top of their lungs in their chest voices or forcing vibratos to sound older in classical styles. I've known children as young as 8 to have problems with nodes, whose voices will never develop properly because of this push to sound older. Eleven year olds should sound like eleven year olds not 25 year olds. It's too bad that Jackie's parents decided to capitalize on her natural talent and push her way too hard.
I wonder how meny arm chair doctors and opera experts wrote about Bevely Sills, Julie Andrews or Deanna Durbi when they were children. Just think how great Bevely Sills could have been if she had paid her dues in study and preperation and started singing profesionaly when she was in her 20's. If Julie Andrews had just waited untill her voice had maured how much better her carrier woud have been instead of starting to perform when she was ten. Then there is Deanna Durbin, What a wast of talent. She started to sing when she was ten also. Could have been a big star in the 30's and 40's, maybee the highest paid female in Hollywod in the 40's if she hadn't burned out her voice singing on all those radie shows as a child. I agree with you, lets protect the children from fame and fortune.
In libel the test case for a comment being defamatory is “Could a 3rd party have found the comment demeaning” not what was the intent of the defendant.
Your comment here, " It's too bad that Jackie's parents decided to capitalize on her natural talent and push her way too hard.", is all that is require to bring an "opened and shut, slam dunk" case against you. There would be a long line of lawyers volunteering to take the case Pro Bono. I sure hope it happens.
YES! She is a mimic! -_- Even her "loveliness" is a mimic! I'm not saying she couldn't be lovely! But I want the girl to lovely and "Jackie Evancho" not "lovely" as in adult opera singer –__–
Name one singer that Jackie Evancho sounds like, or one singer that sounds like Jackie.
She's not an opera singer, and has endlessly corrected the clueless and uninformed that she sings "classical-crossover", not opera. She uses a microphone always, doesn't belt, and takes rest breaks during her concerts. Here's a video that shows a little more about her home life:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twFgtnlpOz8
I spent most of my life as the big brother of a diva. A big brother wants his little sister to have a resonably happy life if possible and grow up to be somebody he can admire. If singing contributes, fine. IIt appears to me Jackie is handling the productions, promotions, etc. Other 10 year olds might not be ready for that. I agree that her voice should be protected for the future at all costs . For that she deserves a vocal advisor who protects that voice and has the knowledge and experience to do that.
I hope her vocal technique is safe because, honestly, I love the sound of that voice. I never listen to "classical crossover" but I listen to Jackie. I avoid listening to her operatic arias because, agreeing with you, no matter how gifted she is, she's years away from that kind of singing and shouldn't be tempted to compare herself to any of that.
If she's not huring her voice and if she's mature enough for the travel and appearances then please, can't we just enjoy what she's doing? It's obvous she's having the time of her life.
all these comments crack me up……….oh my goodness………..the comments defending Jackie and the comments critisizing her talent….I have no doubt her parents have taken everything into consideration as well as her voice couch………for goodness sake leave the kid alone and let those who want to enjoy her be lifted by what she has to offer; if you don't like what she has to offer then don't listen to her……the choice is yours
She has no vocal coach, except her completely unqualified mother. A doctor checks on her regularly, but a doctor can't see poor technique, only the results of poor technique such as nodules on the vocal cords. This child is in serious danger of permanently damaging her voice. She could have a career that lasts decades, but probably won't because of the poor technique that she uses. She is a mimic, who is imitating adult singers…and believe me, no child naturally sings the way Jackie does. It's very sad that her parents and handlers are allowing this to happen.
What a staggeringly stupid comment Annie. Shame on you for cluelessly badmouthing someone you obviously know absolutely nothing about.
I wonder how many arm chair doctors and opera experts wrote about the damage being done to Beverly Sills, Julie Andrews, Deanna Durbin of or even Judy Garland. All child singing stars in their day. Just think how great a carrier Bevely Sills would have had if she had paid her dues in study and training and waited untill her 20's before she began to perform. Julie Andrews could have become famous if she hadn't ruined her voice singing when she was ten. In fact the attorney's for the doctor who screwed up her voice should have used that as a defence. Then there is Deanna Durbin. What a waste of talent. She started to sing when she was ten. Could have been a big star in the 30's & 40's. Maybee the heighest paid actress in the 40's if she hadn't burned out her voice singing on all those raidio shows when she was still a child. I hought she quit Hollywood because she was fed up with it, now I now it because she had lost her voice. Judy Garaland, though not an opera singer must have lost her voice not from booze and drugs but from singing at such an early age. I agree with you, lets protect the children form fame and fortune.
Everyone who is bringing up Beverly Sills, Julie Andrews, and Deanna Durbin is completely missing the point that those singers could still sing later because their voices were protected. Sills teacher was impressed by her ability to mimic opera recordings, and started her on a training program that allowed her to progress as her voice matured, she didn’t start singing full blown arias at 11. Julie Andrews, for some unknown genetic reason, had adult vocal cords at 12. Deanna Durbin may have started singing at 10, but, again, was not singing “Nessun Dorma”. Of course children with training can sing – the Vienna Boys Choir is a prime example, but, having just heard Jackie Evancho sing “Silent Night”, I do question her technique. It’s a sweet voice, it would be sweet as a child’s voice, but, I agree, it will not be maintained with her current repertoire.
-sister of a classically trained soprano
Deanna Durbin didn't want to be famous after she got married. She was offered many roles but refused to do them because she didn't care much for the hollywood limelight. This woman loves her privacy and likes to be private. She always refers to Deanna in a third person light and says that is not really who she really is as a person.
The differnce between Jackie Ecvancho and all of the singers you mention is that these singers all had good teachers to teach them proper vocal technique. Jackie doesn't have a teacher. Sills, by the way, was allowed to perform for a short time around the age of 8. Then her parents took her away from performing, let her be a kid, and then got her a good teacher. When she began performing again, it was as a fully trained adult singer. There's a big difference between a child singer who uses good technique and sings age and skill-level appropriate music and Jackie Evancho who uses horrible technique and sings music that is very inappropriate for her age and skill-level.
When Jackie sings it is almost as though you hear three of her singing at the same time. Though some of her fans would like to believe this is because she is so good and super-human.this only occurs with sound engineering.Auto-tune or technical adjustments of mic to thicken a thin voice, while adding an echo to mute lack of proper passage from notes. Information is out there, just care and look it up.
your comments on the maturing of a voice and the vocal chords are interesting and seem accurate. Your disparagment of Evancho because she 'modifies' her voice improperly is narrow minded. Beauty is beauty as a rose is a rose however it is presented and when I see and hear Jackie sing, I melt. In a lifetime pf 63 years and of music I have only felt that way for a small handful of human beings. Jackie is one and you cannot reduce her with your comments.
Don
My understanding is certain operas arias are made for different voices, Puccini arias are heavy especially for a little girl like that. I can say I wish I could sing Carmen! Love that opera but my voice is too light to sing that song and it was written for a mezzo- soprano while queen of the night aria is made for a coloratura soprano which is a very fast and requires a very flexible voice. This little girl needs to sing in a vocal range that is appropriate for her. Please understand that certain operas are written for a specific voice range and if we venture out of that we risk damaging our voices with permanently.
I agree with what you say about Jackie, She has talent but it is quite un-natural sounding for a girl of her age and the person who wrote this, you obviously do know what you are talking about so I think people should respect what your trying to say. it shouldn't be a cause for arguments. The reason that she is famous is obviously because she has been on Americas got talent, normal singers get to fame the hard way, and just because they don't get broadcast to millions when they are only 11 years old is because they have a normal life first and a childhood give you a good grounding. Just becuase they didnt go on some crappy talent show doesnt mean they should "crawl back under your rock of obscurity and whine to yourself." Americas got talent is not the only way to fame and Just to say I CARE, so BHR you can leave your horrible comments up your own arse.
xxx
Thank you for your time
Kiri, why do you think this author knows anything about Jackie, let along more than Jackie parents and vocal coaches, and all the other professional looking out for her.
Is it just because she is a trained opera singer? If so maybe you should consider the opinions of some other opera trained singers who have shared a stage with her. Sumi Jo and Dimitiry Hvorostovski were with Jackie at the "Bouquet of Opera" in Palace Square, St.Petersburg, Russia.
And Jose Carreras, long time opera star, and member of the Three Tenors, who debute in opera at 11, will be sharing the stage with Jackie in Taiwan on 20 April.
There are many, many more professional singers in and out of the classical and opera field who disagree with Maren. The list would be filled with many stars who's names would be well known to you.
The sad jealousy of many of the comments in this blog are truly pathetic. I'm sure there were small minded people that criticized Mozart in his time. Of course Jackie can and certainly will improve as she matures. Indeed her improvement has been exponential in the last year, and she was a true phenomenon a year ago. The author of this article and many of the commenter just don't know how to deal with a true musical genius (and Jackie is that – - probably one in a century). Get over yourselves, and be happy for the talent you, or your children, have. Don't take uninformed and foolish pot-shots at an artistic genius that doesn't deserve your self-serving scorn, and who is as intelligent, polite and considerate a young person as you will meet in your life.
Dear Maren,
It does not matter how or what Jackie Evancho sings, because people love her music just as it is. Why should she save her voice? The public is fickle and might not give a fig about her when she's 25, even if her voice is still beautiful. Should her voice fail her a few years down the line, I suspect that this bright, personable, and talented child will find some other worthy pursuit. But she is a successful singer in the now, and, by all accounts, appears to be an unusually self-motivated, driven child who loves what she is doing. Now ask yourself this: If people worshiped your performances as they do hers, would you turn away from it and forgo fame and fortune for some arbitrary ideal of the "correct" way to sing?
Maren is right-on in her evaluation of this so-called "prodigy". This poor kid's probably going to have a wobble the size of Gibraltar by the time she's eighteen if she keeps it up. The vocal cords are like rubber bands – if you stretch them too far one way, they'll give in another. It would be better if this girl keeps quiet, becomes a child for a few more years, and if there's still an interest begins proper voice training at around age 13. The boys at least have to wait until their change is complete, 16 years old or later. In the meantime she risks all matter of things – vocal cord paralysis, nodes, flat singing. And then there won't be anything for the public to "admire".
Maybe so, but there is no guarantee the public will "admire" her in the future, whatever she sounds like. She is wildly successful right now, and it would be idiotic for her to pass that up because she MIGHT achieve longer lasting success later on in life. Would you give it up, if you were in her shoes?
Wow Dan, perhaps you should wait a few years before starting lessons on how to use your brain and/or be a decent human being. Maybe once properly trained, you can comment on others without sounding like an uninformed dummy. It's astonishing how many dense, narrow minded people this blog has attracted (just like the author of the blog I guess). A really pathetic bunch. Maren, you should be ashamed of yourself for publishing such ill-considered drivel – - you only could wish that you had a fraction of the talent by the end of your career that Jackie was blessed with as a young child.
What a nasty person you are. Dan, and Maren for that matter are correct in their assessment of Jackie. You may be 'music fan" but you obviously know nothing about singing and how important correct technique is for singers. Bad technique damages voices. It's especially dangerous in a young child who is also artificially manufacturing the sound that she makes. Yes, Jackie is very talented, but that talent should be nourished and not burned out in a few years in the interest of making loads of money. Jackie obviously loves to sing. I hardly think that all those loads of money will make up for the loss of her voice.
This really is a pathetic blog. Maren obviously is envious and jealous of a young woman with the extraordinary talent of a Jackie Evancho and just can't deal with it. Unfortunately, rather than keeping her busy body views to herelf, she has chosen to embarass herself in a blog that has attracted other dim-witted busy bodies to it like flies. Rarely have I read such ill-considered, mean spirited, and foolish comments.
This little girl is a ok singer. The problem is that she is going to mess up her voice singing arias that are meant for a much older voice. I don't think she should stop singing it's just the songs that need to be adjusted. Nessum Dorma is not appropriate for a 11 year old because Puccini arias are much heavier and are usually written for mezzo sopranos and baritones and tenors. I can't even sing a lot of Puccini arias and I am a soprano I wouldn't even dare try for the fact it would ruin my voice and I don't want to ruin it. She will be like Charlotte Church who damaged her vocals because she sang opera songs as a teenager, now she can never reach the high notes because of the damage to her vocal cords. The singing doesn't have to stop but the choices of operatic arias has to completely change. Sarah Brightman even stated that her voice needs to be preserved and she is Jackie's Idol.
Maren, your blog comments are really inappropriate and inaccurate. You may be a decent singer yourself, but your observations about Jackie are way off the mark. There is nothing unnatural or mimic-like in the way Jackie sings. She has a beautifully natural and truly extraordinary voice, with compelling musical interpretation. She also appears to be getting world class advice and guidance (so she continues to improve her already world class voice and interpretation), has delighted audiences around the world, and does so with great generosity and joy. So why you would choose to criticize her is baffling. You may think your comments are enlightening but, unfortunately for you, you just come off as an envious and small minded person.
I am really shocked by the venom in these comments! I – for one – read and enjoyed your article. I didn't catch the "jealousy" everyone keeps referring to. Why would you be jealous of a little girl??
I'm a trained singer as well, and I am nothing but concerned for this little girl. To me, her sound is very unnatural, and I understand why that's appealing to some people. But I'm also afraid she will destroy her voice; she's probably pushing down the larynx and tongue to produce that sound. It would work short-term – it obviously is working – but once her voice changes around age 12-13, she will run into problems and habits she won't be able to get rid of.
Of course, I could certainly be wrong. I'm not snarking. I'm very glad people are being exposed to Puccini and other classical composers SOMEHOW. Even if it is through a little girl.
Jbean, yet another jealous singer – - like I said, you write this kind of stuff, and you attract them like flies. Maren and the rest of you envious bunch should stay in your own garden, and stop going places that are just embarassing to yourselves.
Spare me the “I am nothing but concerned for this little girl” line, jbean, and you gotta love Maren’s quip that the Evancho family is not going to change their ways because they “are making way too much money.” Both of you, and the other detractors commenting on this site, have one primary objective which is to tear this young prodigy down. The only explanations for your motives are that you are: envious, jealous, small minded, and/or mean spirited. The source of the venom on this site is you, not people commenting in support of Jackie. Your negative comments are particularly inappropriate given that Jackie is a truly gifted singer, with a beautifully natural voice, who (notwithstanding your uninformed statements) is performing at a world class level, with exceptional grace and maturity. You might do well to aspire to the same.
oh spare me the "The only explanations for your motives are that you are: envious, jealous, small minded, and/or mean spirited." because I have seen and read about your kind. People who pretend to be concerned for a little child whilst in reality only care for their own personal enjoyment. Fact is, as long as people find her voice enjoyable, they will defend her but once she grows up and acquires a damaged voice, the same people will spite her and insult her for being irresponsible and sue everything and everyone for not doing something about it when they themselves did absolutely nothing about it. how hypocritical.
You people are not concerned about her voice or well being, you are just concerned about your own enjoyment of her current music.
Of course she it talented. That is a given. Yes she is very charming and I love seeing her on TV but that is not the main point people should be focused on but on the welfare of the young prodigy's voice.
If you people really are concerned about her, why have none of you ever expressed such concerns? All your comments exude selfish fanboying/fangirling, amongst many other things.
To young miss evancho, I hope you have a long prosperous career and a proper childhood…
Don't think about these inconsiderate fools who call themselves your fans whilst being uncaring for your welfare.
Do what you think you have to. If you wanted to take a break, then do so. You are not exactly obligated to work for your parents when its the other way around. Just enjoy your craft and enjoy your life.
Spare me the “I am nothing but concerned for this little girl” line, jbean, and you gotta love Maren’s quip that the Evancho family is not going to change their ways because they “are making way too much money.” Both of you, and the other detractors commenting on this site, have one primary objective which is to tear this young prodigy down. The only explanations for your motives are that you are: envious, jealous, small minded, and/or mean spirited. The source of the venom on this site is you, not people commenting in support of Jackie. Your negative comments are particularly inappropriate given that Jackie is a truly gifted singer, with a beautifully natural voice, who (notwithstanding your uninformed statements) is performing at a world class level, with exceptional grace and maturity. You might do well to aspire to the same.
It's not natural, no child sounds like that she is lowering her voice all children are soprano at this age and that usually means they are voices are high and soft. This child is intentionally lowering her voice.
Dear Maren, Your concern for the voice of a young girl is admirable and your opinions should be held with respect. But we must remember that only time will tell the truth about any singer. For now, the beautiful voice of young Jackie is inspiring to many people and she is a person who promotes goodwill and love towards everyone. These qualities are priceless and are greatly needed in this world, especially at this time. A little prayer or two for Jackie and her family may be the best way of showing your respect for her and her talent!
Thank you for your blog. It adds greatly to the understanding of the diverse emotions and thoughts of all of us.
I agree with Maren and some other posters who question the vocal sound they are hearing from Jackie. I can’t speak to the technical aspects of what it takes to perform classical music/opera but I can speak to what can be done to electronically enhance any live performance and recording. So let me ask this to everyone who thinks Jackie is the best thing that has ever happened to music. Have you ever heard her sing anything w/o some kind of electronics being involved? Whether it be a microphone or soundboard or tons of electronic equipment backstage correcting her pitch in real time? Everything you have heard her sing has been electronically enhanced in some form. Even her YouTube audition tapes for AGT presumably taken in her home. Even in those tapes she was singing into a microphone and there was a soundboard in that room. Are you telling me that her voice can’t even project well enough into one room in a home? The difference between classical music and other music is that classical music is often performed w/o any electronic assistance unless it is being performed in a very large venue. You will never see Jackie perform anything w/o the benefits of electronics and therefore unless you can speak with her sound engineers one will never know what they have done to enhance her performances. So to me this debate is more the difference between what is authentic and what isn’t. And whether this matters to you. In today’s world we readily accept digital images and sounds as authentic w/o a full understanding of what they represent or even how accurately they represent what is being filmed or heard. And the more one removes themselves from reality, the less likely one can ever get back to that state. So this process seems less natural to me.
There is no question that Jackie is a talented singer at her age. But she also comes off as a Stepford child who has been programmed by adults to do what she is told. The same as those little girls who partake in beauty pageants. When I have heard Jackie sing, she has never sounded authentic to me. Nor does she seem authentic to me.
RJ- You're ears aren't as good as you think they are. Perhaps your acclaimed technical knowledge isn't all that great either.
Jackie has no such sound boards at her home. Sound was direct into handheld video cam. Also a auto tuner backstage would muddle her voice and take away vibrancy. She is pitch perfect anyway. Your suggestion was just plain silly.
Perhaps opera and "some" classical music is performed without the aid of electronics, but so what? Jackie doesn't perform opera, besides tons and tons of classical is performed with mics and electronics. No need to ruin her voice bellowing to the high seats. Besides, lets face it, be honest, something is lost when projecting over an orchestra. A mic is a wiser choice.
Stepford? Programed? She is not coached for interviews at all. Her parents would prefer their children use and expand their minds, so Jackie wings interviews on her own.
Basically you're ill informed and added no value to this conversation.
Why do you say something is "lost" singing over an orchestra? If you're singing correctly and with proper technique, singing loudly or over an orchestra should not ruin your voice.
How do you record music without a microphone and electronics? Have you ever been to any concert that was totally a capella?
I've personally sung in concerts that were completely a capella. There are such things as a capella groups as well. fail.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLijmcVeR2Q#t=02m32s
That’s Jackie backstage with Cody Carey, prior to appearing with him at the David Foster & Friends concert. There’s plenty of other videos of Jackie singing a cappella and spontaneously to be found on Youtube and elsewhere, if you take the time to look.
Damn those auto-tuners, they’re everywhere aren’t they?
/sarcasm
It is clear that you have no knowledge of any of the topics you offer opinions on in your comments. None of your asinine opinions rate reply.
Jackie is a celebrated international superstar, with a sublime singing voice, radiant presence, and legions of fans among professionals and audiences (with millions of albums sold). The owner of this blog is a nobody. Thus, noone cares what the blog writer (and some of the misinformed dunces on this site) thinks. They should just crawl back under their rock.
I'm chiming in on this late, having just viewed Jackie E singing, for an extended period, on PBS, after only hearing snippets of her performances before. I agree with your post, and am finding many of the comments here to be misguided.
There are many good concerns to be raised regarding the training and 'marketing' of young performers in general, and the huge onslaughts of fame, pushing, marketing, and selling of true child prodigies. Jackie is, I think, a true prodigy. What is sad about child prodigies is that, with few exceptions (Mozart being a mighty big one) few of them mature into adult artists of the same, of similar, stature as what they possessed as kids.
Some good arguments can be made to withhold extremely talented young people from pursuing adult careers, repertoires, and performance schedules, and to allow them to develop their talent at a more leisurely pace. Unfortunately, I think few parents, and probably few kids who possess these gifts, have the patience for that, perhaps, in part at least, out of a fear, that is not entirely unrealistic, that such talent, in childhood, will not maintain itself into adulthood, not, at least, at the same level…
I like, however, your focus on some of the physical concerns that are raised with extremely young vocal training. This is an area that few of us on the 'outside' know much about, and one that I became acquainted with, first, through my mother, who had sung in high school, and, later, through my daughter who sang at a young age. The first chorus my daughter participated in changed directors and leadership, resulting in a much more ambitious and strenuous style of training and rehearsing. I quickly moved my daughter out of it when she began to complain of pain (and this was after several years of private voice lessons). She found her niche in what was actually a larger, and more professional, children's choir that showed more respect for the needs of the developing voice.
I am saddened to learn of Charlotte Church's demise as a performing artist. I had long ago lost touch with her career. Let's hope that young Jackie E's career will be much better managed, and that someone–a teacher of integrity, an honest vocal coach–will put a few brakes on it.
Actually Charlotte's so called demise is a matter of opinion. She is a happily married mother of two with Millions in her bank account. She is still singing and may not have the audience she did before but she is not an object of pity or to be pitied by any means.
GO JACKIE E. THE ENTIRE WORLD LOVE U!! DON'T GET UPSET WITH SUCH A JEALOUS BLOG! <3 JE
I have been singing since 10 to and also a classic singer. I just had my vocal chord operated on. now I can sing even better. But for Jackie I advice her, to rest her voice now and then, to avoid future dammage. She has a beautiful voice. So hope she does not over due. She has alot of years ahead in her proffession. IF SHE HANDLE HER VOICE WISELY!!!!!!!!
Simply put, I find her creepy & her presentation phony. I googled her name to find out if I was the only person. Whew, am I relieved to find out I'm not alone!
I watched 2 videos of her. The first one, she barely had a pulse. She was making goo goo eyes and playing with her hair and it was more than obvious that she was lip synching. The next video, she was puffing like she was running a race. It was no more believable than the first video, and I believe that it was her parents coaching to "look like you are singing". Neither was real. Real singing is evident and is neither comatose nor out of breath.. You are righ… creepy and phony
Wagner is God, you (and C. Foster) really are creepy. Both of you nobodies need to get a life.
C. Foster, sadly, you are not alone. There is a small deluded and bitter crew of detractors who somehow see the success of a once in a century artist like Jackie Evancho as a threat to their lilipution egos. Fortunately, for Jackie, your little bunch is more than offset by the millions of fans around the globe who celebrate Jackie's sensational talents, gracious presence, and wonderful spirit – - and, above all, the beauty of her music.
yep. I child can still sing songs and sound angelic, yet still sound like a child. Jackie sounds like a 30 year old woman. She's beautiful, but where is the child? It does indeed bother me a bit.
Charlotte Church was really exploited also. She essentially has no voice today, hasn't for years, and she is only 25. She couldn't have a career as a singer if she wanted to today. Tried pop but failed. She had really no training. Not to mention the smoking, drinking, etc behaviors that derailed her career. That may have made a difference if she had wanted to train, but by the time she stopped the touring at 16, she was burnt out and a wild child and never moved beyond her childhood success. Yes, she made millions. She is a wealthy young woman. Missed out on her education in lots of ways…. Doesn't have that singing gift anymore. Is not qualified for much. Seems so jaded.
Jackie is more talented, in lots of ways. If she wants to be a 'child star', then she can have that.
I studied voice for over a decade. I worked my butt off to learn proper technique and I had hoped for a career in opera. However, opera is not what it was during the "golden age" and perhaps I "didn't have it", so I enjoy singing for myself. I enjoy Wagner, Wagner and more Wagner.
I find it disheartening that the masses are so ill-informed that they think this is somehow opera singing. They are so desperate to adore a child that they ignore the truly great adult singers, who are on the music scene. There are no "vocal prodigies" even though there prodigies in piano or art or even math. For singing, the body must develop to maturity in it's own way.
The term "fraud" is correct here. There is a video of Jackie singing scales with some voice teacher. It sounds like a young girl singing a scale. Then when she's onstage, it's this unbelievable adult sound. That is all the evidence you need. The voice does not change because you are singing "ah" or an aria. Someone has recorded her, modified the sound and onstage she is singing along with that.
Her parents, in my opinion, should quit pimping out their daughter and let her be a child. She's made enough cash already to live on and, since she won't have a career as an adult (aka Charlotte Church), she should get back to school and learn something else.
For those of you Jackie supporters, I'd recommend visiting your local opera house and learning what opera is and what great singing is. It's a great lifelong pursuit with many rewards. Following a child, who is doctored in the studio is not lifelong, nor rewarding.
Wagner, Jackie is the definition of a prodigy. Adult results with a child body.
In regard to the video of her singing scales vs actual song… the scales video was made before she acquired her "adult" voice, so your premise of "..all the evidence you need" is relegated to the trash heap.
Live with it, Jackie has "it".
Aren't we glad we have you to protect us from the unscrupulous demons in the recording industry! I can rest easy knowing you have my back and will keep me on the straight and narrow path to opera purity and away from such autotuned tripe. It probably matters little to you that she isn't an opera singer, doesn't claim to be, at this point isn't interested in such a career. You have subjugated her into your own box and already have made up your mind about her and her voice; hang the truth! And obviously doing some research would be such a bother. But, Oh well, at least you are not part of the "ill-informed (sic) masses" those dolts!
Are you for real or are you just kidding….no seriously…you still think Jackie is lip synching….this from a music pro??
The public at large could care less about opera than it does about opera singers. The public enjoys listening to music that is great music to listen to and very soothing. Jackie does that to people. Brings peace and tranquility with her voice and song…can't see other opera singers doing that !! Your bitterness does you or opera no good. Sad to see someone such a victim of their own deceit.
@Wagner is God
"here are no "vocal prodigies" even though there prodigies in piano or art or even math"
Do you sound dumb, who was Beverly Sills?
The masses seem to know more than you do. No wonder you didn't make is in opera, Should have studied to be a auto mechanic.
Jackie has perfect pitch and I’ve yet to hear her sing a bum note. She despises any sort of pitch correction and both herself and her parents will not allow it during any live performance. Jackie went nuts when she sang Nessun Dorma on BGT and had to use pitch correction because the sound system was set up that way and the producers refused to change it.
It is inevitable with any pre-recorded track that studio post-production will enter the equation, but that’s true of ANY vocalists work.
Stop pulling suppositions out of your ass.
Wagner is God – - your comments are so pathetic, I can only assume that you are either joking or delusional. You said it yourself – - you "don't have it."
Cam your thoughts/comments seem reasoned (if incorrect) but I fail to see how you would "agree" with the writer of the blog who makes the outrageous statements (among others) that Jackie is a "fraud" and a "mimic." Its comments like that which belie any good or meaningful intent by the writer. The primary purpose of the original blog, and of at least some of the commenters/detractors on this site, seems nothing other than to air their own mean-spirited criticism of a very gifted and successful artist, as though Jackie is somehow contributing to their shortcomings and/or failures. (See "Wagner is God" for example)
If you really have listened to Jackie sing as you claim, you would recognize that she sings with great emotion and emotional depth, with perfect pitch, and with musical interpretation and musicality that is of the highest caliber. There is little or no strain in her voice. Indeed she seems filled with joy as she performs and, while under the watchful eye of her parents and coaches, is remarkably mature and in control of her professional career. She also makes an extraordinarily strong emotional and artistic connection with her audiences when she performs. I think that most people who comment negatively about her, just can't get past the fact that she happens to be a child. But this is a child with a very big and very remarkable gift. A comparison to Mozart may not be an overstatement. (See "Wagner is God" for example)
I agree with you that careful management of her voice and her career are critically important for her to enjoy the lifelong career I believe that she wants. She also should and will continue to perform (at a considered and reasonable pace) because, for Jackie, performing is like breathing. She grows and matures right before our eyes at an explosive rate because, as you yourself say, she is a true prodigy with musical talent that cannot be and should not be measured by the standards of most (perhaps all) other musical performers.
Given the remarkable talents of this young artist and the extremely gracious and mature manner in which she conducts herself, I find this blog and the bitter comments of its writer (and a few equally bitter and/or ill-intentioned commenters) way over the line, inappropriate, and very poorly considered..
The ingratitude and ungraciousness of the "opera snobs" on this site is striking. The fact is that no other single artist has contributed more to opera (and classical music) in the last fifty (perhaps one hundred) years than this sensational young superstar. Quite simply, Jackie Evancho is the best thing to happen to opera in the lifetime of any of the posters on this pathetic little blog site. Deal with it.
I totally agree with the commenters that have expressed shock at Maren's terrible and foolish comments. Maren should be ashamed of herself for making such awful, incorrect and uncalled-for statements. I think that she is the fraud who has attracted other equally dim-witted posters to mimic her false and cruelly intended mistatements. Shame on the whole bunch of you. You bring enormous dishonor to opera and classical music in general. The rest of us (numerous on a scale epic in proportion as compared to Maren and her snivelling band of complainers) will celebrate with great joy the talents of the young musical genious, Jackie Evancho.
I was glad to read this. I have sung in choruses, and been around soloists and seen what it takes to become one. I find myself horrified watching endless Jackie repeats on our local PBS station. I find her performances profoundly disturbing, and have struggled to find the right words for why I feel this way.
I recently stumbled upon this article and I must say to all the crazed evancho fans out there, all of this pro Jackie Evancho sentiment is endearing and you probably think you are defending her but you are in fact part of the machine that will eventually lead to a tragic downfall. As a musician and conductor, everything that this Meran person says is correct. The voice of evancho is absolutely manipulated and she does not sing a natural "chest" voice almost ever. If you know anything about singing and music, you can tell simply by looking. When puberty hits in for this young girl, everything in her voice is subject to change, and the voice, being as damaged it probably is now will be too difficult to recover. Sure, many singers start at young ages, but study properly and most if not all serious singers take a few years off before returning to singing after the voice has "settled in." Now let me ask you, after all this money and fame, if all of a sudden one day she simply is not able to perform and has to stop, what will happen to her psychologically. Child prodigies, since Mozart (His own father pushing him) have all had serious issues growing into adulthood and only a select few have been able to do so without serious psychological damage, if not a full on breakdown. It is most sad for me to see the fans, who unknowingly defend her, meaning well of course, but having no clue about future consequences. These poor music fans simply follow what the media machine tells them to without knowing so.
Right MucusMan, you can judge Jackie's singing just by looking. Brilliant – - and you expect anybody to take you seriously? Like Maren, you are yet one more bitter, misinformed dunce.
Armchair, you and MucusMan are very sick individuals. Both of you, plus Maren, should get professional help – immediately.
Since the misinformed and vicious comments continue, it bears repeating that, given the remarkable musical talents of Jackie Evancho and the extremely gracious and mature manner in which she conducts herself, it is most unfortunate to see this blog and the bitter comments of its writer (and a few equally bitter and/or ill-intentioned commenters) which go way over the line, are entirely inappropriate, and starkly show how poorly considered and truly mean-spirited some people are. What kind of sick satisfaction do your horrible comments give you?
So what does the worthy Maren have to say about Jackie now??? I anxious to know !
We thoroughly pity Moron who owns the despicable comments on this board. Our thought:
Moron is emotionally scarred and mentally drained, and should move on. She has no career.
Moron puts her greed and evil ideas first and thinks of nothing else.
Set sail for fail.
Uh, Moron and Wagner is God, would you please send me the address/location of your next musical adventure. I can't wait to see you blow the crowd away. Oh, and if you wish to prove how right and wonderful you really are there is another AGT coming up. Maybe you could get kicked off on the first elimination round, if you could bend your conceited selves over so far as to 'show us proper opera'. And while I admit this post is sarcastic and mean spirited, you are both pitiful.
I heartedly agree that JE has done more to introduce the concept of opera to the masses than any of posters here,author included.What good is a candle for giving light if it is hidden under a basket? JE has professional voice coaches and a loving GODLY family.No one could have hidden her being electronically enhanced in todays age-what a crock of unsubstantiated claims by unhappy pitiable snobs who lack joie de vive.JE is a ANGEL from GOD for a desperately hurting world sorely in need of a multitude of ANGELS.Listening to her sing inspires me and makes me a better person.There is a reason she and SUSAN BOYLE touch us.I have heard many singers perforn in my 66 years and they are far from average.I tank GOD for such beautiful inspiring voices that touch my soul and move me to tears–DOC
First and foremost, Jackie has brought more attention to classical fare than all the other classical singers combined, and you can knock "pop-crossover" all you want. She's a huge success because of it. Is her voice artificially colored outside of her normal voice? Somehow, with thousands of musicians in awe over her voice and you the first negative remark, I doubt it. She is just one incredibly gifted young lady. What should she be singing? Covers of "Friday" or some crappy Justin Bieber pop hit? She loves the music she sings, and that is evident in her mannerisms. She is also very humble about her talent and fame, which is more than can be said about most "pop" singers. If she has a short career because she is abusing her voice, well, I am guessing that her short career will still far outshine nearly any other singers either in the crossover OR pure classical/opera genres. I was a professional musician years ago; if I had one-tenth of the talent Jackie Evancho has, I still would be.
As an older former opera singer, there are valid points on both side of this argument.
Some of what you say are opinions but some are fact.
Fact: A voice does not mature until one reaches puberty. I don't know if Jackie Evancho has reached puberty or not. It is irrelevant. She is singing out of her natural range which does cause vocal damage.
When I was a voice student in college, my teacher who was from Julliard would not let me sing certain operatic roles as I was not physically and vocally mature enough. My voice was labelled "lyvic" soprano, which is a light high voice. We do not know where Jackie Evancho's voice will end up, but if you continues to sing opera too high or too low, she will stretch her cords and ruin her voice. Time will tell with Jackie Evancho. She does seem to have a very unique gift. I don't know if her parents are exploiting her. They may be ignorance on her parents part or they have found a voice teacher who is exploiting the child. Maren is not jealous, she is right.
I agree with you Maren.
Charlotte
We must recognize, appreciate (and even bless [favor]) each person's gifts and talent. You express angst, impatience and cynicism, I feel in talking about Jackie Evancho. She is eleven (and a half) years old. She is extraordinarily "gifted"–maybe with a "perfect" perfect pitch. She is more gifted (I feel) in ways of phrasing, articulation, bel canto (sp ?), and natural vibrato. And she seems to be getting better and better. This person is not a mere freak. I believe she quite special…destined to be one of the great soprano's of her era.
This entire article is what I've been saying ever since she popped up on my TV! But every time I try to get my sentiments across, someone either accuses me of being nit-picky or (God forbid) jealous. So glad to see I'm not the only one who sees through this popera puppet.
This little girl shouldn't be singing this music because her voice is still developing. She isn't going to sound like this as she gets older. Charlotte church damaged her voice because she sang opera at such a young age. The song Nessum Dorma is meant for a man's voice and a tenor at that. Even Sarah Brightman has stated to preserve her voice and not sing in those songs. A opera's singers voice doesn't reach full maturity until age 30 and this little girl will have ruined her voice way before she reaches 30 years of age. Even Charlotte Church can't sing opera anymore because she damaged her vocal cords when she was a little girl, that's very sad.
I am a singer, not famous but , like breathing, I must sing to live. I have watched child singers over the years. Most of them can't sing the kind of music they love or have damaged their vocal chords badly by the time their voices mature, That leads to depression. Now, what do they do with that passion to sing? Any reputable voice teacher will refuse to work with a child singing the wrong music for her vocal maturity. Listen to Aria Tesolin, "the baby opera singer" . Now that she is nearly mature enough to sing opera, her voice is wrong for it and has a damaged sound. I hope Jackie will be happy with whatever happens. I must admit I would have been doing the same thing she is if the internet and other media had been available. I do tend to agree with the real opera singers. Jackie is a child popera singer. I want to hear Bonney, Ameling, Kathleen Battle, Arleen Auger, etc. Thanks, Ginger
Would she really be better served to walk away for a few years in hopes of better success when fame and fortune are so fickle?????? I truly doubt most of you who criticize would walk away in the same situation.To paraphrase ALFRED P. DOOLITTLE,"you wouldn't 'ave the heart".
http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/tal…
amen
Tim Page, like Maren Montalbano, is a very sick individual. Maren, at least, is just a clueless, uninformed, jealous, pathetic, nut. Tim is a sick, deeply disturbed man. Both of them should be profoundly ashamed of themselves, and seek professional help immediately.
I hate to agree with the ongoing theme about Jackie one day crashing. Just seeing the many many children who suffered from this kind of abuse, and honestly I don't think abuse is too harsh a word, they sometimes don't recover from it. I keep picturing a teenage girl who resents her parents who used her for their own greedy needs. Who might have deep psychological wounds and no one to turn to. She'll alienate her parent, turn to drugs, or over-sexing to kill the pain of what she thought was love, tuned out to be misuse. That too may be harsh, but one has to wonder why they are letting an eleven year old pull them all over the world to do concerts. She;s not, the parents are doing it, one has to ask why? We all agree that most probable reason is money, a circus act, and someday, the young girl is going to figure it out and it is going to hurt. Yes, some of us enjoy it, and I caught myself shedding tears at the beauty of her voice, and at the tragedy that is building itself up like a storm. Who at eleven can have the sophistication and maturity to outlast her eventual coming down from all this high? My god, singing in front the emperor of Japan? Now? whew. At least she will have the awards and I hope that they will see her through. We all know they won't. My opinion her may be wring, and with all my heart I hope it is, but inside me my intuition is saying something bad is about to happen.
Wow. That description of crashing. Reminds me of Charlotte Church. Hugely successful. She is one of the wealthy women in the UK from that pre- teen and young teen career. LOVED by so many, but was on a brutal concert schedule, then hit 17, ran away; fired her Mom as manager, was a sot by then, certainly a heavy boozer for the next few years, smoking too; the boyfriends of that era were thugs with records and wrote sexual tell-alls. She tried pop (Sony contract still since the glory days of her 'opera' stuff was still in effect at age 18 until the pop album tanked)) Had a baby at 20, another soon after. Tried pop again on her own dime and failed hugely.
Today, has 2 kids, no career, no education. Lots of money though. Lost a huge part of her wealth on the last flop cd.
It's definitely a bit of a rant, but you're dead on. As a professional clarinetist and opera lover, this really bothers me, and for several reasons. One is jealousy, obviously, because she's famous and performing with orchestras at 11, and I, who have studied and worked hard for so many years, is just beginning to break the ice of a music career (I'm almost 30). Two is the lack of music education in society that allows people, like your sales lady, to believe that Josh Groban and Jackie Evancho are the forefront of the classical opera world. Three, like you stated, this poor girl clearly has a great talent and love of music, and is very quickly having her potential destroyed for a quick buck and a moment in the limelight now. Four (last one), I'm annoyed that these orchestras will sell out their integrity to support this treatment of her. In order to not let our artform wither away into oblivion, or worse, become nothing but a side show that's misunderstood by most sheeple, we need to unite and uphold high standards.
Anyway, sounds like I'm off on a rant now. I gotta practice. Great blog! You go gurl!
Pure raw talent will sail past good but well trained any day. Life isn't fair. Deal with it
Mimicry in the service of spectacle does not qualify as talent.
Popularity is not a barometer of talent.
Deal with it.
Negative commentary is no indicator of intelligence, and certainly not of civility.
Jealousy of natural talent and small mindedness qualifies only for pity.
Deal with it, because you are the loser.
Jesus H. Christ. Is that the best you've got?
I think I understand. This whole thread is about Singers vs. Fanboys.
I get it now.
Have fun.
. . . and the best you have is what, John D – nasty comments about a brilliant natural talent that you happen to dislike?
Sorry, but it's not very impressive.
Who is she mimicing? Her sound is her own.
Her only carry-over from the music that inspired her to sing is the Brightman arm ornamentation, but even that seems to be more of a pseudo- self conducting mechanism, rather than spurious arm gestures for the sake of theatrical eye-candy.
I’ve yet to hear any detractor explain that if Jackie’s sound is just a product of a natural soprano voice, a splash of talent and some ultimately-damaging vocal gymnastics, why can’t anyone else do it?
There’s plenty of kids out there with the raw talent who’s parents that are nothing like the Evancho’s, who’d be all too willing to have their little treasure be the next JE and ride the gravy train all the way to the bank of Mom & Pop.
Not seeing any crop up, are you? Why do you think that is? Where’s all the Youtube clips of 10 year old angelic darlings singing Jackie Evancho style?
Hi,
Could I please ask for opinions or advice then, on what a child singer should be doing if she should not be singing and straining her vocal chords like Jackie is doing?
My 7-year-old daughter has been singing since the age of 3. On her own interest and many times subconsciouly. I’ve noticed that she developed vibrato last year by mimicking songs she listened to. She sings a lot (to keep herself amused) so I have no intention to stop her personal pleasure. But her mimicking different singing styles causes me concerns, especially after I have read on many websites and on this blog discussion on a damage from the improper use of vocal cords in young children. A 7-year-old doesn’t know what’s right for her. All she knows and will tell me later would be ..my throat hurts. I have no knowledge in singing but I figure that her throat hurts when she tries to make her sound come out like on the CDs. And no proper training and techniques.
Reading your discussion gives me an idea that many voice coaches may not know how and what to coach young children. And the result of age-inappropriate training/singing is very much damaging. Yet, if my daughter trains herself like she’s been doing and not knowing the right technics, this will also damage her vocal cords as well. So what should I do?
Also, there are many comments that say children cannot naturally develop vibrato. Is this correct? Then what is it that my daughter has. She has sung for a few singing teachers in Thailand to hear, and it’s them who told me that she had vibrato. If this is not natural and will be damaging, should I tell to stop doing it?
We live in Thailand and I do not think we have many “trained” voice coaches, more singing teachers. I do not think many of them know about the subject of training “young children”. My daughter likes very much to sing songs from musicals and now Classical-crossover (Sarah Brightman, Katherine Jenkins and Jackie also). She doesn’t seem to appreciate pop music the same way.
I do hope I would get some advice. If this is not the right place to ask these questions, I would appreciate if you could direct me to the right place. I’ve been looking on the web for several month now to figure out the best thing I should do for my daughter at this age.
Thank you,
Caring mom from Thailand
Hi,
Could I please ask for opinions or advice then, on what a child singer should be doing if she should not be singing and straining her vocal chords like Jackie now?
My 7-year-old daughter has been singing since the age of 3. On her own interest and many times subconsciously. I’ve noticed that she developed vibrato last year by mimicking songs she listened to. She sings a lot (to keep herself amused) so I have no intention to stop her. But her mimicking the different singing styles (from listening to CDs) causes me concerns, especially after I have read on many websites and on this blog discussion on a damage from the improper use of vocal cords in young children. A 7-year-old doesn’t know what’s right for her. All she knows and will tell me later would be ..my throat hurts. I have no knowledge in singing but I figure that her throat hurts when she tries to make her sound come out like on the CDs. And no proper training and techniques.
Reading your discussion gives me an impression that many voice coaches may not know how and what to coach young children. And the result of age-inappropriate training/singing is very much damaging. Yet, if my daughter trains herself like she’s been doing and not knowing the right technics, this will also damage her vocal cords as well. So what should I do?
Also, there are many comments that say children cannot naturally develop vibrato. Is this correct? Then what is it that my daughter has. She has sung for a few singing teachers in Thailand to hear, and it’s them who told me that she had vibrato. If this is not natural and will be damaging, should I tell to stop doing it?
We live in Thailand and I do not think we have many “trained” voice coaches, more singing teachers. I do not think many of them know about the subject of training “young children”. My daughter likes very much to sing songs from musicals and now Classical-crossover (Sarah Brightman, Katherine Jenkins and Jackie also). She doesn’t seem to appreciate pop music the same way.
I do hope I would get some advice. If this is not the right place to ask these questions, I would appreciate if you could direct me to the right place. I’ve been looking on the web for several months now to figure out the best thing I should do for my daughter at this age.
Thank you very much in advance,
Caring mom from Thailand
Ill pray for you- you sound so bitter. She is singing songs that inspire people about Gods unconditional love all of for all of us("To Believe").
I hope you are wrong about her voice but even if you arent– Gods in charge and we arent.
Hi, I've read the comments on this blog, and I agree that she should take care of her voice. I'm visually impaired and have been singing for 13 years, and have had no voice training however, I'm able to hear things in the voice that most people wouldn't be able to pick up. There are 2 things that concern me about Jackie, and they are: 1. She has a severely closed up low register, and 2. her breath support is not great at all live. I've listened to several recordings of her, including all of the ones she did on America's got tallent. She's fine on recordings, as far as breath support goes, but live, you can hear her gasping into the microphone. I sincerely hope that she learns not only how to manage hthe way she takes breaths, but the way she sings down in that lower register of hers
Her parents along with clowns like David Foster are using her for their pocketbooks. I find her unpleasant because it is not an authentic sound. It is forced. Let her be a kid. She may soon be a disallusioned ego-maniac who wonders where the fans are hiding. When it comes to evaluation of talent, the public once again proves PT Barnum to be correct.
@ pianoman
Egomaniacs who go around stating what is an authentic sound from any singer who they know nothing about, simply is making a fool of himself. Actually PT Barnum would have a place for you. He hired clowns.
I happened to wander across this site by accident, so i don't know much about this blogger. I am also not familiar with Jackie Evancho, but i watched the video in this posting. I did, however, study voice – in particular, opera. Many of the reader comments on this site are misinformed. You seem to believe the author is jealous or elitist because she speaks the truth that the demands of opera on the voice, especially the advanced repertoire, can damage a voice that is not yet fully mature. It has nothing to do with whether or not this 11 year-old is gifted. I am sure she is. The fact remains that she hasn't reached puberty and her vocal chords have not reached their fully-developed state. That doesn't mean she shouldn't sing – there are plenty of light, lovely songs that would be appropriate. But Nessun Dorma (written for a tenor!)? If she is regularly singing advanced operatic arias, the ones intended for adult women (and men), she could very well damage her instrument (voice). Please don't bash the author for stating a fact that anyone who has studied voice knows.
If every one who has studied voice knows that young girls cant sing operatic arias at her age because she has not yet gone through puberty, then all of you better explain Deanna Durbin, July Andrews, Beverly Sills, Maria Alberghetti, or even Judy Garland to me. All started to sing at the same age or younger, Some were singing advanced operatic arias when they were even younger than Ms Evancho. No problem with their voices as they got older. Maybe, everyone who has studied voice are not as educated as they think they are.
Man, I just happened to come across this video. I have to say that I completely agree with Vickie's comment posted "33 weeks ago". This just freaked me out. Yes, this is an apparently sweet and well-spoken little girl. But I was totally freaked out when I heard her sing. I would just love to have heard a sweet little innocent girl voice—but instead this sent chills up my spine like I was hearing someone possessed. It just was not natural and sent chills up my spine. I couldn't even watch the whole video—I had to stop it.
@ckm
Simply don't watch her. Those who do like to listen to Ms Evancho, will watch it an appreciate her. But don't complain because others do. I personally wont bother to even cross the street to see Ms Montalbano in a free concert.. Don't know anything about her other than she is having a childish meltdown about a eleven year old girls success. Pure raw talent goes ahead of good but well trained any day. Life is not fair. She need to learn to deal with it.
Jackie Evancho is not an opera singer! Says who? HER!
see her interview here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3XvsFIuDW4
She tries to tell ya’ but you just don’t pay attention.
Jackie Evancho is not an opera singer! Says who? HER!
see her interview here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3XvsFIuDW4
She tries to tell ya' but you just don't pay attention.
I hope she'll still be able to sing in the future.. I was trained in bel canto with the best coaches, but was not allowed to study until I was 15. I now have the same philosophy in my voice studio. First do no harm. It's outrageous that this unwitting little girl is being exploited in this manner.
@ pinkltink Here is another voice expert,
This is NOT a 13 years old. I'm a singer and voice teacher specialized in kids and teenagers voices and this a mature woman voice.
freespiritQC 2 years ago
She was posting to a recording on YouTube of a radio braodcast of Deanna Durbin when she was thirteen. I just love the response.
For all of the fools who claim this isn't Durbin, I just uploaded the full radio interview, ending with the unedited "One Night of Love". Egg on all your faces.
Now Ms Durbin was singing at the same age as Ms Evancho and was under contract to MGM at age eleven.
There was no problem with Ms Durbins voice as it she got older. The same with Judy Garland, Bevely Sills, July Andrews and Maria Albeghetti. Ms Andrews, Ms Albeghetti and Ms Durbin are still alive, so you will be able to write and tell them that them how they were they were exploited also in such an outrageous manner
The problem here isn't that you don't know what you're talking about. It's that you don't know that you don't know. So you can't grow.
Bold words for a non-pro singer to say to a pro singer talking about singing? Maybe, But I do know about gifted children. And you obviously don't.
Instead of embarrassing yourself with frothing at the mouth about the little genius who moves audiences in a way that you never will, you should be studying her singing to see if you can gather a few crumbs from her table.
But first you'll have to admit that she's a better singer than you are–and that she comports herself better in her interviews than you did in this essay.
And then you'll have to admit that what you know about children doesn't apply to gifted children without, in your word, "modification."
You'll also have to admit that in your area of expertise–singing–you have yet to learn the difference between singing an opera aria in an opera and singing it in a concert.
And you'll have to learn that no competent voice teacher would presume to judge Jackie Evancho's technique for vocal safety without a personal examination. And you'd have to acknowledge that the vocal coaches and otolaryngologists who have done such examinations (as recently as a few weeks ago) have declared her vocal cords "pristine" and her technique appropriate for a long career.
Lastly–for now–you'll have to admit that your "porcelain doll in a bubble" stereotype of what an 11 year old girl–genius or not–should do and not do is an anachronistic holdover of the 19th century Victorian upper class's infantilization of both girls and women. Truly amazing to read such crude stereotyping being carried on by supposedly educated adults in the 21st century.
And yes, I know the difference between classical crossover and opera and everything else for that matter. Do you? Because your little excursion into "Nessun Dorma" shows me that you don't.
Jackie has exactly nothing to learn from you. You, on the other hand, have a great deal to learn from Jackie–if you can swallow hard and admit it to yourself. Starting with apologizing to her and her family for the despicable things you said about the Evanchos here. Jackie being Jackie, she'd forgive you, because she's to all appearances a bigger person than you are.
Because I'm feeling generous, I'll even help you out. Start by studying her "Ombra mai fu."
Her performance of it last month in Japan on a talk show was recorded pretty well. It should suffice:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ce9llaLrgBM
"Ombra mai fu" really exposes a singer's strengths and weaknesses. Having to pull that first, high note out of silence; having to use portamento with the restraint appropriate to Baroque music; having to demonstrate true control of tone and pitch on that first note; having to master the subtle phrasing needed to really bring this aria to an audience. It's a real showcase, and a good mezzo should be able to do it. Unless the fact that it was written for a castrato means you don't think anyone alive should perform it…
Note that whether Jackie understands what's being sung or who Xerxes is (and do you really know anything about the historical Xerxes?) is her business, and irrelevant to performance. What matters is does she deliver the song to the audience? Which she does in spades. I've heard at least 40 renditions of this, from Caruso (who does it terribly, as if it were a Neapolitan love song) to Cecelia Bartoli (good, but doesn't understand the difference between a concert and performing in the opera–a common deficiency of operatic singers who sound great in the operas)…and Jackie's rendition does the most justice to Handel's score IMHO.
<a href="http://www.popzu.blogspot.com” target=”_blank”>www.popzu.blogspot.com
This is how "Ombra mai fu" should be done. This woman is truly one of the best singers in the world right now. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detai…
I will not argue that Jackie is not talented, she is, but how can you compare her against someone as amazing as this??
The problem here isn't that you don't know what you're talking about. it's that you don't know that you don't know. Soi you can't grow.
Bold words for a non-pro singer to say to a singer talking about singing? Maybe, But I do know about gifted children. And you obviously don't.
Instead of embarrassing yourself with frothing at the mouth about the little genius who moves audiences in a way that you never will, you should be studying her singing to see if you can gather a few crumbs from her table.
But first you'll have to admit that she's a better singer than you are–and that she comports herself better in her interviews than you did in this essay.
And then you'll have to admit that what you know about children doesn't apply to gifted children without, in your word, "modification."
You'll also have to admit that in your area of expertise–singing–you have yet to learn the difference between singing an opera aria in an opera and singing it in a concert.
And you'll have to learn that no competent voice teacher would presume to judge Jackie Evancho's technique for vocal safety without a personal examination. And you'd have to acknowledge that the vocal coaches and otolaryngologists who have done such examinations (as recently as a few weeks ago) have declared her vocal cords "pristine" and her technique appropriate for a long career.
Lastly–for now–you'll have to admit that your porcelain doll in a bubble stereotype of what an 11 year old girl–genius or not–should do and not do is an anachronistic holdover of the 19th century Victorian upper class's infantilization both girls and women. Truly amazing to read such crude stereotyping being carried on by supposedly educated adults in the 21st century.
And yes, I know the difference between classical crossover and opera and everything else for that matter. Do you? Because your little excursion into "Nessun Dorma" shows me that you don't.
Jackie has exactly nothing to learn from you. You, on the other hand, have a great deal to learn from Jackie–if you can swallow hard and admit it to yourself. Starting with apologizing to her and her family for the despicable things you said about the Evanchos here. Jackie being Jackie, she'd forgive you, because she's to all appearances a bigger person than you are.
Because I'm feeling generous, I'll even help you out. Start by studying her "Ombra mai fu."
Her performance of it last month in Japan on a talk show was recorded pretty well. It should suffice:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ce9llaLrgBM
"Ombra mai fu" really exposes a singer's strengths and weaknesses. Having to pull that first, high note out of silence; having to use portamento with the restraint appropriate to Baroque music; having to demonstrate true control of tone and pitch on that first note; having to master the subtle phrasing needed to really bring this aria to an audience. It's a real showcase, and a good mezzo should be able to do it. Unless the fact that it was written for a castrato means you don't think anyone alive should perform it…
Note that whether Jackie understands what's being sung or who Xerxes is (and do you really know anything about the historical Xerxes?) is her business, and irrelevant to performance. What matters is does she deliver the song to the audience? Which she does in spades. I've heard at least 40 renditions of this, from Caruso (who does it terribly, as if it were a Neapolitan love song) to Cecelia Bartoli (good, but doesn't understand the difference between a concert and performing in the opera–a common deficiency of operatic singers who sound great in the operas)…
The problem here isn't that you don't know what you're talking about. it's that you don't know that you don't know. Soi you can't grow.
Bold words for a non-pro singer to say to a singer talking about singing? Maybe, But I do know about gifted children. And you obviously don't.
Instead of embarrassing yourself with frothing at the mouth about the little genius who moves audiences in a way that you never will, you should be studying her singing to see if you can gather a few crumbs from her table.
But first you'll have to admit that she's a better singer than you are–and that she comports herself better in her interviews than you did in this essay.
And then you'll have to admit that what you know about children doesn't apply to gifted children without, in your word, "modification."
You'll also have to admit that in your area of expertise–singing–you have yet to learn the difference between singing an opera aria in an opera and singing it in a concert.
And you'll have to learn that no competent voice teacher would presume to judge Jackie Evancho's technique for vocal safety without a personal examination. And you'd have to acknowledge that the vocal coaches and otolaryngologists who have done such examinations (as recently as a few weeks ago) have declared her vocal cords "pristine" and her technique appropriate for a long career.
Lastly–for now–you'll have to admit that your porcelain doll in a bubble stereotype of what an 11 year old girl–genius or not–should do and not do is an anachronistic holdover of the 19th century Victorian upper class's infantilization both girls and women. Truly amazing to read such crude stereotyping being carried on by supposedly educated adults in the 21st century.
And yes, I know the difference between classical crossover and opera and everything else for that matter. Do you? Because your little excursion into "Nessun Dorma" shows me that you don't.
Jackie has exactly nothing to learn from you. You, on the other hand, have a great deal to learn from Jackie–if you can swallow hard and admit it to yourself. Starting with apologizing to her and her family for the despicable things you said about the Evanchos here. Jackie being Jackie, she'd forgive you, because she's to all appearances a bigger person than you are.
Because I'm feeling generous, I'll even help you out. Start by studying her "Ombra mai fu."
Her performance of it last month in Japan on a talk show was recorded pretty well. It should suffice:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ce9llaLrgBM
"Ombra mai fu" really exposes a singer's strengths and weaknesses. Having to pull that first, high note out of silence; having to use portamento with the restraint appropriate to Baroque music; having to demonstrate true control of tone and pitch on that first note; having to master the subtle phrasing needed to really bring this aria to an audience. It's a real showcase, and a good mezzo should be able to do it. Unless the fact that it was written for a castrato means you don't think anyone alive should perform it…
Note that whether Jackie understands what's being sung or who Xerxes is (and do you really know anything about the historical Xerxes?) is her business, and irrelevant to performance. What matters is does she deliver the song to the audience? Which she does in spades. I've heard at least 40 renditions of this, from Caruso (who does it terribly, as if it were a Neapolitan love song) to Cecelia Bartoli (good, but doesn't understand the difference between a concert and performing in the opera–a common deficiency of operatic singers who sound great in the operas)…
Ms Evancho is an interpretive genius – who happens to have 1 of the most beautiful voices in recorded music history. These do not grow on trees, Ms Mantalbano. And when 1 surfaces, they can not be expected to follow the established rule book. It simply does not apply to them.
Jackie's vocal coaching has been limited to just enough to keep her from doing harm to her instrument. Any more might train her right out of exactly that which makes her unique. She does not wish to sound like any other singer on the planet, nor would I get so emotional listening to her if she did.
Her parents are smart enough to limit her performance schedule, and otherwise let the chips fall where they may. Brilliant strategy and perfect for this 1-off talent.
You could do well to listen and enjoy, and lose the chip on the shoulder. There is 1 helluva show going on here, to which I for one am riveted and repeatedly find myself astounded by.
BRAVO Ms Evancho.
Exactly-prodigies don't follow the rule books. Others can only aspire to learn from prodigies
Concern for her voice is one thing. Snide remarks speak volumes about resentment and jealousy. Opera needs a facelift. I would not enjoy Jackies' voice is she sounded trained and operatic. Boring. Her beauty…both inside and out match the beauty of her voice. No opera singer has ever touched me the way she does. I grew up with a mother who sang opera. I listened to them all. Soap opera's with grand music and singing. Ok. And I appreciate the skills required to sing them. But, if I had a choice of which to spend time listening to…I'd pick Jackie. Her tone, her nuances, her connection with the music, her kindness and lovely appearance….all bring a special experience for the listener. However, I don't need to see her to enjoy her singing. I listen in the car and it's just as beautiful. It's otherworldly. Maybe the "experts" are atwitter because…just maybe because she really is a miracle sent from on High. Can't believe it? Time will tell.
I wanted to compare your singing and stage presentation with that of Ms Evancho, frankly so that I could gauge your credentials as a critic of this young girl's talent. But when I looked for your recordings on Amazon all I got was "Your search "MAREN MONTALBANO" did not match any products". I did, however, find a series of videos of you in concert that, it appears, you yourself posted on the internet.
I listened to all of the songs and, please believe me, I did my best to watch and listen attentively and with an open mind. In these videos you give evidence of years of training in how to project emotion, gaiety, humour, pathos. You obviously try hard to do so, but, I'm little embarrassed to say so, you come across as someone who is practising emotion in a mirror. Your voice, again, is obviously schooled; it gives evidence of thousands of hours of training. But try as might to find an engaging or original quality in it, it left me cold. Your French and German–well, I don't want to record what I'm thinking. Your choice of music in this concert was enough off the beaten path to impress a provincial audience, but it struck me as faux sophisticated. One more observation. What ever is one to make of that ugly metal music stand you had in front of you and your frequently glancing down at it? Is it possible you did not sing these few pieces from memory?
From the evidence of these videos and from what I learned about you on the internet (there isn't a lot of material to go on) yours is a provincial talent. No doubt you attract a local audience of friends and relatives and members of the general public who never have and never will have season's tickets to the Met. I saw no evidence that your talents will take you to a major stage.
Is it possible that having less talent than an eleven year-old, despite your education and long years of training, having gained only provincial recognition, you let resentment and envy cloud your judgement?
I also Googled Maren…I found it,opera,very boring but found myself listening to the end trying to make myself like it because of JE..It just didnt stand up…sounded like you were reading words that didnt touch me at all..wish JE would sing one of the songs you sing to compare..why dont you sing one that JE sings and show her how its done..lolol
Perhaps Ms. Montalbano should explain why Katherine Jenkins (worth less than the maligned Charlotte Church) has chosen "crossover" even though she was awarded a full scholarship and then trained at The Royal Academy of Music. Music is about what people enjoy hearing. Scientists have long since proven that the human ability to perceive tones is related to language. That's why "perfect pitch is more common in tonal languages. It is reasonable to posit that musical preference may be derived from sounds produced within a persons culture or sub-culture (classical music). This explains why I like Cat Stevens and Gregorian chants but can't stand country music. However, when Jackie Evancho's voice causes me to experience physiological changes similar to those caused by a pipe organ, I'm left wondering whether her voice is the expression of brain and biomechanical ability that is rarely achieved, even with decades of training
You have given a good account of how the voice is an instrument and needs to be looked after. As does the child herself and that is the responsibility of her parents. They ought to be very choosy about their daughter's appearances and what influences her while she grows. People will buy into so much, we need to be much more gentle with our resources, children being one of our greatest. It is easy to get caught up in what looks to be good. It is not always easy to walk away or wait, yet more often than not we ought to. Take a look at our own water system, worldwide, it is in grave danger, like a child it can not speak for itself. We need to learn to be gentle to one another and with our resources. Her parents are accountable for not just her career, but for what Jackie is and becomes.
For Maren'e unnatural and execrable singing, the experience is like breaking rocks on a chain gang – - but for Jackie, her sublime performances are as natural to Jackie as breathing. That's because Jackie is a prodigiously and naturally talented musical genius (the Mozart of the 21st century). People with a mere speck of talent have no business crtitcizing an artistic genius with a universe of talent. In a hundred years, everyone will know and remember who Jackie was. Noone will remember Maren (or the other dimwits making negative comments about Jackie).
I do watch and listen to Jackie Evancho sing on the web. And i am still amazed that she can sing like an adult.
I am not a singer but I can understand your feelings towards a gifted girl who spent just a few years achieving what you may still want in your career. I also have feeling toward people who are younger and yet more talented and successful than me.
The best I can say is to wish all, including Jackie Evancho, the best in their careers. Jackie had achieve her success while still very young and she will still face many thing that will hurt her. So we do not know how she will be able to sustain her success. The amount of years she still have to live is a lot of years to remain successful.
Tiger Woods may be an example of this. Back then he was the top golfer, but now he is where he is at, not very high.
I do wish Jackie Evancho the best in her singing career and her family the wisdom in caring for her. And it may be true that Jackie is singing in a voice not appropriate to her age and physical maturity. But it is not up to me to worry over Jackie but to care for myself and work towards my success, no matter how well Jackie sustains hers.
And if Jackie falls, we will just hope she recovers well. And that may be a truer indication of her talent and character.
So for now, I will just have to wish everyone, including myself, the best and go on with my live. Otherwise we may spend too much time worrying about it.
Maren is a no talent singer who has tried very hard to make something of herself and has achieved some small level of success. She should be happy for that and continue to operate in her own closed world. Where she comes off the rails is when she goes after a truly gifted young artist who was an infinitely better singer at 8 than Maren will ever be in her lifetime. That young singer, at the age of 11, is now a global superstar, singing at a professional level on a par with the top musical artists alive today. What Maren thinks about Jackie, and Jackie's extraordinary natural gifts and sublime singing, means absolutely nothing.
Maren, I agree with everything you said. The people who should be listening to what you're saying, however, never will. So many of Jackie's fans are musically ignorant people who just want to listen to her right now and don't care what happens to her voice later on. They refuse to believe that such musical experts as professional singers and voice teachers could possibly know anything about singing. Many also think Jackie is some sort of religious figure sent to earth by God with a perfect voice that needs no training. They beat up on anyone who dares to say that Jackie's voice could be damaged by singing with bad technique…but then they also refuse to believe that Jackie could be singing with technique that is anything less than perfect. These fans think that when she hunches her shoulders and clenches her fists (which obviously shows the tension in her body) while she's singing that it's cute and adorable. I sadly fear that they will keep these same beliefs no matter what. And when Jackie's voice is ruined, they will just go on listening to her recordings, not caring that she has been robbed of the voice that meant so much to her.
JE is already prepared for any mishaps with her singing she has already explained this if you will listen to her..she has a plan B ,,Which is acting and already is starring with Robert Redford in his new movie..do your thing JE.. we fans and followers are with you..you are our ambassador…
Maren, I didn't have the energy to read all these posts so forgive me if I'm repeating what has already been said. I'm sixty years old, I've had a singing career and some of the best training possible both at Juilliard and from private teachers who have sung at New York City Opera and at the Met. I am NOT jealous of a little girl. I think your comments are 100% correct. I worry for this child. Not only is the tension evident in her jaw, lips and tongue but if you watch one of her "When you wish upon a star" videos, the audible "gasp" when she takes a breath and the raising of her chest and shoulders is also going to get her into trouble. Again, I fear for this child…I have no other agenda but I do have years of experience and she could be headed for a major fall. I hope someone with some sense realizes this and can intercede.
CANT YOU SEE SHE IS NERVOUS BECAUSE SHE IS FAKING IT? IF SHE WAS SINGING IT SHE WOULD SHOW SIGN OF PHYSICAL EFFORT, IT IS A MUSCULAR EXERCISE OF THE LUNGS AND VOCAL CORDS AND NECK AND MOUTH AND THROAT TO SING THAT LARGE AND LOUD AND LONG AND INTENSE, SHE DID NOT SHOW ANY SIGNS OF A ATTEMPT TO EXERCISE, NOT EVEN AND BLUSHING OF THE SKIN OR ANY TENSION IN THE NECK MUSCLES, SHE IS NOT LARGE ENOUGH TO HAVE LUNGS WITH THE CAPACITY HOLD ENOUGH AIR TO SING NOTES THAT LONG OR TO RESONATE THE TONE THAT BIG AND SHE WIGGLED HER HEAD RANDOMLY AND THAT WOULD HAVE DISTORTED THE VOCAL CORDS AND SOUND. IT WAS A RECORDING THAT THE PRODUCERS HAD HER ACT TO, SHE HAS ACTING EXPERIENCE AND IT PAID WELL TO DO THIS BIG JOB FOR ALL INVOLVED EVEN THE TV PRODUCERS, THEY DON'T CARE IF ITS ACT IF IT MAKES LOTS OF SALES, MOST TV IS ACTING.. ALSO HER MOUTH WAS WAY OFF CUE CUZ SHE DIDN'T KNOW THE LANGUAGE OF THE SONG NOR ITS LENGTH, SHE JUST PRETENDED TO SING IT AND WAS HAPPY ENOUGH TO BE THE CENTER OF ATTENTION, MOST GIRLS WOULD SELL THEIR DIGNITY FOR A SHOT AT IT AND STILL PRETEND TO HAVE DIGNITY, CUZ THEY DON'T CARE…
WoW…JE you need security and I mean alot of guards the looney tunes like this poster are out there..this poster made me afraid for you…
Artsong and Sopurrano1, both of you self-appointed experts speak only from your own narrow-minded frame of reference. Your comments make clear that you have listened to Jackie's singing only very little or not at all. All of your comments are completely off the mark, and your supposed concern for Jackie is pathetically hollow. There is extensive information readily available on the web to show how well cared for Jackie is, and the natural quality and ease of her exquisite singing is self evident. I suppose that when you have an artistic genius on the scale of a Jackie Evancho, there will be dimwitted busybodies who will say or do anything in hopes of catching a tiny bit of the reflected light from Jackie's brilliant star.
Jackie will never appeal to all people, just as I don't care for rap or jazz or the stuff presented during superbowl halftime there are those that will never enjoy the music of Jackie Evancho. I have proof; I've tried to promote her to all members of my extended family and I failed save one. That is because they do not see what I see. I have taught children (preteens and teens) for 40 years and watched their mannerisms ,listened to their excuses, watched them laugh and watched them cry. I am an expert add reading hearts and therefore I and those like myself are the bulk of Jackie's supporters.We do not see what you see, you see someone punishing her voice for money, we see the return of Shirly Temple and we are thankful.
I think comparing Jackie to Shirley is very appropriate (if she decides to go into acting and dancing) , but how long did Shirley’s career last…(I honestly don’t know). If she loses her voice that would be very sad, especially if she’s really passionate about singing. If she doesn’t lose her voice, her voice will still go through puberty just like everyone else, and what if she ends up some sort of contralto or something? Will her fans still like her singing, even though she’s not a sweet soprano anymore?
I am really curious to know. Would you still listen to her even if her voice changed like that? Because if her voice is THAT mature sounding now (assuming that’s her natural voice), it’s only going to become more mature from there.
I know I would. I think contraltos are awesome.
Jackie is a musical prodigy who sings with a stunning beauty and emotional connection primarily because of her exceptionally brilliant mind. Her ability to naturally, immediately and seamlessly absorb and retain incredibly complex information about the compositions she performs in multiple languages, always in perfect pitch, with unshakable timing, never referring to a page, always confident and in control, clearly show that she is a genius at least as regards music and musical performance. Because of her extraordinary intellect, Jackie will always be exceptional whatever changes her voice goes through. In short, Jackie is the real McCoy – the kind of artistic genius that comes around but once in several generations, and can be compared only to geniuses of similar stature, like Mozart or Picasso. To confirm this, one need only observe Jackie's astounding progress. Like other artistic giants, Jackie's abilities grow and mature more in days or weeks than even other top musical performers do in a lifetime.
Sounds to me like she’s the Tom Brady of female singers–a phenomenon who makes “colleagues” uncomfo rtab le! But if ityou is anythe comfort to anyme of you, she’s probably just run of the mill in Heaven!
Actually, more like the Tim Tebow
For all you opera elitist who just aren’t getting it, here is something for your file-o-facts:
Jackie Evancho began singing while she was still in the manger immediately after the Wise Men left. By the time she was in second grade, her voice was greater than Pavarotti and by the time she appeared on television it was the greatest voice in the whole world in history. She has nothing left to learn and only monster snobs would suggest that she has a teensy weensy talent befitting a teensy weensy girl. Her parents never ever ever exploited her at all — NEVER!!! — and the lonely old men who write savage attacks on anybody who questions her talent are absolutely normal good people who go to church every Sunday and not at all creepy. All musicians and critics recognize that she is a genius except for the vicious jealous horrible freakazoids who are jealous of her and will never have one bit of her talent. Oh and she’s an angel too and is being groomed for an even bigger job upstairs.
(courtesy of EnoughHypeAlready – 2012)
I see that the sycophantic nut case that has been posting to the LA Times has now come over here. No one was interested in replying to you there, you ended up talking to yourself. Now you are here, looking for arguments to feed your pathetic ego.
Oh kavic!!!!!! (Or shall I call you Aquatic1, or Gabriel?) I'm so flattered by your interest. So intense that you follow me everywhere! blush, blush.
Now you need to get over your crush because you're really not my type, but I'm encouraged that you're expanding your field of desire beyond angelic little girls.
I can't believe how right you are…what prophetic foresight ! Bravo or rather Brava ! Well done ! Yes, finally someone totally believable (like yourself) who can finally validate the greatness and ultimate (implied) divinity of Jackie Evancho ! Count me as one of your staunch supporters (sarcasm) !
Becky (of EnoughHypeAlready) you are slightly humorous in your overstatements about Jackie. You're close, however, on Maren and other dimwits making vicious comments about Jackie and her family on this blog. What possible justification does Maren have for accusing Jackie of being a fraud and her family of being money grubbers? Maren isn't just making critical comments. She, like some of the other talentless critics you reference, goes way over the top into ad hominem attacks against a young musical artist who conducts herself with considerable grace and with the greatest level of respect for her fans and fellow artists. So, again, Maren and others are either chokingly envious and jealous, or they are simply vicously mean-spirited. If that's what you meant by "freakazoids," then you hit the nail on the head.
I AM NOALIASNEEDED- HELLO AGAIN
I ALWAYS SPEAK THE TRUTH AND KNEW THE TRUTH THE FIRST TIME I SHE WAS ON TV.
OK MANY PEOPLE LIKED THE IDEA OF THIS BUT ITS NOW TIME YOU SHOULD ADMIT IT IS A SCAM, THE SCAM WAS A PLAN THAT INVOLVED MANY TO PRODUCE IT.
SHE WAS TRAINED TO ACT LIKE SHE WAS SINGING BECAUSE IT WAS SENSATIONALIZING TO THE AUDIENCE TO PORTRAY THE NEAR IMPOSSIBLE, A STUNT ACTED OUT LIKE HOUDINI.
A SMALL BODY WITH SMALL LUNGS AND SHORT VOCAL CORDS LIKE HERS ARE NOT ABLE TO SUSTAIN MANY OF THOSE NOTES IN THE VARIATIONS THAT WERE SUNG, I'LL SAY IT AGAIN AND HER LUNGS ARE TO SMALL TO HOLD THE AMOUNT OF AIR THAT WAS NEEDED IN BETWEEN EACH BREATH AND HER VOCAL CORDS ARE NOT LONG ENOUGH TO CREATE THE SOUND THAT WAS PORTRAYED, AND HER BODY MASS IS NOT ENOUGH TO RESONATE THAT TONE. IT IS MERE PHYSICS NOT MENTAL POWERS THAT DID THIS AND SHE DIDNT SING IT, A DIFFERENT SINGER A BIGGER ADULT WITH LARGER LUNGS AND LONGER VOCAL CORDS DID THE SINGING AND KNEW THE SONG LYRICS AND NOTES, THIS GIRL DID NOT EVEN KNOW THE LANGUAGE THAT THE SONG WAS SUNG IN OR ITS LENGTH, SHE COULD NOT EVEN LIP SYNC IT SUCCESSFULLY, HER MOUTH WAS NOT TUNED TO THE WORDS, SHE WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT WITH THE SONG.
IF SHE HAD SUNG IT SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN EXHAUSTED AFTERWARD, THE REAL SINGER WHO PUT FORTH EFFORT WILL HAVE VEINS SHOWN ON HER NECK FROM THE AMOUNT OF WORK PUT OUT AND MUCH MORE PHYSICAL FORCE FROM HER BODY PRODUCING THE SINGING BY USING VARIOUS MUSCLES TO MAKE A LOUD CONTROLLED SOUND. THE GIRL WOULD HAVE SHOWN PERSPIRATION AND HER TEMPERATURE WOULD RISE AND IT WOULD BE SEEN IN HER SKIN AND ESPECIALLY HER NECK MUSCLES AND FACE MUSCLES AND AS A INCREASE IN PINKNESS IN HER SKIN COLOR BECAUSE THE VEINS WOULD BE CARRYING MORE BLOOD, HER HEART RATE WOULD'VE INCREASED FROM THE PHYSICAL WORK ASIDE FROM NERVOUSNESS. SHE WAS WAY TO PALE AND NOT SHOWING SIGNS OF PHYSICALLY EXERCISING AT ALL FOR SUCH A PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE TO HAVE HAPPENED. WHEN THERE WERE LONG DURATIONS OF SINGING IN BETWEEN BREATHING SHE DID NOT TAKE HUGE DEEP BREATHS THAT A PERSON EVEN BIGGER THAN HER WOULD NEED TO TAKE TO PUT OUT THAT VOLUME OF AIR. THE AMOUNT OF NECK MOVING AND HEAD TURNING SHE DID WOULD HAVE WARPED THE SOUND AND THE SONG WAS SANG AND SOUNDED AS THOUGH A TRAINED PERSON KNEW HOW TO EXTEND HER NECK AT CERTAIN TIMES TO MAKE CERTAIN NOTES, THE GIRL MOVED AND FIDGETED IN RANDOM MOVEMENTS THAT WOULD HAVE DEEMED AN END TO THE SONG AS IT WAS HEARD TO US LISTENERS BECAUSE HER VOCAL CORDS WOULD HAVE MOVED OUT OF ORDER WHEN SHE WAS TWISTING HER HEAD IN THE WRONG DIRECTIONS FOR THE SOUND TO COME OUT OF HER MOUTH SOUNDING RIGHT, SHE DIDN'T HAVE HER MIC ON OR IT WOULD HAVE DETECTED THE THE MISALIGNMENT IN SOUNDS
SHE IS NOT SINGING THE SONG AT THE CHRISTMAS TV SHOW. A DIFFERENT WOMAN SANG IT AND IT WAS PLAYED ALOUD AS A SECRET IN ORDER TO MAKE EVERYONE INVOLVED A LARGE SUM OF MONEY, MANY PEOPLE AND COMPANY'S AND ORGANIZATIONS CAPITALIZED FROM THIS FAKE AND THEY ALL KNEW IT WAS AN ACT AND DIDNT CARE ABOUT THE ETHICS AND MORALS OF THE LIE BECAUSE IT MADE THEM WEALTHY AND OTHERS ENJOY THE FALSE IMAGE IT REPRESENTS, IT LOOKS LIKE A FANTASY TO THEM AND THEY WOULD RATHER BELIEVE A LIE LIKE A FANTASY BECAUSE THEY DONT WANT REALITY IN SOME WAYS.
THERE IS A LOT OF ACTING IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY, SINGERS AND ACTORS ARE COMBINED IN THE SAME SHOW.
IT WAS FAKED AT A SOCIOLOGICAL TIME IN OUR CURRENT SOCIETY SO THAT A MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WOULD NOT CARE OR QUESTION IF IT IS FAKE. ACTING HAPPENS OFTEN AT THIS LEVEL, ITS BUSINESS FOR PROFIT.
THAT GIRL AND HER FAMILY MADE A LOT OF MONEY NOT FROM SINGING BUT FROM ACTING. AND THE INDUSTRY INVOLVED WITH SHOWCASING THIS ACT MADE MONEY ALSO, LOOK AT THE SALES IT MADE AND THE ADVERTISING SURROUNDING IT, IT WAS PLANNED IN ADVANCED, AND ITS NOT THE FIRST TIME THINGS LIKE THIS HAPPENED AND ITS NOT THE LAST, BUT I WONT BUY INTO IT BECAUSE I LIKE TRUTH BETTER
MANY MADE MONEY FROM THIS, IF THEY DIDN'T FAKE IT THEY WOULDN'T HAVE MADE THAT EXTRA CASH
When a van pulls up in front of your house and men with strait jackets come knocking on your door, start running.
how embarrassing for all of those professional adults who are playing their musician instruments in background to this fake girl who isn't even singing on the deck but acting badly to a recording voice over sang by someone else,…
. . . of course, some of Jackie's critics are just mental patients, but there's no need to respond to such rubbish.
u are a hypocrite, u just replied and u said there is no reason to reply… your mind must be trampled over by the behavior of those u arent smart enough to understand and u believe your own lies, thats why u are left wondering what is real in the world and u cant define much truth…
and some of jackie's critics say the truth to an extent that no reply can be said that would mathematical subtract the veracity because all that was said by some critics is true about the fake jackie, the lyrics in her song sung by a person who sings "I TRICKED YOU, MY SECRET IS MAKING ME WIN" thats a sum of the song sang and it mocks the low class who believe its really the kid singing, shows how capable at interpretation u are, u are artless and dum…
ha ha ha ohhh man soo many fools buy the b.s that is what weakens the economy because idiots make choices who cant make correct determinations…
why trust the mind of a person who plops paint on their face daily as a way to hide their physical identity as if they are ashamed of their real face, CLOWNS that PUT PAINT on YOUR FACE AND WARE CLOTHES THAT ARE MEANT TO ENCOURAGE STRANGE MEN TO USE U FOR FORNICATION, HA HA HA U LOSER, I'd hate to be born of a woman who got stuck buy a man like a stuffed pig oink oink oink, no honor there…
go accomplish something good for someone instead of loathing in your opinion that you are failed in your anatomy, you hate your own body because u are dum enough to worship the extinct trends that u thought were eternal when u bought them, and u still blame yourself for being fooled, it was intended to fool you when u bought it, it was meant to expire so u would want to buy a replacement, u have the wrong definition of love in your thoughts, it means something else besides selfish pleasure that you chase and seldom get. good luck… u need reeducation on a philosophical level and theological…
Learn to use spell check. It might give some credibility to your rant….I doubt it but it might be worth a try
Couldn't plow through all the comments, but did scan a sampling. I love it – we have self proclaimed experts claiming they can tell she's going to crash because they see her straining with tension to produce her extraordinary sound, and at least one who claims she could not possibly be really singing because they do not see enough tension, perspiration, etc.
I do believe the critics have good intentions, but also find them rather rigid: only one correct way to sing. They seem to back up their opinion with stories of a few well known child singers who destroyed their voice by doing too much too soon. Most seem convinced that Jackie's parents are pushing her so they can rake in the $$$.
Well, I am no music expert, but I do have experience with highly gifted children – in academics and art. Let me tell you, they are different from the average kid, especially the highly motivated ones. They WANT to push themselves, they WANT to achieve, and holding them back can have negative consequences, too, yet allowing them to soar can be tricky indeed. What do you do with an 8 year old who reads at a 12th grade level? It's awfully hard to find books at their level that don't involve mature themes. How about the gifted 9 year old artist who wants to draw nude people? The 10 year old who's intellectually ready for calculus? If you hold them back, some of these kids lose interest, disengage, or worse, become self-critical, thinking they're freaks. But you don't hear much about them — the gifted kids who are discouraged and grow up to become truck drivers. That doesn't make an exciting story.
By all accounts, Jackie fits into that category of highly gifted and highly motivated. While the danger of "pushing" her or any other kid is an important one, the danger of holding her back is also real. She is clearly very bright, and probably quite capable of weighing the risks and benefits of an early singing career. I'm sure she knows how to use a computer, and would be willing to bet she reads these comments about her and her jaw wobble all over the internet. From what we read about her parents, they are impressively level and supportive. I haven't read a single thing that suggests they are pushing her, though I have read about how she pushes herself to a level of perfection.
I have to say that if I were her parent, it would be a tough decision, but I would probably do what her parents are doing. Only I'm not sure I could do it with quite as much grace in the face of all these nasty accusations.
Nataly
Sure referring to an 11 year old child as a "fraud" is pretty harsh, especially if you buy into the sweet, demure, angelic little girl image that is heavily peddled by her promoters, including her own parents. But if one sees her as one who, on her own accord, is consciously and deliberately deceitful in presenting herself in pursuing a commercial purpose, then is that any more inappropriate than labeling a child who pick-pockets your wallet a "thief".
I am not speaking for Maren, but perhaps that's where she's coming from.
As anyone who worked behind the scenes at AGT would tell you, the Jackie you saw interviewed on stage after her performances contrasted greatly with her genuine personality. Her televised persona as much a production as her singing; consisting of very calculated, instructed posturing, including the "I'm about to burst into tears" line that almost didn't make the cut, save for Piers Morgan's judicious interruption of Sharon as the allotted time for that segment was running short.
Jackie is actually a very assertive, bold, extroverted child, and this is to her credit. Though to date she's still "handled" to some extent, she herself, as a highly intelligent person for her age, is fully aware of her actions and the underlying motives to be served in presenting her capabilities and public image.
In essence, she is a mini-adult willfully and knowingly participating in an adult world of business and entertainment and therefore legitimately open to adult criticisms and judgments
. . . and fraud is an appropriate comment Becky? I don't think so. You sure do a lot of imaginative speculating yourself about how things are, and then present them as though they were fact. I agree that Jackie is an exceptionally intelligent and very focussed and determined person. Given her professional stature, she also is subject to adult criticism. But, that is not what Maren and some of Jackie's detractors on this blog have done. Instead, they slam her for doing things they claim she should not be doing, but clearly is doing brilliantly. Jackie has not achieved her full potential yet, not by any means, but the trajectory she is on will take her to the pinnacle of her craft. Of course, as with any artist, events of life may slow her or even stop her, but it sure won't be the jealous and plainly stupid comments of Maren and her ilk.
But Becky, how do we know if this is true about Jackie:
"one who, on her own accord, is consciously and deliberately deceitful in presenting herself in pursuing a commercial purpose"
Or this:
"the Jackie you saw interviewed on stage after her performances contrasted greatly with her genuine personality. Her televised persona as much a production as her singing; consisting of very calculated, instructed posturing, including the "I'm about to burst into tears" line"
You are basing your assessment on the worst possible ASSUMPTIONS about the character of a 10-11 year old child! This, to me, is when it crosses the line from appropriate concern to jealous criticism. It's one thing to express concern about what her technique implies about the longevity of her career, but to attack the integrity of a kid that age? Pathetic.
Actually based on witnessed reality, but I realize that's very unfamiliar territory to so many devotees who don't want to know any truth on this matter – which would be customary if their fanaticism was merely to Jackie's music, but all too many are even more so enamored by her personage (mostly manufactured in their own minds) and impose their suspension of disbelief onto that as well.
There are many incidents of "misstatements" (if you don't like the term "lies"), but the most prominent and lasting mantra of such stems from what apparently is the promotion of her singing capabilities as some divine provision.
The repeated: "I only practice one hour a day" to the more recent: "I don't practice much… it's just natural…."
Jackie knows this is not true, as does her promotional team, parents and even her siblings – demonstrated by her brother Jacob who is on record stating "she's singing all the time….when I ask her: can't you be quiet for just a little while, she says 'no, I have to practice'…" – and even though her brother's statement was given within the time-context of her AGT appearances, it was still inconsistent with what Jackie herself was claiming to reporters in her backstage interviews on the press day. She was deliberately saying things she knew to be untrue, and has continued that trend onward.
It is not an unwarranted "attack" to characterize one intentionally speaking untruths in commercial pursuits as being deceitful, and particularly regarding a person of Jackie's maturity, intelligence, and full self-awareness of the purposes served by her misstatements.
This of itself doesn't make her a bad person, but does make her a fallible human – which I suspect is the biggest objection of all from such overzealous Jackiephiles, as it shatters their illusion of the sexist, one-dimensional, downy-innocent ideal they have assigned to her.
. . . right Becky, and she probably doesn't always clean every speck off of her plate at dinner, and may sometimes not finish reading every single word of a homework assignment. I think you are the one who needs to step back from your warped illusory world, as you are just grasping at straws to find anything negative to say about Jackie. You should get a life, you obviously need one.
Well, Becky, you may be the more obsessed than anyone else here. I haven't followed her closely enough to know if she's ever really said she practices only an hour a day. I do recall she said she was never formally trained – that singing came naturally to her, but no comment about her practice time. The only comments I've heard about her practice time were to the effect that she does indeed practice "a lot", though no indication of number of hours or minutes.
But even if she did say she practices less than she actually does, I personally would consider it minor. Deceitful? Lies? She's not planning a terrorist attack, for crying out loud, she's a kid talking about practice time. We (presumably) are the grown ups. Let's act like adults, calm down, and cut the kid some slack. Geez.
the kid is a robot?
THE KID IS A ROBOT?
I find the comments of many people on here to Ms. Montalbano cruel, rude, and completely unnecessary. If you are threatened by the knowledge of a professional in this field, that is YOUR deficiency, not the expert's.
First off, you are taking exception to her comments as criticism of the child. Your emotions are getting the best of you. Ms. Montalbano is not trying to insult this child at all–she is an advocate for her. Please take a moment and read this as an adult who is advocating FOR the child and for the art-form. None of you are looking at it from that POV because you are clouded by either your own personal feelings of needing to protect your judgements of what is "good" or your feelings of inadequacy in regard to knowing quality in the art-form. Instead of learning from this expert, you chose to carry on in hurtful tones as if to say you devalue what she has to say. Meanwhile, you do not know enough to see that she is looking out for the child's best interests, both vocally and emotionally.
For those instrumental musicians who are criticizing Ms. Montalbano for speaking out on behalf of children under the direction of vocal pedagogues, you should be ashamed of yourselves. You would use this young child to promote what you call "classical music among the masses" as if you feel art should exist at any cost. As a trained musician myself working on an advanced degree in voice (my first one is in flute), I whole-heartedly disagree with your comments. Thanks for prostituting a child so that more people can "know" classical music. I pray that you would never exploit your own or anyone else's children to promote music of any kind. Good music can be promoted to the masses through quality music education. Perhaps you need more faith music educators.
According to a body of research in music education philosophy, a child's musical IQ reaches its potential at approximately age 9. Ms. Evancho's musical IQ has most probably reached its potential, so now she can only hone the talent she possesses under the careful of watch of trained experts. What will most likely grow now is her ability to physically and emotionally utilize her talent.
As someone who is currently in the throes of vocal study and in charge of vocal instruction for countless young children, I am constantly at odds with the influence of untrained pop singing. Improper popular vocal techniques (such as they are) often influence the poor vocal health of young children who require trained professionals to guide them before damage can occur. As well, I am often bothered by the penchant for empty idol-worship of the untrained public especially those adults who would encourage children to emulate damaging singing techniques (Adele, anyone?).
Some of the criticism of Ms. Evancho’s performances by experts centers not around the child making her own performance decisions, but around the decisions of the child's teachers in regard to: the appropriateness of her performance repertoire (both lyrically and pedagogically), the pureness of her vocal diction—mostly in regard to how her vowels are formed and maintained, and the musical and practical decisions that influence her performance in terms of interpretation/phrasing/expression. These are among some of the most important issues surrounding voice study. To simply ignore these issues by saying she is a "cross-over artist" is copping out. That is like saying, "Well the food at McDonald's isn't gourmet, but it's still on par with the finest restaurants in regard to excellence because it tastes good to me." A young singer performing in these styles needs specific training to help her voice express in an uninhibited way. A singer tackling this repertoire cannot survive just by possessing a "pretty voice" and a strong, confident attitude. She needs pedagogically-sound training, and while it is reported that Ms. Evancho is receiving training, I question many of the decisions of those training her. (post con’t)
(continuing…) I watched a video of her singing "To Believe" that had sub-titles. Why would a listener need to read English sub-titles for a vocal performance if the singing is in English? Well that's easy to answer: poor diction. This is not entirely the fault of the performer—it is on the adults who coached her and allowed her to perform with these issues. If time had been taken to allow her to fully understand her vowel formation, the sub-titles would not be necessary. BUT, the adults making decisions about her performances appear to not care about excellence—they'd rather put her out there while she is a household name. This is pedagogically irresponsible.
Her lower register is unnaturally placed which is not entirely her fault. This is not a criticism of the little girl herself, this is a criticism of those adults coaching her who would ignore physics: She simply does not have the physical maturity to affect the desired result (despite the falseness of the resonance) without using a poor and possibly damaging technique. Her teachers are not making sound pedagogical decisions by allowing her to sing repertoire for which her voice is not yet mature enough to handle. Again, this is not a criticism of the child—this is on the adults who "handle" her.
The last area of concern, and probably the most important one, speaks of the appropriateness of these performances regarding her emotional development. What is the purpose of putting a child on display? As a teacher, I take exception to the idolization of children as if they were "performing little monkeys." There are so many incredibly gifted young singers who demonstrate command and control over their voices while fashioning an arsenal of expressive qualities. Most of the general public will never know any of these singers or enjoy their gifts, but instead, the majority of people who have never been exposed to these wonderful singers instead "ooh and ahh" over a child who "seems" to possess excellence in vocal performance because someone has packaged her for their consumption. There is the danger of exploitation with parading a child performer around for the very reason "that she is a child" and not "because she is an artist of note." Great sopranos are a dime a dozen in any music school across the USA, not to mention the rest of the world. Why don't people know about them? That's easy—they do not have a production team promoting them.
Instead, people want to see what they secretly believe is a freak-of-nature and talk about how this child possesses a "gift from God" or some other qualification. People like to see someone come from nowhere with no pedigree and do well—this is an "everyman" wish of the general public and a Humanistic approach to life which fosters self-esteem. People who defend the success of the underdogs—the ones who "shouldn't" be as successful as they are—are actually defending their own selves.
I get it—it makes you feel great to know that there is a child with an exceptional gift, but every child has some exceptional quality that is yet to be uncovered. I see this on a daily basis in my classroom. These exceptional qualities change with time—some build, and some fade away to make room for other gifts. This is a common occurrence in the arts in general. (Ever watch, "Where are they now?") We can enjoy this little girl's singing for the moment that it touches us, but we must avoid idolizing her for her own psyche and for ours.
Enjoy the young singer for what she brings to you, but understand that many critics are using comparative terminology to describe her singing that points out where it needs help, and while many think that the use of inflated language by a music critic points to an excellence-without-peer, good reviews from music critics and the general public alike do not automatically mean that an artist is promoting excellence.
That last point is for those who say that a large number of people liking something “must mean it’s good.” Mob mentality brought on by those who inflate their stature in a culture (as with some pop music critics) often brings the mob to physical ruin or in this case, intellectual ruin. There is a saying that goes like this, "Nobody ever erected a statue in honor of a music critic." There is much to be said about opinions of the general public vs. those with training/pedagogy/experience, and often, never the twain shall meet.
Sorry, Technokat, you are as much of a dunce as the self admitted amateur Maren (notwithstanding your crowing self-aggrandizing claims to professional training and experience). Like Maren, your comments come out of a very narrow controlling view of how you believe the world must be. Like Maren, your comments are based on a long string of false assumptions and gross mischaracterizations (which you state as though they were fact) together with totally uncalled for and inappropriate ad hominem attacks. Spare me you your supposed "concern" for the welfare of others (including Jackie). You, like Maren, write only to protect one thing – your own very fragile ego. I am sorry for the unfortunate students you claim are under your control.
So typical my dear Nataly. I see that ad-hominen attacks, that you are so quick to accuse others of, is so much part of your own hypocritical repertoire.
My, my, awfully sensitive aren't you Becky? That, after you logged on this site to attack an eleven year old.
Does anyone here realize that as the debate rages on about Jackie, her voice continues to improve as does her fan base and her popularity. SHE IS AN 11 YEAR OLD, who, first and foremost, loves what she is doing and enjoys the acclaim and acceptance that her fans in particular and the world at large keeps showering on her. Her dreams are coming true and most of us are watching this unfold before our eyes. I hope she continues to blaze a trail of success and proves all the critics wrong. Judging by her record so far, I have confidence she is going to prove her critics wrong. The dream for Jackie and her fans has just begun. The rest of you can either join in for the ride or stand on the sidelines and watch the show !! In either case, at least give her the respect she has rightfully earned instead of talking about her as if she was a "thing" and not a person.
Technokat, I believe YOUR emotions are getting the best of you, too. And your rigid ideology is trumping even that. I really don't give a hoot whether you or anyone else deems Jackie or any other artist I enjoy to be "good" or not. "Excellence" is a human construct, not an absolute, my dear, and different individuals define it differently, even if "music educators" wish for uniformity of public opinion. Her lower register is unnatural? Personally, I think ALL sopranos sound unnatural.
What one does with one's "instrument" is one's own choice, even if you disagree with their decisions, and even if their choice might sacrifice longevity for immediate gratification. Jackie and her parents have to realize, by now, at least, the chances that they are making such a trade-off. And, unfortunately for you, it is THEIR decision. While you can read into their behavior whatever you like, there is ample evidence that they are actually decent people, and even more evidence that their daughter is no idiot and that she WANTS to perform. Kudos to them for factoring in what SHE wants. But I guess criticizing what other people do with their kids conveniently allows you to feel holier than thou. Or maybe it just helps you defend your rigid views.
I check on this blog periodically. Everyone who has posted here either fan or not feels strongly about their opinion regarding Jackie Evancho. I am not a voice teacher or in any way associated with the industry, what I am is a simple man who can only express what I hear when Jackie Evancho sings. When I hear her voice my heart fills up and my worries disappear. I certainly don't expect everyone to feel the same way I do, that is not possible. If we discourage young people from following something they love what will our future look like? Do we do the same with those gifted in athletics or who pick up an instrument and show great promise? . Jackie has three siblings each of which take turns traveling with her and a parent as she performs, perhaps a strong bond with a loving family will be the difference. It is easy to label Jackie as a throw away child star, but is it possible in this world for someone to rise above the stereotype and lead a life that is productive and fulfilling. I sure hope it is otherwise our future is decidedly bleak.
Wow. What an amazing amount of vitriol from some of these folks. I’m listening to Evancho as I type this, and my impression is that while her voice and technique have matured somewhat since she started recording, she’s still very much like Samuel Johnson’s metaphor about the dog dancing on its hind legs. It’s not that she does it well, but that she does it as well. Her fans are people who would never listen to the classical repertoire unless it came out of the mouth of a cute little girl, or was delivered as part of a big Las Vegas stage show, ala Brightman, Will she have a future in singing? Perhaps, if she’s getting good advice and proper lessons now. Yes, she sounds like she’s imitating other singers she hears on records, but as noted, that wouldn’t be something we’d normally criticize in a beginner.
I have a Daughter who is just as good as her, her name is Elizabeth she will be on Britain’s got talent soon!
Is she cute and blonde? Otherwise forget about it.
Good luck to your daughter. The odds are against her. All mothers are protective of their offspring. Just stay that way if she doesn't fulfill your high hopes, and don't hold it against her. Sorry, but those odds must be a million to one. Please reply with a thread to UTube or something, so we can help you judge rationally.
I am no expert in opera or any other type of music but I know what touches my heart. I have listened to virtually all types of music in my 47 years on this planet and I can say with complete certainty that Jackie has affected me like no other performer in any genre. Regardless of the technical purity of her singing (which I am not qualified to comment on) she has an indefinable quality that connects with me and obviously with millions of others. I would rather not try and analyse her art form, just enjoy it for what it is. In a world of recession and war Jackie brings a little bit of joy into (many of our) lives – what exactly is wrong with that?
I totally agree with Maren. Jackie should focus on her education and her childhood. What is the rush? For the other bloggers here, Maren is telling it like it is. Professional singers get better with age mostly because they achieve a level of discipline that makes them masters at their procession. Jackie on the other hand will be surrounded by people that will feed her echo and never let her experience real life or disappointment that would make her stronger in the long run. She will be stuck at this exact peak for ever.
I feel sorry for you Maren, it is so painfully obvious that your soul is jealous of this sweet little angel. Perhaps you are too smug to realize it, but this is what is plain to see for the majority of readers of your post. It is sad for you, as you have forever labeled yourself as that jealous singer who degraded a young gifted talent. Already, the public votes for this sweet angelic little girl. Do they show you the same adoration ? It is sad that you leave this rant of yours on the net, as it's net effect is only disparaging to you Maren, it's author.
You may be an excellent opera singer but one thing is for sure. You are an arrogant, jealous excellent opera singer. I couldn’t sing a note to save my life but I do know one thing. I wouldn’t waste one red cent to see you perform or buy any of your precious CD’s. I am a retired NASA aerospace research engineer with over 33 years of experience and have conducted many multi-million dollar research programs at NASA. I have written many highly technical research reports. If I were to scratch my head and a few hairs were to fall on the floor I would lose more brain cells in that hair then you have in your entire head. Is that a personal attack on you? Of course it is. You said, and I quote, “Prodigy (or, why I don’t like Jackie Evancho).” You dislike Jackie Evancho? Why? What has she ever done to you?
What you said was that you personally dislike Jackie Evancho, an 11-year old child. You disgust me. Your arrogance is unbelievable but doesn’t surprise me. In your field of endeavor it’s to be expected. I got sick to my stomach reading your post. You must have a hard time reading this with your nose held so high in the air. Someone in another post called you a “snob.” They were correct and they were being kind. You are a snob. And then someone replied about your platinum CDs, etc. Who Cares? A snob is a snob is a snob.
Just a regular guy who, in 33 years, NEVER bragged about my technical accomplishments, and they were many, because they spoke for themselves.
Jealousy defined.
I wish to make one point here. In our society there is too much of tomorrows. She is here, she is perfect, now! There is no tomorrow. What you will do tomorrow? Talking about what could be in a later tomorrow.
If she would never ever sing again, she’s put down more values on the table, than all the others alltogether so far. True, it is only a personal opinion.
Mimicing voices? … I tried and could copy her. Could you, please?
Subjects, she sings about? … We all question any young one, who sings about adults stuff. Noone ever questioned for about any dept of emotions if she knows what’s she singing about, for we all know, knows them better as we do.
Just sit back, relax and enjoy her! She is not concurrence of any singer. You just wish she was! She plays in other leage, accept it.
EDIT: ‘I could NOT copy her’, sorry
I'm not sure that many of you are understanding the most important message here, that Jackie Evancho is not using her voice properly. Looking past her rise to fame because of the media, this child does not have a promising future if she continues abusing her voice. At the moment her imitative technique hasn't harmed her because she has enough time and rest between performances, but as she grows she will only hurt herself if she doesn't learn proper technique. I'm not saying that people aren't allowed to enjoy her music, or anyone's for that matter, simply because of its beauty, but the technical aspect of singing is important for her (and ALL singers) because of the harm that can come from improper singing.
For those of you who think it is "snobby" to say her technique is bad, I wonder if you are singers yourselves. For those who make a career out of their voices it is of the utmost importance that they take care of their voice. Jackie's style may sound wonderful, and it may seem amazing coming from a little girl, but that doesn't mean she's an expert at what she does.
On a more personal note, I'm not sure why there are so many who enjoy her voice as much as they do. She is extremely talented, and she will make a wonderful vocalist if she chooses to pursue such a career, but at the moment she has chosen to imitate the sound of an adult singer. I enjoy the sound of a child's voice, especially if they are talented singers like her. Groups such as Libera (a boy's choir) produce some of the most beautiful music I have heard, and yet most people have never heard of them. To hear an adult-like voice coming from such a young, beautiful girl is, quite frankly, disturbing. I would much rather hear her true voice, not what she thinks people want to hear. If I'm going to listen to opera I want to hear someone who has sung for years and truly understand what they are singing, not a cute little girl. To be perfectly honest she isn't as good as trained opera singers, and she has lost all of her child-like charm because she chooses to sound like an adult. When I close my eyes and listen to her sing, I DO hear what sounds like an adult, but not a very good one.
If you enjoy her music, by all means go ahead and listen to it. Just don't think that people like me are being "elite" or "snobs" because we don't approve of what this little girl and the media are doing. Personally I'm concerned for her vocal health, and I hope she learns proper technique before she does permanent harm.
If you don't hear the beauty in her voice Heather G., then it is you that people should feel sorry for. You have let the rigid rules you apply to music prevent you from really listening. You do sound like a snob when you insult Jackie's fans because, contrary to your aspersions, Jackie's fans come from all levels of experience and background. As for Jackie, it's your loss that you can't appreciate the truly exceptional quality of her voice and of her singing. She is a once in a generation talent.
I am so glad to actually read of someone who knows what they are talking about! I am now 75 but I trained as an opera singer many years ago and have been driven mad by friends and family always trying to persuade me of the merits of singers who get on the internet an then proceed to make a fortune from a very small talent. In the case of Jackie Avancho I found the maturity of her voice fascinating, but agree that she is ruining any chance of its developing normally. I was allowed to sing G & S at her age, but was soon stopped and didn't sing again until I was 15. Even then my voice needed time to develop properly and I had to take things gradually.
Sally Green please don't let your friends drive you mad, because you will be worrying for nothing. Jackie, who is doing absolutely brilliantly with millions of adoring fans who recognize and celebrate her extraordinary talent, has no need for Maren's totally uninformed and mean spirited rantings, and your misplaced fretting. Only time will tell if her superstar rise at an early age will impact her later career but, at this point, there is every reason to believe that she is on a steady upward trajectory – and I'm sure you would want nothing less for her. Don't torture yourself, sit back and enjoy the music. At your age, you've earned it.
jbean did not sound jealous. I like jackie and i am concerned that she could potentially hurt her voice. Just because there is concern for that doesn't make everyone who says they are concerned jealous. Although the writer of this article does sound a little jealous mostly from the language she used Jbean did not.
Ms. Montalbano clearly has the qualifications to make the type of commentary she is making in this blog. I have had the pleasure and honor to meet World-class opera singers. The one quality they all have in common is the ease with which they control their voices and their breathing/diaphragm. These skills, paralleled with immense amount of practice and God-given native talent are the necessary ingredients to produce a mature and healthy opera singer/artist. Listening to Jackie Evancho is a guilty pleasure, but I am also concerned about the psychological consequences of her spending more time on planes than at home with her parents and with children of her own age. As Ms. Montalbano points out, on the long-term, a majority of child-prodigies don't seem to do so well in life. There are critical stages in a person's development which, when skipped, can produce some serious emotional problems later in life. Not to take anything away from this wonderful child's talent and significance on this Earth, we have to recognize that part of being a good opera singer is an understanding of the role/character, the language, and the context of the events in the libretto. How much identification with the role can we possibly expect from a 12-year-old? Unlike Ms. Montabano, I like crossover music and artists a lot – although mostly the instrumental types like Vanessa-Mae or Rondo Veneziano. Classical music and opera remain quite inaccessible to the average person. Crossover may be a bridge.
there might be some merit to some of what you have to say about "maturing" into a natural voice, but in reading through you commentary, it is so clear you are envious of her success and perhaps bitter (I hope not) about where you career is not… very sad. I suggest you adopt Jackie's genurinely sweet, caring and humble attitude which accompanies her amazing gift. Your singing will improve, I'm sure of it.
I just saw a PBS Jackie Evenchco concert and was reminded of Charlotte Church….I am a classically trained singer with extensive experience. Your comments are right on. Most people don't and can't understand what voice training is all about. The essential idea of voice training is to get out of your own way…let go of physical tension…while maintaining the energy that projects the breath through the vocal chords. When you watch Charlotte Church and Jackie Evenchco, you can easily see their mouths and chins shaking…a clear sign of vocal tension. They both have lovely voices, but when a singer gets into these bad habits, it can eventually ( and not long from now) cause big problems and pain, and jeopardize their chances of continuing to sing well as adults, as they have both aspired to. Charlotte Church has certainly been on a bumpy road.
The appeal is essentially as fantasy figures for their fans…look at Jackie E.'s white crinoline and golden ringlets. What 11 year old dresses like that…ever? And "Voice of an Angel"… Same phenomenon. These are not angels, they are humans, but this image is being put out there because it appeals to certain people and makes money. It is selling out these girls' childhood at the expense of their adult possible vocal careers.
I am an elementary music teacher and I have had serious worries about Jackie's voice from the first time I' heard her on "America's Got Talent". I think she is sacrificing her future as a singer by incorrectly producing an adult voice at this age. I also agree that she is not singing songs appropriate for her age. It's just sad that she is being exploited and that she is obviously being advised to sing as she is singing. What a waste!
What a jealous opera bitch, she''s trying to sound like an adult it's going to ruin her voice! You want her to wait to sing so she has a shitty career like you. Who the hell has ever heard of you, nobody has because your just another opera singer. You should be thanking Jackie for giving classical music a voice in the U.S. Jackie will be the greatest singer of our lifetime so eat shit!
I think that you best stay with elementary school teaching Suzannefjones, where you probably do a lot of good for a lot of kids. Regarding Jackie, however, you have no idea what you are talking about, and would be well advised to stick with what you know, and stay away from things you obviously know nothing about.
All I can say to the defensive posts regarding Jackie is; igrnorance is bliss! If these people knew anything about the physiological aspects of singing, they'd be jumping to defend Jackie from those who are exploiting her talent; not cursing the rest of us for our concern!
I just have to add that whomever is calling you a "jealous opera b—" obviously must be jealous of YOU since your education has allowed you to express yourself so eloquently, whereas this person can't compose a sentence without a four-letter word!
Best to stay away from accusations of ignorance suzannefjones, since you are displaying your own very clearly. Stick to your teaching. You obviously know nothing about Jackie. There is nothing eloquent about Maren's foolish, mean spirited and jealous rant. From the very limited videos of Maren on the web, she is a universe from being in the same league as Jackie Evancho. Maren's understanding of music and musical interpretation is below amateur hack level while Jackie, at 12 years old, is a global superstar with a voice of supreme eloquence, beauty, and artistic accomplishment.
I believe it is called verbratta, or something like that, where you can make your voice vibrate (i think i spelled verbratta wrong) without moving your chin. She doesn't have that, which is the cause for the chin wobble.
I just don't like her. Sorry.
She's cute, though.
Really pathetic Maren. You are an embarassment to yourself and to fans of classical music. It's unfortunate (for you) that you wrote this pathetic blog, and inexplicable that you have failed to remove it from the web. You've obviously failed to grasp that it sits out there like a little festering island of jealous foolishness – - pointing directly to you.
As a classical music fan and opera student, I disagree with you, Jesse.
Jackie Evancho is beloved for two reasons, even at such a tender age her pitch perfect tone is like listening to angels, it's perfectly beatutifull to rhe earsand secondly, Jackie may noy understand all the lyrics but she feels the music and connects to her audience on a core level mosy singers can never dream about. In summary, it wasn't just the hype machine that made Michael Jackson a superstar, it was unearthly talent, and for Jackie, the same is most likely true.
Maren seems clueless to the fact that her only claim to fame is to be known to classical music fans around the globe as that nasty and pathetic nobody web blogger that dislikes Jackie Evancho.
Hi, i'm a teen and jackie is my inspiration to become a singer, and you should never pick on 11 year olds, pick on someone your own size, byebye.
I think this blog is kind of crazy, but I think I'll respond anyway. I have been following Jackie's progress every since she appeared on the scene, and I have a worry-love feeling when I hear her She turned 12 in April of this year, and I've just heard her most recent recording, and she's now a quarter step flat on every pitch she sings. I think that's sad! I do hope that she'll become what people think she will, because I really want her to have a full fledged career.
A quarter step flat Emily? Are you kidding? As always, Jackie is right on the money on every note she hits. What is with the nut cases on this blog that say obviously wrong things about Jackie? It's like the delusional blogger who says that there are dozens of 12 year olds that can sing circles around Jackie. Of course, they can't name one, because there aren't any – - in fact there aren't any of any age. Or Maren, the ultimate nut, who calls Jackie a fraud – the only fraud here is Maren herself for bad mouthing a singer that is infinitely more talented than Maren could ever hope to be.
Here's the real bottom line. I seldom enjoy the forced projection of most operatic singers, most of whom can't adjust to performing in concert. I enjoy listening to JE.
No I was not kidding around right there. I would know in a way due to my ears alone. Even though I have no idea what she looks like, I happen to have perfect pitch as well, so I know how that goes.
Perfect pitch is different than pitch perfect. perfect pitch is the ability to produce any given note with out an external reference, and that your either born with or your not. People can develop it to an extent if they want, but they never can fully. Pitch perfect on the other hand is the ability to sing perfectly in tune, and that can be learned. English choirs, which I absolutely love and adore, I believe possess both.
Right Emily, that is my point. Jackie has perfect pitch and is pitch perfect. I have never heard her be anything but that. In fact, I don't beleive that there is another singer alive more on the money than Jackie when it comes to exquisite, pitch perfect singing. If you were not kidding about your hearing then I guess it's time for you to get a tune-up.
The reason why I said that I wasn't kidding is because we people who are involved in choirs and things learn to look for subtle things that the general public wouldn't catch. As much as I like Jackie. I prefer clear bell-like english sopranos. Being visually impaired I actually have great hearin, but thanks anyway for the suggestion to tune it up. I was wondering if you could answer me this, What does she look like? I've been wondering that for a while now, because from what my friends have told me, she's very pretty. Thanks.
Hi Emily. Not to quibble, but I believe that Jackie is even more bell-like in her perfect pitch than any "english soprano," or anyone for that matter, that I have ever heard. That said, Jackie is a petite, energetic, typical 12 year old. She is generous and gracious when interviewed, and very modest about her extraordinary talent. Despite her modest presence, she is totally comfortable on stage (even when millions are watching), has total control over her performance and, clearly, is a musical genious on a scale rarely seen in one or multiple generations.
I first heard this child almost by mistake (she was sidelined on Youtube when I called up Kathleen Ferrier!) and was flummoxed. After almost coming to believe it could be a real but freaky voice I played the video of her rehearsal of Sebben and the before and after were just too great. There are children who sing with unexpected maturity (check out Laurence Kilsby – but quickly before his voice breaks) but as an extension of the norm, not moving into a whole new dimension.
Why are Jackie Evancho fans so goddamn annoying? They think she's the best thing since sliced bread, yeesh. Seriously, I haven't heard a single fan talk about her without using some kind of ridiculous hyperbole like she's a "gift to humanity," "unburied treasure," etc. (I have really seen people use these terms). They all sound like they'd give up their life just for a chance to kiss her feet or smell her shit. Let's not even get into how vile they are in defending her against people who have LEGITIMATE criticisms with her singing or music. It's honestly nauseating. I have never seen such a group of fans so blinded and deluded. It's fine to enjoy her music, as Jackie *is* quite talented, but the way people treat her like some kind of messiah is friggin laugable. I honestly believe that if she crapped on stage, her fans would still laud it as some kind of masterpiece to behold upon generations. She can do no wrong.
tl;dr — it's pointless to try and talk to these people.
You're right. Don't waste your breath. Jackie fans won't listen… I know that because I am one.
Yeah but im not talking to you though, im telling everyone ELSE to stay far far away from you crazy people. We'll stick you guys on an island or something. Maybe give you a jackie temple.
Too late ! We already have a temple…
Can't stick us on an island…too many of us …. and too few of you !
So, SelphieFairy, why is it that Jackie's fans have been smelling you?
Da fuq? I guess i smell good.
acctually im learning how to sing opera and she was my inspiration, although yes i kinda agree with you they are exploiting her and the mouth wobbling is not normal,and yes that type of song is inaprropriate for her , but in my defense i donot wobble my mouth like she does, and do always know what im singing , unlike her, and im her age so its not really impossible….
Thank you for explaining HOW she is singing. I am no music expert but knew women's voices change over time, what someone can sing as a child will be different as an adult.
I know you are no huge fan of Sarah Brightman BUT man people know her, AND she is a great example of a voice maturing because she no longer sounds the same as when she was in Phantom. Because her voice matured!
AND even she told Jackie to save her voice until she was older.
People just do not want to understand that vocal chords change as they get old and that this child is not singing per se but really just mimicing what she hears.
I once knew a kid that could scream in such a way it sounded like a whistle, which I think is what is going on here.
Good luck with your career.
I think you are right Maren, …., to catapult such a lovely young girl out of her childhood into a harsh cruel greedy adult world under the guise of fame just because she has this amazing voice for someone so young can only head to an unhappy or disappointing ending.
She appears to be a delightful little girl….now 12 going on 23…..and that's the saddest part.
Good luck Jackie because I think you are going to need it.
You're very negative. Anything positive to say ???? Jackie seems to be very happy doing what she does.
Thanks for every other informative site. Where else could I am getting that type of info written in such a perfect way? I’ve a undertaking that I am just now working on, and I have been at the look out for such information.
Hello readers I've been reading here for about an hour now and felt the need to add my two cents worth..to the beleivers that feel that her voice is being electronicly or digitly enhanced more by bass or echos or whatever..the singers who sang with her needed their mics and voices enhanced also , so they could sound as good as she does.
Yes she is young like a Shirley Temple to me who went on after a brilliant career to become an ambassador of the united states.
Which Jackie Evancho shows a talent for already even if she loses her voice her plan B is becoming an actress and with the character she has displayed I'd be a fan there also.
If you're referring to Katherine Jenkins or Saah Brightman, with whom Jackie has sung, they ALWAYS use microphones, not just when they sing with Jackie. In fact they can't sing without them. They were not using microphones when they sang with Jackie so that they would sound as good as she does. These two ladies are popera singers, just like Jackie. The difference is that they are adults who sing with adult voices. Neither of them uses particularly good technique, but they have more training than Jackie.
To even think of second guessing her parents choices is way way out of line..they show nothing but love and concern for their daughter and she couldnt ask for better they seem to have an already wonderful envoriment without worrying about money and only Jackies happiness.
I personnally didnt listen to operas are classics but I was converted can't get enough of Jackies sound.If she started to sound anything like an opera singer I really think she would lose a lot of her fan base and is one of a kind..I could listen to her version of Dark Waltz over and over and over again..jackie you are the best..follow your dreams..you are our ambassador.
I also Googled Maren…I found it,opera,very boring but found myself listening to the end trying to make myself like it because of JE..It just didnt stand up…sounded like you were reading words that didnt touch me at all..wish JE would sing one of the songs you sing to compare..why dont you sing one that JE sings and show her how its done..lolol
JE has stated that she is already prepared for any mishaps or tragedies with her singing if you stop and listen to her.Its called plan B acting…we are not the center of the universe..the theory of relativity is just that a theory.Their are better ways of doing things is all I'm saying..even singing..JE do your thing while you can and have no regrets…you are our ambassador…
From a recent review of Jackie's latest Great Performances concert at the Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles (a major production of which will headline PBS's national fundraising campaign in the fall):
"In a little less than two years, Jackie has gone from a 10-year-old kid from Pittsburgh who was the runner-up on America’s Got Talent to an ascendant international superstar. She has now released four albums that have sold more than 2 million copies, performed twice for President Obama, appeared twice in concert in Japan, sung twice in Canada, once in England and next week will take her powerful, lyrical soprano voice to Russia where she will help open the St. Petersburg International Economic Summit in Palace Square."
Jackie has also performed for the Emperor of Japan, appeared on innumerable talk shows, received many major awards, with rave accolades from critics coast to coast . . . and she is at all gracious and generous, with a sparkling smile and kind words.
I guess Maren was just a bit off the mark in her awful comments on this blog..
Another selection from one of many recent reviews about Jackie's meteoric success:
"In 18 short months Jackie's soprano voice, complete with perfect pitch and diction and classical phrasing, won her fans and record-breaking sales. She recorded one EP of "O Holy Night," which was released in November 2010. It became the year's No. 1 best-selling debut recording with sales exceeding one million copies, rocketing to No. 2 on the Billboard 200.
The EP sales and charting secured her position as the year's top-selling debut artist as well as the youngest female solo artist to debut during the SoundScan era. The song also reached No. 1 on Billboard's Classical Chart, and No. 2 on the Billboard Holiday Chart.
In June 2011, her first studio album, Dream With Me, was released, offering fans a mix of operatic arias, show tunes and pop standards. The album debuted on the Billboard Top 200 chart at No. 2, and was certified Gold after only four weeks."
and more:
"Jackie recently accepted a new role, as an actress. She has been selected to play Robert Redford's daughter in "The Company You Keep," a political thriller that Redford will direct and produce. The star-studded cast also includes Susan Sarandon, Shia LeBeouf, Terrance Howard, Anna Kendrick, Nick Nolte and Stanley Tucci."
Do you think, just maybe, that Maren wishes she could take back her despicable comments?
Someone needs to put together a survey on the number of people and fans who have been converted,who never listen to classical crossover or opera music,that are changed now due to Jackie Evancho's voice and singing…my hand is raised,,
Thank you for expressing everything I feel about Jackie.
Lol at the haters.
If there are any haters left, they are rapidly shrinking in numbers. How could anyone (except some has-been, can't-be who is choked with jealousy) not be inspired by this young musical genius who brings enormous joy to millions of music lovers across the planet. Jackie has already accomplished more, and had a greater positive impact and legacy, than most musicians have in an entire career, and she is only getting started. It is a joy to witness this extraordinary and brilliant superstar who brings such beauty and grace to the world.
I haven’t seen any hatred thus far. All I have seen is legitimate concern from one side, and on the other, an army of ad hominem spouting madmen and women. Having just read through this entire blog I have noticed the diehard Evancho fans using the following response format:
1) Accuse target of jealousy
2) Tell target they will be forgotten and are a nobody whose opinion is worthless (you, and I, are nobodies and you clearly care enough to reply)
3) point blank refuse to argue the point at all, instead throwing direct insults
4) heap praise on Evancho
All the while refusing to address, in the manner of proper, reasoned, supported argument, any points your target made.
I honestly hope that some of the posters on this blog are sockpuppets, trolls or in possession of an agenda because I am having difficulty believing that grown men and women could be so childlike.
Who is the ad hominem attacker here Azarael? You accuse posters favoring Jackie of being madmen, sockpuppets or trolls; Maren accuses Jackie of being a fraud and her parents money grubbers. And how is that somehow a "reasoned, supported" argument that the only impulse driving haters on this blog is "legitimate concern"? The spite exuding from your post belies any genuine concern you claim to have for anyone other than yourself and your very fragile ego. What drives a person like you, and how do you live with yourself? You and Maren both need to get a life.
First, I don't think there are haters, just people concerned about her voice. Second, I don't think the number of people with concerns are shrinking; I think many have just accepted, regrettably, the fact that there is decline in her voice, but most likely no one is going to address it. There is nothing to do but hope she will still have something of her fine gift as an adult, but it seems unlikely.
Sylvia, I don't know what you could be listening to that would suggest anything other than dramatic improvement and depth to Jackie's voice and talent. Regarding comments by the blog writer and some posters on this site, Maren called Jackie a fraud and other posters have made similar uncalled-for and totally irresponsible and ad-hominem comments. None of those statements, including Maren' blog itself, could be fairly described as exhibiting evidence of "concern." Maren and some of her sympathizers seem more bitter and jealous than anything else, and their comments directed at a brilliant young singer just seem mean spirited and nasty. I'm glad you wish Jackie a successful career – - the fact is that she already has a brilliant career, with astonishing accomplishments, and much much more to come.
Jackie Evancho just finished an outstanding performance and concert with well established opera and CC artist,,,those artist are Dmitri Hvorostovsky and Sumi Jo who showed professtionalism at its best,They were also very kind and gracious to JE..Banquet of Opera was the concert..performed in St.Petersburg, Russia…got to admit they love her there as much as we do here..So what if she loses her voice in the future,which I think will not happen,,,she deserves the fame and fortune now..and again I will use Shirley Temple-Black as the perfect example..she had a brilliant child carreer but as she got older fans out grew her although her skills were as good as ever..and she went on to serve our country as an ambassador of the United States and many presidents..what will the haters say now…long live Shirley Temple and Jackie Evancho we love you both…
I totally agree. People like the novelty of a talented child star, but there are some fields that work better than others for an early career–acting for instance. As for singing, considering that the peak of your vocal maturity is in your 40s, it's probably not a good idea to thrust a young child into that world and have them under the impression that their technique is ideal and do damage in the meantime. It takes longer to unlearn bad technique, and it's impossible to replace the instrument once it has endured irreversible strain. I've known so many singers who I considered to be talented in high school who continued on to college and flopped because they were unteachable. I fear that might be the case with young Jackie, which is a shame because she is indeed talented.
It is mighty good advice for her to branch out her study of music. A good handle on theory, history, anatomy and maybe even stage acting could improve her musicianship, making her a better performer and more useful in the music world in the long-run. If you devote all your study to performance and later cannot play or sing anymore, what good are you as a musician? But cultivate musicianship and you will always have a place in the music world.
I am recently converted to opera-classical crossover after being exposed to Jacxkie
Evancho…and the concert yesterday in St.Petersburg,Russia has made me embrace others in that
field..Sumi Jo was fantabulouso (JE'S created word) but it fits perfectly..her mannerism,her
voice and the way she expressed her songs just brought you into them for the ride…Dmitri
Hvorostovsky came off as quite the gentleman with strong forceful macho man sound then all of a
sudden change to player ooo ooo baby swooning baritone…lol as you can see I was into
concert…wish I was there…and JE.. only one word to describe her is her word FANTABULOUSO
she is a superstar super talented supersweet just super..the orchestra and conductor Sarah Hicks were top notch..yes I was on webcam view of the palace square…just below that video player they had several previous concerts or parades or functions on one of their I believe 26 webcams all over city(big brother is watching them)..so hopefully they will post Bouquet OF Opera there…if not please let there be a dvd..was one
giant step for man,one giant leap for mankind…like landing on moon for many…many feel it was a great stepping stone for opera and classical crossover…stay tuned
Oh…how did I forget that first song that Sumi Jo sang,don't know the name of it but I have known that song for years…its one Curly lipsyncs to on one of the Three Stooges skits…lol…loved it…the Three Stooges were ever week for me as a kid…fun memories it brought back…loved it…
I know some of the posters and forum members at amazon forum read here…I can't post there because I'm to poor to buy anything..its one of amazon's forum rules..but I really want to thank all of you for your posts and links..you nerds are OPPSSS!!…I mean geniuses are great..without your input and determination most of us would not be able to have such a wonderful Jackie Evancho experience…thank you all and keep up the excellent work…you nerds are OOPPPS!!..I mean geniuses are top class…. (JKidding) on nerd thing…ty
I have seen a lot of people on the comment thread that have said they are classical instrumentalists and they completely disagree with the article for one reason or another. Well, I too am a classically trained instrumentalist (violin) as well as a classically trained singer, and I completely agree with this article. When I first became interested in singing opera at age 12, I sang exactly like Ms. Evancho does; how I thought you were supposed to sing opera: from the back of your throat. You can tell that she sings like this because her tone and sound is muted compared to proffesional, mature singers. And the point about the jaw tension and wobbliness was well made; I had that too when I first started out. It wasn’t until I started taking actual lessons at age 16 that I learned the proper way to use your voice and how to sing with an open throat and let your sound fly out, not keep it muted inside your chest. When I caught myself singing the way I had started rteout, the way Ms. Evancho does, I realzed that it actually hurt my throat, and that it wasn’t good for my voice. When I first heard Ms. Evancho sing, I was dishea
I have seen a lot of people on the comment thread that have said they are classical instrumentalists and they completely disagree with the article for one reason or another. Well, I too am a classically trained instrumentalist (violin) as well as a classically trained singer, and I completely agree with this article. When I first became interested in singing opera at age 12, I sang exactly like Ms. Evancho does; how I thought you were supposed to sing opera: from the back of your throat. You can tell that she sings like this because her tone and sound is muted compared to proffesional, mature singers. And the point about the jaw tension and wobbliness was well made; I had that too when I first started out. It wasn’t until I started taking actual lessons at age 16 that I learned the proper way to use your voice and how to sing with an open throat and let your sound fly out, not keep it muted inside your chest. When I caught myself singing the way I had started out, the way Ms. Evancho does, I realized that it actually hurt my throat, and that it wasn’t good for my voice. When I first heard Ms. Evancho sing, I was disheartened at the exploitation of the social media of this little girl. She has great potential to become a great classical singer, but she needs to develope and mature, and she needs to learn the proper techniques to save her voice. And, as a classical instrumentalist, I would also point out that I do not see Ms. Evancho as a “breath of fresh air”, she is simply not ready. Playing in an orchestra, I like to know that the soloist 1. Knows what they’re doing 2. Understands and has the ability to convey the true feeling and meaning of a song (which Ms. Evancho does not) and 3. Can produce a round and mature tone. Not to say that Ms. Evancho is terrible and doesn’t have any talent, she just needs to take a break and develope her talent.
Hi Kate, My Name Is Emilly, and I have been keeping track of Ms. Evancho's progress since she has appeared on the sceene, and as for me, I worry greatly. Her voice has gotten so low now, and her sound is so swallowed I'm not so sure what will happen to her as she approaches puberty. I just hope she can keep her voice. I was wondering if you could answer me one question though. What does she look like? I've been wondering that for a while now. I happen to be visually impaired, and I've looked all over for some type of description of her online, but haven't been able to find anything. If you'd like you can email me at ejBorrowman@gmail.com. You seem like a nice person. Good luck with your singing. I'm an english soprano, and prefer nice open throats like you were saying, and clear notes that seem to shimmer and sound like crystal goblets.
Hi Kate..did your parents ever teach you if you can't say anything nice not to say anything at all..To completely agree with this article is self centered and selfish.What does it matter if she sings from the back of her throat,the side of her mouth or standing on her head…her sound is pleasing to us however muted you think it is..don't listen to her..why torture yourself?Do you listen to rap or hiphop and torture yourself?JE is not complaining about a sore throat.Why are you worrying about her? JE has parents and family to do that and any exploitation of her doesn't come from the media and is a direct attack of her parents..she is not of legal age and needs the approval of her parents to do anything..she is following her dreams not yours..if you sounded like her why weren't you discovered?
Now that you know how to control your voice why don't you have fame and fortune?..who is trying to sign you to a contract?..and your job in the orchestra is to play and not judge or they can find someone to replace you..you know of someone that can replace JE?..she has enough fame and fortune now to choose another career and pay for it..JE is following her dreams not yours..you are not her mother..you need to mind your own business..comments are fine, but to try to tell someone how they should live their life is way way out of line..you need to take a break and mature..try to develope your mind and leave JE's dream to her and her parents…Long Live Shirley Temple-Black..Long Live Jackie Evancho..TY
Aye Maren and Kate.. yes you have spent years learning and training the proper way to sing..to project your voices,make it sound clear..but you know what? ..it is not pleasing to me..your way is not what we want to hear..except that and move on..put Jackie in a class of her own..don't judge her by your standards…things change..electric guitars were invented…drum sets were invented…moog synthesizer does choir and orchestra..,JE was conceived…live with it..take her out of your category and quit torturing yourselves..Long live Shirley Temple-Black..Long Live Jackie Evancho…TY
Yes, we should kill a centuries old art form because the public would rather watch a monkey bang some cymbals!
If she is going to sing the same songs as us opera singers, she's going to have to deal with being held to the same standards that we are. That means accepting the same criticism we faced as beginners.
She won't get the criticism you may be getting…. She is already becoming a force to be reckoned with in the music industry…. Look at the venues that she is performing at. Her 2012 calendar is already filled with Bookings and the 2013 calendar is filling up. She's's a professional already at age 12. … And a successful one at that … Forgot to mention …. She's not an opera singer !
And millions of people eat McDonald's hamburgers and love them. That doesn't mean they're not garbage.
Good John D., really great response. And you have done what in your life? You're the hamburger man John D. Compare that to an artist who is rising like a shining star. Your fragile little ego, like that of Maren and other losers like chatsnoir, just can't take it. You should try to make something of yourself, rather than embarrasing yourself on this pathetic little blog.
At first, I was somewhat amazed at her abilities but, honestly, after a little while, this "awe" dimmed down and became more of a critical point of view from my part. She is a great singer for her age but I agree with the author of this blog post that her vocal cords should be preserved for when she is older and not in danger of damaging her voice. Not saying that she should quit singing, but her "jaw quivering" does not seem exactly… natural when she sings. I do not feel the emotion that some of these songs were meant to have, despite her constant arm waving and expressions. I just do not hear it in the song. I still think she is a great singer but there are also many great undiscovered child/teen singers who could have received the same amount of publicity and acknowledgement if they had also auditioned for America's Got Talent or some other TV show.
This is just my honest opinion and I think she could become a great, great star in the future.
I was awed a little bit too just like you were, but I do worry greatly. Anyone who has to shake their jaw to produce a vibrato is asking for serious trouble. I hope she'll survive puberty the way they're pushing her. Singing every other day as a child does not go over too well especially when your vocal chords are still growing an maturing. And as for me I love british clear sopranos.
Hi Jane…I see you are just falling in line with the rest of these insane staements about JE..All of you need to see a therapist because your statements are surely not sane..JE's parents have provided her with the top of the line doctors who are up close, looking down her throat, can smell her breath as they examine her throat,,,the top of the line vocalists that probally get showed with spit (LOLOL)as JE wails and sing out notes..but you can sit at your comuter,watch and listen to videos,with perhaps damaged tweeters and woofers and judge better than professtionals right there in her face..you are way way on the outside trying to look in…keep torturing yourselves..eat your hearts out..you seem to deserve the anguish and torment..JE has parents,grandparents,aunts,uncles,cousins and siblings right there in her face taking care of her happiness,welfare and safety…eat your hearts out and see a therapist…lol
I should have used that spell check.. misspelled statement and computer..please excused my ignorance
showed should have been showered
Hi Jane…I see you are just falling in line with the rest of these insane statements about JE..All of you need to see a therapist because your statements are surely not sane..JE's parents have provided her with the top of the line doctors who are up close, looking down her throat, can smell her breath as they examine her throat,,,the top of the line vocalists that probally get showed with spit (LOLOL)as JE wails and sing out notes..but you can sit at your computer,watch and listen to videos,with perhaps damaged tweeters and woofers and judge better than professtionals right there in her face..you are way way on the outside trying to look in…keep torturing yourselves..eat your hearts out..you seem to deserve the anguish and torment..JE has parents,grandparents,aunts,uncles,cousins and siblings right there in her face taking care of her happiness,welfare and safety…eat your hearts out and see a therapist…lol
You are wrong. The writer is right.
I really don't understand the mentality of a lot of the Jackie Evancho fans. They seem to turn on deaf ear on the physiological, scientifics of Jackie Evancho's singing. I think they are so focused on maintaining on elevating her to a supernatural spiritual level that they are possiblly ignoring the physiological facts that God himself has created. God even said to put no other Gods before him. She is just a little 12 year old girl. Give her a break folks, all this social pressure cannot be good for her. She is just a human little girl with some real talent and some real vocal techinique concerns. Putting her on such a high pedestal might end up destroying her in terms of continuing to encourage something that historically is dangerous. If you listen to the duet that she sung with her brother Jacob on UTube you will hear that through most of it she sounds like a little girl. She really does adjust her voice. She is not being true to herself.
What exactly do you propose that the fans should do! Go on strike ! Stop buying her CDs until someone addresses the so called technique issues? Her parents have the best in medical advise and have plenty of resources to help maintain her health. It is their responsibility to decide what's appropriate for their daughter. Not yours or mine.
If she is modifying her voice to a lower pitch why does the composition have to transposed down to meet her voice. Wouldn’t it be simpler for her to stop lowering her larynx. Is it harmful to use her voice in moderation? Perhaps her performances are being used as a form of training. Is she to young to learn technique? Physiological maturity of the voice occurs around age 20. Therefore, the rest of operatic maturity must be about technical control. Plus, it may not be possible for Miss Evancho to avoid some of the pubertal changes that occur in the female voice. Don’t assume such changes are indications of a stressed or damaged voice.
You deffinetely have a point there. Yes voices do not mature till you are in your 20's. She could probably learn technique that would be good for her, but with the changes that her voice will need to go through when she hits puberty, she may have to start over. I actually have had no vocal training myself, so I sort of can't be sure on that. I'm not an opera singer at all. When I sing, my sound is like those english sopranos that you may have heard in a choir called the Cambridge singers. You sound very polite in your writing. I wish you luck in what ever you do in life.
This isn't "opera snobbery". You don't walk before you can crawl, and this girl is doing sprints.
It's pretty fucking audacious to walk on stage and sing an aria that isn't only out of your age group and fach, but also your gender. Call it what you want and be as impressed as you'd like. If you want to believe that this girl is so very prodigious because she can parrot out some sounds, do that, but don't call this opera because it isn't. There is not mastery, no depth, no color, no understanding in the voice. She's about as exciting as a banana peel but because she is eleven and is so 'poised,' we must all shit bricks.
Stop calling us jealous snobs just because we want out WORK and our CAREERS to have some fucking integrity.
Wouldn't you be pissed off if any old untrained twelve year old could waltz into a hospital and perform brain surgery because they had seen Grey's Anatomy a couple times?
You really need help…. That's all I can say ! Actually I shouldn't even waste my time commenting on this but I am…. Why? I don't know….one must feel pity for the intellectually challenged and the envy plagued. What a shame…read your comments again or ask the local shrink and he'll tell you what I mean by my comments !
With all due respect, Andy, Steffi's comment, while infused with some colorful language, is one of the most succinct summing-ups about this topic that I've read in this thread. She's pretty much on the money.
John, it's about talent. Some have it, others don't . Jackie has it whether it's her voice or personality or both. Others just work hard and since they are bitter about their failure, they tend to go the defensive. True class is about understanding ones own limitations but never giving up. Criticizing Jackie is about being bitter about one's own failures and blaming it on the success of others
With all due respect, John D., Andy's comment is one of the most succinct summing-ups about the negative commenters on this nasty little blog that I've read in this thread. He's pretty much on the money.
Props for the snide repetition of my text.
Comments like that are the reason the comments on this blog are so nasty, as you described them.
That said, there's nothing "intellectually challenged" about Steffi's observations. If someone can post a reasonable, well thought-out rebuttal to the observations about Jackie Evancho's singing ability that so many trained singers and teachers have made in this thread, I would gladly read it.
. . . and you're not snide in your commentary on this sad little blog, John D?
Regarding Jackie, her talents and singing ability speak for themself. If you don't appreciate them, that's your loss.
What puzzling is, if you really are the intelligent knowledgeable person you present yourself to be, then what the heck are you doing spending your time and wasting your talents posting nasty remarks about a young singer who you have decided that you don't like? The more logical conclusion is that you, like Maren and other nasty posters on this site, are obsessd, consumed, and unbearably jealous of this young talent and just have to get it out somewhere. Sad and pathetic really.
“Wouldn’t you be pissed off if any old untrained twelve year old could waltz into a hospital and perform brain surgery because they had seen Grey’s Anatomy a couple times?”
..and hereith lieth the truth. !She hasn’t paid her dues like we have! down with Jackie Evancho and the corporate media machine, robbing us opera snobs of our rightful places on top of our Pedestals!
It’s the nature of the beast that a radical change in any field of human endeavour is met with vitriol from peers. They can’t handle someone coming along, with comparitively very little experience in something they have laboured over for many years, building their careers and reputation upon, only to bring their entire house of cards tumbling down by waltzing up and going, “wow! that’s great” but what if we did it THIS way instead?”, thereby proceeding to invalidate their entire life’s work.
It’s easy to understand the ire, as this classy little lady unwittingly and certainly unintentionally, tramples over the lacklustre accomplishments of a piffling minority of inflexible, stuck-up prigs, mired in their centuries-old traditions and conveyor-belt methodology. Sucks to be you guys :/
Another insane fanatical raving, Steffi,other opera singers,opera teachers and musicians etc..who have posted here with insane negative comments about JE…Pull your hair out..eat your hearts out..then blow your brains out…JE will be around for years..she's not going anywhere…eat your hearts out and suffer in anguish and torment..you are sorry examples for humans…
Yeah… or not.
This blog is funny , and those people supporting this blog is funny too. Since i first listen to Jackie Evancho in AGT, i fell in love with classical music and started listen to other classical singer too. Too bad these so called opera elite never realize what door had Jackie open for them . The cycle of life maybe cruel to you but never try to drag others into our own hell but instead be happy for them .
It really saddens me when i see people putting down someone who has been blessed with a wonderful gift,especially in the performing arts. The fabulous voice , beauty , charm , class , and just plain goodness of Jackie Evancho should be an inspiration to us all. I agree that Jackie's parents should take all steps to protect her from any physical or emotional damage that may occur by allowing her to succumb to the pressure , which is sure to come , to do more appearances than is safe for her well being , at all costs. My dream for Jackie is for her to be joyfully happy in her singing career and that she stay protected and grounded by those who love her.
Can't we all just be friends?
You guys are awesome
i just received the email….again….with the clip of little jackie singing "to believe." i was curious to see if anyone else had a negative reaction to her style, and, thanks to google, i did, and here i am. let me start by saying i am not a professional singer (although i did sing– well — in the choirs at school and chuch as a child, and had some instruction there) and also am not a big fan of opera. to me, jackie's style seems operatic, what with all that vibrato she employs. i'l say it again, i would love to hear her sing in her natural voice. listening to this, i just want to whip her vocal coach with tree branch. i can't get the visual of her uvula vibrating like a hummingbird out of my mind. i think she does this to correct her pitch and increase her volume. wonder if she has had instruction in chest voice vs. head voice. she's a cute little girl, but with that voice the way it's being used, the package is a little creepy, IMHO.
Sorry chatsnoir, you are just another uninformed dufus adding further bile to the pile. You should do at least some research before casually badmouthing an artist you know essentially nothing about, while congratulating yourself for singing "well" once upon a time with "some" instruction. It is obvious that you are as unknowledgeable and ill-informed as your comments are dumb – - pretty much in-line with the extremely low caliber of Maren, the unfortunate author of this blog.
i doubt you are sorry, anmer, in fact i think you enjoyed badmouthing me in textbook ad hominem form. admit it. you know i’m right. this little girl — i can’t even remember her name without looking — is only getting attention because of the way she looks. her singing voice is an affectation. she is nothing more than an anomaly, a cute schoolgirl with the singing voice of a middle-aged diva wannabe. if she was plain looking, had bad teeth, was overweight, not blonde, etc., or an adult, no one would pay attention. a middle-aged woman singing like this would be a ho-hum; only her friends and family would buy the record. i would be surprised if this girl could take this singing voice to a higher level of fame as an adult, except maybe in a broadway musical. btw, anmer, you didn’t mention what your credentials are…..are you the kid’s singing coach, LOL? all you did was say negative things about me, you didn’t point one one good thing or redeeming feature about the subject’s voice or style. wonder why? can’t think of any? and, you didn’t say WHY i was wrong, you just said i was wrong. you get a D- on your essay. and “needs improvement” on your social skills.
"Sorry" refers to your sorry state, chatsnoir. Your new comments still show you to be uninformed and interested only in adding to the little pile of foolish uninformed attacks started by the ill-intentioned Maren. As for Jackie's brilliant world class singing, it stands on its own – - you obviously have failed to notice that she already is an international superstar.
If you genuinely, honestly, truly believe that Jackie Evancho's singing is world class, then I invite you to come visit me in the New York metropolitan area and I will gladly introduce you to some actual world class singers. I guarantee you'll notice the difference.
You are really impressive John D. It's a good thing that there are such knowledgable people in the world as you. You're probably the only one (at least in your mind).
reality check, anmer, people remember the names of "international superstars" even if not their "cup of tea"
. . . and your point is?
I prefer english sopranos! They are even clearer! Their sound is like when you rub your finger over the rim of a beautiful crystal glass, and it sings.
Unfortunately, they are a dime a dozen, very few know about them and even less care Bout them !
obviously, anwer, my point is……this girl is NOT the "international superstar" that you claim she is. you should make one of those you tube superfan rants; when you do please post the URL so i can have a good laugh.
Maybe she's not yet but then she's not even a teenager yet. Given time, she could be what her fans claim her to be. Until then keep laughing but just don't kill yourself in the process. Would be funny if the obituary said…."here lies one who died of laughter " .
Her voice is Sweet, like honey, Clear, like water, Pure, like snow, Full, like her heart.
Will you spit in her face? She is NOT creepy. She's just shocking. She's trying. She climbing an uphill battle, and I'm sure she would sincerely appreciate it if people like you ceased to rain down on her dreams. (I'd appreciate it.)
You belie your own point, chatsnoir, as you obviously have heard of her – as have millions of others. What's puzzling is the negative obsession about this brilliantly talented young artist by Maren and other nutcases like you. You need to: (a) get a grip, and (b) get a life.
Jackie is a wonderful young girl that seems to be very sweet. However when she was on AGT awhile back I was hoping she would not win. It was because I hated to have her tossed into that arena and follow same road so many young, talented kids have done. Unfortunately it appears to be happening anyway.
Praying that doesn't happen to her ………
sorry to disappoint you, but i hadn't thought about this girl in the year and half since the first time i got the you tube email of her singing. which is hardly a negative obsession. however, i did find her singing irritating enough to check and see if anyone else dare say so, and voila, here i am. to the sociopath who hopes i die laughing……may all hateful things you wish on me and others come back to you tenfold! the person who said this girl is an "international superstar" — wrong! someone on the level of (whether you like their music or not) celine dion, paul mccartney, pavarotti, or even justin bieber is an international superstar. give me a break, what are you smoking? ask 100 people on the street who jackie evanko is and i bet your most frequent answer….second only to "i don't know"….will be, is she that russian tennis player? i've learned one thing….some of her fans are a rather nasty lot (anmer and andy). like i said the first time, wonder what her real voice sounds like without the affectation.
It sounds like a normal 12 year old girl's voice. But what does that have to do with her talent. And by the way, most classical / opera singers don't talk in the same voice that they sing.
I bet even as stupid as you seem to be, even you must have the drop of common sence needed to see how stupid you look now.
I like Jackie Evancho, but don't want her to end like Charlotte Church…. so sad. Fame too soon can really screw up kids (mostly because adults use and abuse them for their own purposes). I agree that she should enjoy her childhood and grow up like a normal kid. Maybe cut an album every few years or so, but touring at that age can't be fun for a kid.
I don't know what bubble you live in chatsnoir, but you obviously have a disturbing obsession that requires you to post goofy, untrue and nasty comments. As mentioned before, you need to (a) get a grip; and (b) get a life.
The reality is that ALL opera singers "alter" their voice to achieve the sound you hear, it is NOT BY ANY MEANS a natuaral voice. So stop all the whining and gum flapping AND jealousy and enjoy some true and INNOCENT talent for a change.
Actually, no, Scott, that's not what they do at all. The entire point of classical voice training is to get rid of all the crappy, constricting, impeding, diminishing habits of vocal production that people pick up in life – whether for physiological reasons, psychological reasons, or simple things like the very language you speak (English speaking singers often have the worst time of things for this reason: the pronunciation of English in the West sounds the way it does because we learn from a very young age to speak our language in a way that is actually the very opposite of what is required for free, effortless singing). That's part of the reason that babies and little kids can yell and scream all day and not lose their voices; they haven't yet picked up the habits that, later on, they will need to un-learn in order to train their voices. This is also part of why some of the greatest opera singers and teachers in history are Italian, German, French, and Spanish; listen to the way a native of one of those countries speaks. Big, open vowels, lips and jaws much more relaxed than those of English speakers, "trills" actually a part of their everyday pronunciation. It's a smaller step to relaxed, open singing for them than it is for speakers of English and other languages that require a certain kind of tension to pronounce. Hope that helps.
I am sixteen years old.
At age eleven, just like Jackie, I sang incredibly more maturely than most my age. I tried to take my voice to the next level, tried to show the world who I am.
Somebody, thinking just like you, turned me down, "For my own good" and crushed all that in the palm of his hand. I convinced myself it was because I was not good enough after I saw someone, younger than me at the time, performing for the same people. I stopped singing entirely. After I was hospitalized with severe pneumonia, I tried to sing again, but my voice came out raspy, choked, and I ended up coughing up stuff.
After giving up on my voice for so long, I can't return to singing now, I can't.
All because I was too young to be believable.
Wow. That is touching. I have a few words to say. Being one who has a passion for arias, opera, classical and classical crossover, I quite like Jackie, but not her technique. No, it doesn't seem healthy, yet it sounds good. The wobbling chin is something I tell people not to do. I think that natural voice I have heard is lovely and beautiful. She could do it like that as well. She has a life ahead of her, and some of the remarks here have just been hateful.
Admit that Jackie Evancho will be more famous than any of us. I sing, and quite well, but I will NEVER be as famous. I would sing with her, I admit.
Next, I have to say that the claim that she is naive and doesn't no meanings. Silly tosh. She certainly does, tell her. She learns, she isn't an idiot. Please, anough with that.
I have heard Pavarotti. I have heard Haley W. But this voice is beautiful.
spit in her face? who said anything about that? another nutcase fan. you're not going to change anyone's mind with your weird comments that don't make sense, and your insults. get a clue! you're on a page where most people aren't fans of hers. if you want to sing her praises, go find that webisite! the people here aren't going to her you tube videos and leaving nasty comments there, they aren't "spitting in her face." why don't you just let the people here have their own opinions, then go crawl back under your rock.
I see you have crawled back out from under your rock, chatsnoir. I thought you had gone off to get a grip and get a life. Guess not. You are still Jackie Evancho obsessed – - yet one more sad sack person, overwhelmed by Jackie's talent, and overcome by jealousy and self loathing – - crawling out only long enough to spew more bile and then crawl back under your rock. Really, you should try to get control of yourself, do some yoga, think calming thoughts, get your life together, practice saying nice things – - others might start to like you.
The public’s lack of taste and “The Emperor’s New Clothes Syndrome” continue to propel untalented people to fame and fortune. This is not a girl with a good voice.
My mother was an opera singer. I know what a beautiful voice sounds like. Like all art, some of music is terrific, most is mediocre to awful. I put Jackie Evancho into the awful category the first time I saw and heard her. Today I turned on the PBS special by accident and suffered through two abysmal renditions before finding this site. Thank you, in advance, for letting me tell the world how I feel.
Her voice is artificial in the extreme, little more than the result of a child pretending to sound like an adult. Any of us who have been around children recognize that sound. I would be interested to hear what she really sounds like. I think her supporters might run the other way if they heard her honest-to-goodness child voice.
Look up Mrs. Elva Miller, the “Mrs. Miller” of dubious singing fame in the 60s. That’s who Jackie reminds me of.
Elvis, your choice name says a lot. You were clearly raised to be who you are. I hope the day will come when you will be able to form your own opinions. I am sorry you have been robbed of the ability to hear the beauty of a natural voice. It is not your fault. Trained to believe that only a voice that has suffered through years of training and exercise to coverup it's natural sound, and forced into the opera sound could be concidered correct. And then told over and over that forced sound was beautiful, and that no other sound was. It is no wonder you feel as you think you feel. So sad.
Yours is a mighty small world, Elvis, and your posting here is just one petty and meaningless comment on a small minded and mean spirited blog.
I would like to offer the perspective of a young performer. I have been taking classical voice lessons as a hobby for four years now, and have sung in choirs all my life but I am by no estimation “a professional.”
Jackie Evancho is not singing with good classical technique. While it is true that pop singers and their ilk are often celebrated for their unique and untrained voices (Tom Waitts? Bob Dylan?) this kind of singing, however emotional and moving, is not opera. And while it has been mentioned that Jackie Evancho is a “classical crossover” singer, whatever that means, she is imitating the style of opera without learning to do it the healthy way. This is indisputable. I am sorry if you love her, but she does not sing with good technique, as has been meticulously proven multiple times on this thread. In my own experience, I have done the same thing, thinking I would sound better if I attempted to imitate what I was hearing older opera singers do. But in my case, as in Jackie’s, the imitation is unable to reach the fullness and flexibility of a mature voice with proper training.
As for her interpretation and feeling, it honestly felt a little stiff and a little too coached to me. Now this is simply my opinion. It does not mean I am stone hearted or that I hate little girls or whatever. But her main appeal is that she is cute, and that she is pseudo-inspiring: a little girl with a “magical” voice achieving her wildest dreams, dreams that were perhaps shared but not reached by her ardent fans? (ok, maybe that was a little snide, sorry.)
While I am not a fan, I don’t particularly care if you are. But I just want to make sure that you know she is not an accurate representation of opera music, or really classical music in general. She is just a cute little girl living a fairy tale.
P.S. in the world of opera, it’s considered to be in bad taste to sing any aria without being able to sing the whole role. And I am positive that Jackie Evancho will never be able to sing the role of the Prince from Turandot. That actually irritated me a lot. Sue me, I’m a snob.
Very much true what you said for the most part. I happen to be a fan, but I do see a BAD habit she has, dropping her larnex. Her natural voice is better. Also, those who want to 'keep opera elite!' that sounds disgusting and a bit discriminatory.
While I heavily disagree with you, the technique still stands as quite damaging.
MintyMae Tell me if I have this right? You feel Jackie, who has actually had no training other than to protect her voice from bad habits, is stiff and too coached. But opera singers/performers who have undergone excessive training over many years, are not?
Well as you said you are not a pro. I hope you are not suprised by the fact that the all the classical professionals who have actually worked with Jackie during the last three years disagree with all you have said here.
Wow a opera singing that is so offended by this girl that she gets on the internet and babbles and whines. I do agree that Jackie presents herself in a proper manner far beyond her years. Why don't you take a lesson from her at at least act as mature as she does
That is mostly what I get. The way this was presented seemed a bit hateful.
Jackie Evancho's natural voice is beautiful! Every song on her CD Prelude to a Dream is her natural voice singing. No mature womanlike sound at all.
True.
I so so so so so so agree with you. As a classical singer myself, I can FEEL the tension when she sings. When I heard her for the first time, I honestly thought they were going to say she was terrible etc, but then they started raving about her… I sat and looked at the tv in awe. I guess if the world is dumb enough to think she has talent then they deserve a tensionful and fake singer like her, though they won't get her long. She IS causing vocal problems and I am positive she will have nodules or worse within the next few years, though I'm sure she has some form of them now. I feel sorry for her, being exploited and she will have such a short career.
There are sooooo many better singers and I wish people would really be able to experience something worth listening to.
Troll.
Most of those attacking this small young child are connected in some way to the classical/opera crowd.(student{wannabe}, opera singer{struggling or failed}, classical/opera voice teacher{those who can't}, and classical/opera critics{many are the critics, few are the artists}). But many of Jackie's fans are connected to the classical/opera crowd, but the difference is they are successful members of the classical/opera crowd.
You attack this wonderful small child saying you are a classical singer and everyone else is dumb because they think she has talent. So you are calling Dmitry Hvorostovsky and Sumi Jo dumb. They are World Class Opera singers, who both performed in St. Petersburg, Russia with Jackie Evancho. True Dmitry is not a fan of child prodigies{which included Ms Evancho}. But after he witnessed Jackie"s talent first hand he was completely won over. And Sumi Jo was so taken with Jackie after thier duet together she posted several comments on her twitter page praising her beautiful voice, ever saying Jackie gave her goosebumps.
Who is the dumb one? In case you are too dumb to answer that it is you and one who agrees with you.
Time for the med's BentleyCaughlan. Sit down, relax, you obviously have not been out of your ward for a very long time. I'm thinking, how could someone be so staggeringly dim and out of touch, but then I realize that's just you.
Oh for Christ's sake. Shut your idiotic mouth already, you moronic jackass. You haven't got a single goddamn constructive thing to add to the discussion anymore.
You're a troll and an imbecile.
And it's "meds," not "med's," kid. Go ask your first grade English teacher for a refund.
@BentleyCaughlan – you are correct.
People might take you seriously, John D., if it wasn't so clear that you are a Jackie obsessed nut, who comes here to vent your bitter anger and jealousy. Regarding communication skills, why don't you check with your first grade teacher when you get there.
If she didn't wobble her chin you and a lot of people would most definitely think she's lip syncing. She can't win either way. Shame on you for jealously picking on a 12 year old girl who flat out has more talent than you. You strike at a little girl how has been only singing for three years. How many years have you been singing? Your jealousy is clearly seen in your venomous blog.
I absolutely agree with you. Girl don't have technique, only fake sounds. I'm student in Milan in Accademia dalla Scala. I sent Jackie video with Nessum Dorma to my maestro. He agree – sounds is fake. If she don't stop sing like that, in future she can't sing at all. Now sing nature, later will sing technique. Sarah Brightman when was young sang not so bad… but look at her now.. No breath, no voice streight.
While i agree with most of what you said, i´m not so sure about no technique untill later, is that what your maestro told you ?
If so perhaps you should show him this :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwHY6jqhK5I
The boy singing lead is only nine years old at the time, sound is bad since the rocording is very old but still…
This article makes you look jealous and ridiculous. What is the point of writing an article about how you do not like a child? You are sick. Jackie Evancho is amazing. I would never listen to these classics, if she was not singing them. She emphasizes that she is not an opera singer anyways.
Maren, I applaud everything you wrote. I'm so sorry that so many people have elected to call you jealous and a hater. Jackie's fans seem to think that criticizing the technique with which she sings is somehow criticizing her as a person. These fans think that what you have said is some sort of personal attack on this child. Nothing could be further from the truth. I'm also a classically trained singer, and I know that what you said is true. This little girl is likely to have no voice left by the time she's an adult. How sad that whatever voice she might have developed is never going to be heard.
Maren, I agree with everything you had to say. I've also had much the same experience you've had with some of the more rabid Jackie fans. I've been hounded and stalked all over YouTube just because I've dared to voice the opinion that Jackie, while very talented, sings with poor technique and needs a good teacher. I was quite puzzled by the harsh and over-the-top response to my comments. I have been called "hater", "jealous", "pig", "obese slob" (Yes, Jackie's fans just make up stuff about someone they don't even know), "a person whose entire family has deserted you", someone "with no life", a person who "attacks a defenseless child", "insulter of Our Golden Child", and other things so vulgar that I can't repeat them here. All this has been hurled at me just because I'd like to see this child's voice last instead of being burned out in a few years.
(continuation of previous comment) I floored by all of this so I finally asked hy her fans react this way and someone was actually nice enough to tell me. It seems that there is a large group of Jackie's fans who think that she is, in reality, some sort of religious figure, perhaps a little girl Jesus or an actual angel sent to Earth by God with a perfect voice that needs no training…and God will protect her from any kind of harm to her voice. Thus, if you suggest that she needs training, you're insulting these fans' religion. I find this whole Jackie as Religion thing pretty creepy…and a terrible burden to place on the shoulders of a child, but it does sort of explain some of the crazy, vile insults that are thrown at anyone who dares to criticize her vocal technique.
Part 3 What still amazes me is the fact that people who consider themselves religious think that because they're doing it in the name of religion, it's okay to be so vicious to others. As for the non-religious but still rabid Jackie fans, I think many of them are simply musically uneducated people who can not or will not accept the importance of proper vocal technique for singers. I wish you the best Maren, but the nastiness and insults aren't going to stop anytime soon.
Wow Lauren . . . and you are suggesting that others are "creepy," "vile," "crazy," "over the top." Time to take a look in the mirror.
I was doing a search on something else and sort of stumbled on your blog about Jackie Evancho. I've only read through a few comments and I can see that people aren't all that thrilled with some of your remarks but I just want to say I totally agree with everything you said. In my younger days, I was a professional singer and I took many singing lessons with various singing teachers. Over a period of 20 years, I studied with a singing teachers who specialized in Broadway, opera, R&B and blues. I mostly did weddings and corporate parties, so I had to be able to switch styles easily. My problem with someone like Jackie Evancho is what I call "fake singing." I see it a lot on young singers who audition for these TV singing competitions. A dead giveaway on fake singing is when someone is using their mouth and face in a weird, contorted manner, instead of the sound coming out naturally. I always wondered why I never cared for Jackie's voice — it always seemed to be coming from some other part of her body that I couldn't pinpoint. But you definitely cleared it up for me and it just makes sense. She puts her mouth into whatever position she needs in order to create the sound she wants, rather than the sound coming out naturally. When you sing naturally, you don't have to do anything with your mouth; you could keep your lips together and still get a good sound. But that's all technique and I don't know what kind of technique Ms. Evancho has had. At any rate, good luck to her, good luck to you and thanks for an interesting blog about a subject near and dear to my heart!
Diane,
Luciano looked like he was going to have a fit when he sang Nessun Dorma and Cecilia Bartoli looks like she is in intense pain when she sings. Are you saying that Luciano and Cecilia are also fake ?
Diane, you may not be able to tell were Jackie's voice is coming from, but it is easy to see your opinions are coming out of your ass, because that is were your head is.
Jackie has done corporate parties, and did a wedding, so you are no better than she is. And she has sung with Tony Bennett, not an opera singer either. Does the National Prayer Breakfast count as a corporate party? And don't hold it against her for singing a that thing in St. Petersburg, Russia, just because Dmitry Hvorostovsky and Sumi Jo sang there to. It is hard to find people to sing with a fake.
I know who Jackie Evancho is and love to see and listen to her perform as do millions of others. I own all her CD;s. Amazing achievement for some one who is only 12 years old. So who are you, again, please?
Are you saying Jackie is a fake and not really singing? You sang at weddings and Jackie sings in concerts around the world and has recorded several top selling CD's. Pretty good for faking it. And who are you, again, please?
It's interesting that most all of the "trained" singers agree with this "Why I Don't Like Jackie Evancho" commentary.
For all of you "expert" vocalists, please tell us who you are and your achievements so the world can appreciate you, too.
maren, i know you are trying to project a professional viewpoint about the little girl jackie. I don't know you as a person, but i have recently listened to several of your works, very good. But you as a critic, and this is just me, don't go there. don't even try. My advise,and you can count it as nothing if you may, stick to your singing. Let every thing you express be positive and project something from yourself that is uplifting and encouraging to others, we're all trying to learn in our own way, in our own time. Like my mama use to say…."If you don't have something good to say about somebody, don't say it at all", And when you come across that way, that kind of attitude towards others along with your gift of singing will become a chemistry, you will connect with a larger crowd of people, people who will love you and respect you for the artist you are. I would much rather read something good about you ,and i have , and some of your venues that you have performed at. I played guitar (many years ago) for a choir that was put together in leysin, switzerland, and performed in burgess gardens germany, paris, france, and in london england. Years later i worked with a soft rockband in colorado, played for colleges, opening shows for headliners at concerts, recorded an album at caribou ranch in nederland , colorado.(this type of music is miles apart from opera). I'm now 58 years old and mostly cantankerous on occasion ( lol) not really. enjoy life maren, and count your blessings, and savor the memories and embrace the accolades to come. p.s. i might add i did get to attend an opera at the paris opera house,while i was in europe, you know, that fancy place with a name you could pronounce if you spoke french,which you probably do and like, i don't. And i am by no means an authority on opera singing, i'm sure you could expound for hours and days and years on the complexities of the art. treasure that knowlege. best of luck!
I really like your writing style, wonderful information, appreciate it for posting : D.
I couldn't agree more. Yet another example of someone with some talent being made into a superstar when there are PLENTY of other people out there who have trained extensively and are much better, frankly. Also, this thing of her singing songs about love and romance is just creepy. Look, she's a nice girl, but she has a career because some publicist/manager/agent is pushing her out there, not because she's as good as the singers at the Metropolitan Opera. Is Andrea Bocelli really good? No, he's not. The vibrato is annoying as hell and the voice is tight. But, he has a big career because some pop music producer saw the opportunity to market him as this amazing star who sounds as good as opera singers but didn't have years of training. Give me a break. There's something just very weird about this little girl singing with the sound she gets. It just doesn't sound real.
I can’t be bothered to read all the comments, as I would get fired from my job for taking a half day to do so. I’ll just say (at the high risk of repeating what’s been said):
- Her jaw wobbling is going away. When she was way littler than she is now, most dogs had more lung capacity than she. I’m no expert, but the quality of her vibrato sounds like she might be controlling it more now from her diaphragm. At least it sounds like what my vocal coach demonstrated to me (I quit because I knew I’d never sing well, so take my comment with a grain of salt).
- She is not an opera singer, so it’s weird to criticize her as one. She can’t project and needs a microphone. Nessun Dorma is toned down considerably, which is why it can’t be compared to the aria sung in the opera. If she sang this aria without a mic, she wouldn’t be heard past the orchestra seats. She’s a pop/cross-over singer, and those who have chosen the song agree that the piece is suitable as simply a classical-crossover “song” – the meaning and context of which is irrelevant for that purpose.
- Her parents are protective. They’ve even argued with the label, and with David Foster that no means no. She is not allowed to overwork her voice.
- Speaking of protective, her parents have conversely said that they do not try to shield her from the realities of the world. People have commented on “unsuitable” themes in songs. Although it’s been years since I was that age, I can honestly say, having examined the lyrics and between-the-lines aspects of everything she sings, none of it would have come as a surprise to me at that age, and certainly would not have scarred me for life. That said, I do wonder if even her parents, producers and record label realize that “Angel” is not about angels, but a lament about a member of Smashing Pumpkins overdosing on heroin in a hotel room. McLachlan herself provided this explanation.
- They are doing everything they can to avoid the “Charlotte Church problem,” particularly by standing between her and the wolves who want to shove her onto the stage every night to sing Nessun Dorma. Jackie Evancho’s personality and consistent position on pop music not being her genre give me hope that she will at least remain aware of the pitfalls as she ages, and hopefully steel herself for the possibility.
- She is assessed, examined, trained, coached, protected and encouraged. She’s not doing anything she doesn’t want to be doing, and if anyone in the small army of expert consultants that watch over her raises a red flag, her parents will apply the brakes. She has said repeatedly that she supports and understands her parents’ decisions.
- Let the girl have her moment in the sun, for crying out loud. When I was 10- to 12-years old, and I could sell millions of recordings, tour, sing for world leaders, have two PBS specials, and basically be worth millions before I turned 18, I’d tell everyone trying to stop me to back off, even if I knew it wouldn’t last. She has said that she worries about fleeting fame, but seems to have a realistic outlook on things. If she falters after puberty, then she’ll excel at something else, I’m sure. Even Charlotte Church’s new pop EP is being fairly well received, so there’s always hope of a comeback.
- About some of her fans: I am a huge fan, but I’m sick of people calling her an angel, a gift from god, the greatest thing since sliced bread. It’s this kind of fanatical devotion to “idols” that bring the most derision to the star. She’s not all that, people. She has flaws (by the way, she’s aware of them, and works to overcome them. By all accounts, she is doing that). Yes, she has a beautiful voice and brings tears to people’s eyes, including mine, but bring her down off the pedestal. As for her detractors from the opera world, I feel this way: she’s not yours to criticize. Your concern about her voice is certainly laudable, but using the metrics of opera to knock down a pop singer is absurd, and this post in particular is a good example of that, and also of how to be rude and unfair to a child (under the pretense of concern).
- Everything I’ve claimed as factual has been documented or stated by those who are responsible for her. Of course, you can’t always believe everything you read, but I get the overall sense that the misgivings about her, her parents, her handlers, etc., are not as big a problem as they’re made out to be.
Very well stated ! Agree with your viewpoint.
Hi Maren,
i can't agree more with your post. i'm a classical singing student and i'm only 5 years elder than Jackie.
i was upset when i heard Jackie sings O Mio Babbino Caro. People think she's an angel, but people forget to take the echo effect off her. She is pitiful because she is just a tool of making quick money. Parents and show organizers should be more responsible.
People now think she's talented, she's cute. but how about 5 years later when she comes to my age, which is only 5 years later? Will people think a 17 years old girl singing in this way is cute? She won't be accepted in classical circle by singing in this way. and she won't have age advantage anymore. or she might have ruined her voice in a few years later.
She has a very good voice and she can definitely train it but not in this way. From her age of 10 to 12, i can see very little improvement in her. The basic breathing and vocal cord controlling still not improved. If she had started learning from 10, there are a lot could have be done in 3 years. but what the adults doing is just wasting her time and her talent.
The only time I've seen your type of rhetoric is when a person is a so called student of the classical arts but doesn't have the talent or gift of excelling in the art. You start of by saying she's pitiful but fail to explain why! She's now been singing for over 2 years and her voice continues to grow in strength and beauty….you don't have to believe me…ask the experts. They will tell you the same thing. She has a voice of exceptional beauty and is often referred to as a musical genius, not because of the quality of her voice but how she can control her vibrato and add nuances to certain parts of the song. That is a gift that she has cultivated herself.
Listen to her singing Phantom of the Opera acappella during a TV interview at age 10 and you'll realize just how great she was and still is.
You forgot to mention her sold out concerts, movie role with Robert Redford and other product endorsements. her reported net worth of 2.5 million dollars, CD sales in excess of 2.5 million units sold, generally accepted by media and music professionals as a musical prodigy, collaborations with Sarah Brightman, Susan Boyle, Barbara Streisand, Sumi Jo, Dmitri Hvorovsky……I think you get the picture!
Since adults are willing to shell out $150 for premier seats I would say they are certainly enjoying the uniquely amazing voice of a prodigy that most will see only once in our lifetimes.
Maren- Thank you for putting this out there and putting up with all the trolls who know jack about singing. I sang with the Seattle Girl's Chorus and received a college scholarship for music. While I did not pursue a profession in music, my two daughters who are 10 and 12, are very gifted vocalists. My oldest daughter only started singing about a year ago- we did not know she could sing because she only ever sang along with pop music on the radio etc. and was always flat- turns out she has an extremely powerful voice with a big range and is being brought along very, very slowly with one of the private instructors for the San Francisco Girls Chorus. My other daughter is currently a level 2 in SFGC. I took her to audition for the very reason that she was getting so much attention for her voice and was starting to mimic some styles of music that can be very damaging to the vocal apparatus. She is a great mimic and I think if she wanted to and we allowed it, she could sing opera at this age. She was, however, getting far too much attention for a gift that she had not properly developed so we went to SFGC hoping that she could be a little fish in a big pond for a while and learn from those who are better and help those who are not. It has been an amazing experience and as a mother, I do my utmost to protect my girls' voices as they are both interested in pursuing musical theater or performing as adults. I also want them to be well-rounded and have varied interests- get a chance to experience all that is open to them. I love music to this day and still sing recreationally but I had no idea when I was 10 or 11 that I would fall in love with microbiology or that someday I would publish a novel. There can be more to life than music- and if there is not- all the more reason to protect one's voice!
My youngest daughter watched the video you featured and before I even said anything she pointed out Ms. Evanchos 'waddle' and was mortified by her vibrato and belting which in Girls Chorus is well avoided by choosing appropriate music and using proper technique.
I certainly hope that this little girl does not go the way of so many child stars and hopefully, when her voice is ruined and she can no longer sing like she does, she will have many other interests to bring her joy in her life. My feeling as a parent is that we should protect the future of our children's dreams. Shame on the media, too, for promoting this sort of thing. I just don't buy into the "expose the greater public to classical music" argument that others have made, not when the cost is paid by a little girl.
Jackie has now been in the media and performing sold out concerts for two years. All evidence so far suggests she is an extremely likeable girl with a great personality who loves doing what she does. Her parents have been commended by fans and the media for doing an exceptional job of keeping her grounded.
Last but not least….her voice. I was at her most recent concert last week and 15 ft from the stage. Her voice and stage presence is beyond remarkable and her voice has only grown more powerful and beautiful. I'm not sure what all the gloom and doom is all about! Shame that such a gift in one so young cannot be appreciated or accepted without rancor and skepticism!
Folks, can we put the following to rest?
- She is not harming her voice. She had some bad habits that were corrected at age 9-10 (she is 12 going on 13 now).
- She now sings only songs that are safe to sing.
- Her rich, adult-like tone is natural, not mimicked, and getting better with time.
- Professional voice experts, doctors and coaches continuously evaluate her and find no cause for concern.
- The matter of exploitation is openly discussed by her parents. Their daughter wants this, and isn’t being pushed.
- Her parents limit her performing schedule and repertoire based on professional recommendations.
- She is not being financially exploited (even if her parents were trying, there are laws to assure her financial health).
- She leads a normal kid life when not performing, which is the majority of her time.
- She is not an opera singer.
- She is not an opera singer.
- She is not an opera singer.
I could go on and on, but I just wanted to emphasize that the same criticisms and concerns are repeated over and over and over, and not one of them is supportable. Some may have had some merit in the beginning of her career, but as I said, the issues have been addressed. For goodness sake, some of you act as if you are the only one who has thought of these concerns, and talk as if she is helplessly alone among vultures and thieves. It is not a bad thing to be concerned, but it is exasperating to hear this stuff repeated time and again, long after it has been put to rest (except when someone from the opera world rings the alarm bell, yet again). A little research would go a long way, but I’m beginning to think that the professional opera and theatre singers, and those who are training for same, are dogmatically unmovable on a religious level (meaning adherence to beliefs for which there is no evidence).
And I’ll say it one more time. Professional opera and theatre singers simply cannot apply their standards of training and technique to a pop singer. Yes, she is a pop singer – a singer of popular songs, some of which happen to be adapted classical pieces, some old standards, some Christmas songs and some contemporary hits. She’s Doris Day, she’s a female Rudy Valee. Her voice has “operatic-like” qualities, but she has said time and time again that she does not aspire to sing opera.
I hate to lodge cheap counter-measures, but I have to say this: I’m beginning to see why many accuse critics of jealousy, when those critics all seem to be from the same completely unrelated world. And make no mistake, you do live in a different world, as I hope I’ve made abundantly clear.
And one more thing. Accusing people who disagree with you of being “trolls” is childish in the extreme. I could say the same thing, as there is such a thing as a “concern troll” (someone who hides their acrimony behind a veil of so-called constructive criticism, yet offers only conjecture while refusing to acknowledge facts), but I won’t name names. But please, drawing your conclusion from a 2-year old video, without knowing the whole story, does nothing for your credibility. And, your professional training and experience, although credible, does not make you an expert in what is going on or planned for with respect to this child.
People like to believe Jackie is a reincarnated Jenny Lind.
I don’t hear it. I am my x3 great Grammys reincarnation, not to mention I can actually sing. She’s
Spoiled cause she knows like two notes. Good for you Hun, watch and learn. For 1 Jenny wasn’t pretty. We’re ugly swedes, not barbies. Look up a picture of my gramma! She was a wench like me. WE make up for beauty with round and high vocal ranges. Y’all will see me on tv, and I’ll trump her. Watch.
Brea
No people don't think that Jackie is Jenny Lind reincarnated. They may say that as a hyperbole or a form of expression. Comparisons are made to Jenny Lind from historical accounts of her performances. Since no one alive today has heard Jenny Lind sing, one can only make comparisons from eye witness accounts of her performances. Her voice has been described in the same manner as Jackie's is today and like Jackie, Jenny started singing at the age of 10. That's pretty much it.
What kind of wench you are and what you'll accomplish is of little interest to anyone but yourself. To that end I wish you the best. Please check back when you have something of interest to share about your career.
Jackie says to never give up on your dream, so dream on Brea
It's well past time for Maren to take this disgusting blog down for good. Virtually everything Maren originally wrote has ben proven ludicrously wrong. Maren is still a jealous nobody, and Jackie is an international superstar with multiple gold and platinum albums, whose fans include presidents and emperors. Stop embarassing yourself Maren.
Look at all these ignorant comments, it actually shocks me. I agree with this article, and I hate to say this, but I suppose people who aren't studying classical voice will never understand. Thank you for this article. Haven't you always wondered why professional opera singers or singers studying at a post-secondary level or higher are not Jackie fans? If you are, I'd be genuinely shocked…but to each their own.
You apparently missed two important things.
First, jackie is not an opera singer no matter what the media says…she's only sung 3 operatic arias in her entire repertoire of 50+ songs.
Secondly, Jackie is a prodigy and for good reason…there are plenty of professional opera singers or people involved in the operatic field who are just as enamored of her talents as the fans. Read her wiki page!
Jessica though it is true that many of the people who attack this young child are in one way or another connected to the classical/opera crowd, it is also true that they represent only a very small fraction of that group. Because there are many more people who are in one way or another connected to the classical/opera crowd that are supportive of Jackie. The difference between these two groups is those supportive of Jackie are successful, like Sumi Jo and Dmitri Hvorostovsky both top tier World Class Opera Mega Stars. While those who use thier time attacking a young child are bitter about how their lives have turn out.
Because music's not for ignorant people. Without training and education they don't know when something has moved them on a personal level. They couldn't truly appreciate music because they don't know what true music is. How absurd. What is music to you? Who do you perform for anymore? What does all that training do to you when you can't simply listen and enjoy something thats beautiful without analyzing technique? I would imagine the goal of a musician is to touch everyone, both the masses and the trained, to communicate to others through music. A truly talented musician is able to share the same joy they feel through music. Ive shared Jackie's singing with others. i don't have to show them how old she is. Whatever they are doing, they shut up and just listen. Unexpectedly without preparing themselves for a song, hearing her sing a single note brings tears to their eyes. How does she do that? She communicates with them somewhere in their hearts. I mean this with or without religious implications, I've shared her music with people of all faiths or none at all and the effect is the same. she connects with others on a human levels that "uneducated" people don't need training to understand. I would think that Is a compliment, that regardless of the technique you say she needs she possesses this musicality that is just natural and cannot be taught. It moves complete strangers, from normal people to famous and well trained opera singers as well. This is an ability that years of training could never bestow upon certain individuals (such as the author of this blog, apparently). Perhaps you and maren are the ones who no longer understand the purpose of music
Your comment, Jessica, shows two things: (a) you have no idea what you are talking about and clearly know nothing at all about Jackie; and (b) you sadly live in a very small and pitiable box of your own making. It would seem that you and Maren are small minded, misinformed peas in a pod.
Why in the world is this blog still on the web? Maren was dreadfully off the mark from the very beginning, but this pitiful, childish and jealous rant, which was totally wrong at the time, just looks stupid now. Wake up Maren, you embarrass only yourself with this drivel, which attracts the occasional further nut job rant by others as uninformed and mean spirited as you. Obviously, Jackie's superstar success and artistic brilliance has made crystal clear by now how ludicrously wrong you are. You've made yourself a laughing stock for two years now Maren – - time to spare yourself further embarrassment.
What the writer said is that her voice is not likely to last until she is 35, 40 not that she would lose her popularity in 2 years. She did not pass an audition to a music academy. I've never met an expert who'd admire child opera stars, and this girl is not an exception. You anonymously attacked the writer on a personal level. I don't think she embarrassed herself but the parents making these low style comments would have – had they not been anonymous.
Your fundamental concept is wrong, so do some homework before shooting off your mouth. Jackie is not and has never claimed to be an opera star. Regarding attacking on a personal level, that is exactly what is wrong with Maren's blog, which accuses Jackie of being a "fraud" and her parents of being money grubbers. You need to spend at least a couple of minutes coming up to speed on a subject you want to comment on, Guest (pretty anonymous I'd say), or risk sounding as uninformed as Maren.
Every one in the opera knows opera damages a child's voice, but the number of experts to masses is 1 to 10 000 and so in these comments most people love child prodigies and only a few are critical to the phenomenon.
I think we can just make a book on the comments here to have a good laugh on. I could not find one comment meeting hygiene standards of good behaviour. Are these actually parents writing? I've never witnessed a discussion on politics, war, etc where people would get this personal.
Please be careful to avoid any dangerous jiggling or wobbling any of your chins and stay strong for the cause!
Here's the kicker- They say Jackie should wait until she's older to pursue this sort of singing. Android App Developers
It really is sad that anyone who shows any concern for Jackie are attacked so harshly. I just hope to GOD that she still has a voice to sing with in the next 5 years or so, because if she doesn't, a lot of folks over at SONY/TEAM JACKIE will have some major explaining to do.
Save your false concern CER, and tend to your own life. Jackie is doing just fine, and has plenty of people around her who are looking out for her well being. What drives busy bodies like you, to say nothing of Maren who feigns concern while accusing Jackie of being a "fraud," revealing all too clearly her own choking jealousy of Jackie's sensational natural gifts? It's you, Maren and other pathetic souls making misguided and mean spirited comments that are truly sad.
First off Jen, it isn't a false concern. Perhaps you and other Jackie fans should stop being so overly sensitive, and stop accusing others of their motives, when quite frankly, you don't have a clue.
CER the only way these could be real concerns on your part is if you do not know anything about Jackie and are just speaking in general terms. In Jackie's case these concerns were addressed over two years ago. She has a team of doctors and other professions looking after her well being, not to mention the most protective and loving parents and extended family any child could wish for. The rest of the world could learn a lot from the Evancho family._So CER you can not have it both ways. You can not know anything about Jackie Evancho, and at the same time say you have any 'real concerns' for her health, voice, career, or anything eles.
Unless your concern is about the false claims being made over and over again by opera elitist, opera snobs, jealous wanna bes, and general trolls. CER which one are you?
As I read through these negative comments I am reminded of something my mother told me 70 years ago after I had vented about a singing group. I was told to turn to a different station and quite bitching. If that scene were repeated now she would have told me to switch to a different channel. Technically what you people are doing is called bullying, it is even more despicable when it is being done by adults on a 12 year old girl. No matter how you justify it, it is still ugly. I also think anyone posting derogatory comments based on their "experience, training etc." should post their full name, place of training or experience if appropriate,and their city of residence. That was we can check to see if you really exist and do you have the credentials
You make a good point Mr. Janke. I do agree that folks need to be very careful when discussing the vocal talents of a 12 year old. However, this so called behavior seems to be coming from your side as well.
I also want to be clear, I believe Jackie is quite talented. I think many in here who are not huge fans of her style of music certainly respect her talent.
I am going to be dramatic just to make a point.
CER so you see sides, not right and wrong, not good and evil.
Those who have been attacking Jackie and her family for more than two years are not only wrong they are Evil.
Many of Jackie's fans are parents and grandparents, and as such in general do not stand by allowing a group of evil people to attack a child without trying to protect her. If that is the behavior you hold against Jackie fans, so be it.
If you can not see which, as you call it, "side" is in the right, then you should be ashamed of yourself. But of course if you are one of them you have no shame.
You also make some good points CER. Perhaps my criticism of you was too quick. My real objection is to Maren's original blog which makes the unfortunate mistake of making very presumptuous and inappropriate comments about Jackie and her family, including calling Jackie a "fraud." Concern for Jackie is entirely appropriate since, anyone who appreciates her music and Jackie as a human being wants her to have a long and happy life and a long and successful career, the first being the most important. If that is your concern, then you are right. Maren, however, goes over the line with a number of her comments and with the general tenor and tone of the blog. Frankly, it makes Maren look very bad and very immature and, as I suggested earlier, Maren would be very well advised to simply delete the blog from the web.
Time to remove this dead-end, search-engine snagging thread. Only time will tell. But I wish I could have purchased just one share of "Evancho, Unltd."
David Foster, her first producer, has been in the music business for 45 years. He says in all his years in the business he has only ever met perhaps one other person who knows as much about music as Jackie Evancho. She is not 'imitating' anyone or anything. She is an original, she is herslf, she is an unique talent. In addition, Jackie Evancho can afford, and has, the best teachers and the best throat specialists available anywhere. They disagree fundamentally and completely with your condemnation of her abilities and her potential longevity.
Beyond that, to criticize the CONTENT of the aria, Nessun Dorma, that she used to sing once in a long while to demonstrate her power and purity, is just silly. Do you honestly think anyone sings that aria in isolation for the WORDS? And to imply that she doesn't even know what the words mean is condescending. Jackie conceived of her entire career herself from the beginning. She knew how to act in public and on camera from the age of ten. She decided and decides herself how much to expose her talent and her appearances, balanced with home life, schooling, rest, training. All of which irrefutably indicates an IQ of at least 150, so don't underestimate her knowledge or her sophistication.
Jackie herself makes very clear that she is not and has no intention of ever being an 'opera singer'. She points out quite correctly that she is a classical crossover singer, which is what her voice is naturally made for.
i agree with EVERYTHING you have said. There are a lot of nasty comments from people on here……why are people like that ?
The more I think about it, the more I understand why you would 'not like Jackie Evancho'. After all, she is still only a child and has made herself a multi-millionnaire through her own talents and hard work. She likely makes more in one appearance than you, Maren Montalbano, have made in your entire musical career. I listened to some of your singing on the 'net and note that while your technical skills are merely competent and unremarkable, Ms. Evancho is a bona fide musical genius, with a deeper understanding of music than you or any of your nose-in-the-air effetes will ever even contemplate. A 'fraud', you call her? Don't you just wish. She's raking in millions and the admiration of the world while you can only stand on the sidelines and carp. It's a good thing you and your ilk don't get a vote on what she does with her own God-given talents. Buh-bye.
I have to agree with this last comment a bit. It's pretty easy and pretty petty to be critical as you have been here. Each artist has their progression in skill. Yes she shook in her chin a bit but to compare that to Charlotte Church is insane. Also if you were to update some now and watched her perform you will see and should revise that this 'wobbling' has stabilized. I see this as an adaptive stress process as any child moving into adulthood physically. Why analyze a gift that a child can give to the world like this. It speaks more of you than of her progression as an artist. Also you might want to revise what you say with regard to manipulation by her parents. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
Maren do yourself a favor and delete this posting.
You have worked hard for a long time and you have earned your place as an opera singer. Do you really believe this article reflects positively on you, as a person or as an artist. You say that at 11 years of age Jackie is well-behaved and knows how to conduct herself, so as an adult you must know how to behave and conduct yourself in public.
Bulling an 11 year old is not the way to go, reguardless how many sales ladies call Jackie an opera singer.
Your 'concerns' for her well being have been addressed and are looked after by a team of professionals. And there is no family more loving and caring than the whole Evancho clan.
If you still have any doubt of this after all this time, then it is only because you are not interested in learning the truth.
Maren, look at your closing statement; "By exalting the mimicry that Jackie Evancho produces, we negate all the years of training and experience people like me go through to produce a legitimately natural sound. Jackie isn’t the first of her kind, nor will she be the last. But I sure wish NPR and PBS wouldn’t showcase her."
So according to you it takes years of training and experence to produce a "legitimately" natural sound???
Really???
Taken from The Oxford Dictionary;
Definition of natural
NOUN
1 a person regarded as having an innate gift or talent for a particular task or activity: she was a natural for the sort of television work required of her
ADJECTIVE
2 of or in agreement with the character or makeup of, or circumstances surrounding, someone or something: sharks have no natural enemies
•
[attributive] (of a person) born with a particular skill, quality, or ability: he was a natural entertainer
•
(of a skill, quality, or ability) coming instinctively to a person; innate
•
(of a person or their behavior) relaxed and unaffected; spontaneous:
So who is actually singing Naturally? The opera singers or Jackie???
Maren, take this blog down. It is truly disgusting, and nothing more than a testament to pettiness, jealousy and immaturity. It was a mistake when you posted it two years ago. Now, it only makes you the look like a pathetic fool.
Maren in my earlier comment I did not address this part of your comment, "Jackie isn't the first of her kind, nor will she be the last. But I sure wish NPR and PBS wouldn't showcase her."
It is true Jackie is not the first of her kind, but she is the first in 150 years, and there will not be another like her for another 100 or so years. After watching several of your videos I can honestly state that you are not the first of your kind, people with the skills to study and learn to sing like you, and better than you, Are Born Every Minute of Ever Day.
And of coures you wish NPR and PBS wouldn't showcase her, because you are a very jealous, immature, small minded, insecure, pathetic excuse of a professional opera singer.
Delete your sick article.
Maren
In respond to your statement "Jackie isn't the first of her kind, nor will she be the last. But I sure wish NPR and PBS wouldn't showcase her."
True Jackie is not the first of her kind, but she is the first in 150 years, and there will not be another like her for another 100 years or so. After listening to several of your video clips I can say in all honesty that you are most certainly not the first of your kind, in fact people with the skills needed to study and train to be able to sing like you, as well as better than you, are born Every Minute of Every Day.
And of course you wish NPR and PBS would not showcase Jackie, because you are a small minded, jealous, insecure excuse for a profession opera singer.
Delete your sick article.
Maren
In respond to your statement "Jackie isn't the first of her kind, nor will she be the last. But I sure wish NPR and PBS wouldn't showcase her."
True Jackie is not the first of her kind, but she is the first in 150 years, and there will not be another like her for another 100 years or so. After listening to several of your video clips I can say in all honesty that you are most certainly not the first of your kind, in fact people with the skills needed to study and train to be able to sing like you, as well as better than you, are born Every Minute of Every Day.
And of course you wish NPR and PBS would not showcase Jackie, because you are a small minded, jealous, insecure excuse for a profession opera singer.
Delete your sick article.
Troll
Maren do want to be thought of as an Opera singer, or as a Troll. You should delete this garbage.
Evil woman
Maren like you, by far the largest group attacking this small child are connected in some way to the classical/opera crowd. They are; students, classical/opera singers{struggling or failed}, classical/opera voice teachers{those who can't}, and classical/opera critics{many are the critics, few are the artist}. But they are a very small group within the classical/opera crowd.
Because many of Jackie Evancho's fans and supporters are connected in some way to the classical/opera, but the difference is they are the successful members of the classical/opera crowd.
Maren you have something in common with two of Jackie Evancho's relatively resent fans, the three of you are opera singers. Maybe you know them. They are Sumi Jo and Dmitry Hvorostovsky. Also Dmitry is not supportive of child prodigies generally speaking{which had included Jackie}. Sumi, Dmitry, and Jackie performed together in St.Petersburg, Russia at the 'Bouquet of Opera' for the opening of the Russian International Economic Forum. But after witnessing Jackies talent first hand, she completely won him over, he was giving her hugs, and sending her back on stage after she sang to take more bows. Looked like uncle Dmitry. And Sumi Jo was so taken with Jackie after their duet together, she made several comments on her twitter account praising Jackie's talen and the beauty of her voice, and how Jackie gave her goosebumps. Sarah Hicks love her to.
Do yourself a favor, and take down this disgusting blog, Maren. It only makes you look like a jealous dufus. Maybe that's what you are, but you could show otherwise if you simply take this pathetic, inappopriate blog off of the web. As someone above queried, are you a whining toad, or are you an opera singer?
I don't like it at all. When I first heard her, I thought she was lip synching. The majority of songs she sings do not suit her at all and it is painful to watch her singing songs that would even be inappropriate for a teen age girl. The duet with Barbra Streisand was not good. Professional singing voices must be nurtured and pampered; a daunting task and job for even adult professional performers.
She wasn't, Gina, that's false information that was dispelled almost three years ago. Sorry for your pain, but she sings better and is a far more sophisticated performer than nearly every professional adult singer out there, so your faux concern is misplaced. You're entitled to your opinion, of course, but you certainly sound like a very sad and unhappy person.
"…but she sings better and is a far more sophisticated performer than nearly every professional adult singer out there"…a truly over the top statement. Jackie is talented, but there are many adult performers that are incredibly sophisticated and talented as well.
Come on guys, don't over do it!
cer Thanks for informing us of the existence of adult performers that are incredibly sophisticated and talented. We will include this new data in our evaluation of Ms Evancho. Based on all information, and evidence presented upto this point in history, facts only. Ms Evancho is the Best of the best. She has the purest, most beautiful voice in all of recorded history. Her ability to strike an emotional connection with her listeners is second to none. She is an international phenomenon who was born to sing. Gifted with musical genius that is unique. I could go on, but why should I. Facts are facts, but you can believe as you wish. I over this for your listening enjoyment. _http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLDkSr38BhU
Calm down CER. I think that both of our statements are true, and certainly not over the top. I agree with your observation and stand by mine as well.
Why is this blog still posted? Maren is either one of the dumbest people alive, or she finds it impossible to control her jealousy and dislike of an extraordinarily talented artist. What a shame and embarassment for Maren. One might think Maren would want to be known for what talent she has but, instead, Maren is reviled on the web as vicious, bitter and hopelessly out of touch. Truly pitiful.
Jealous much? all you Jackie critics? Fact is, REAL music does NOT come from technical manipulations, ability, studies and understanding, but from the heart and the soul. And that's exactly what Jackie does and has and Y'ALL jealous operatic cripples cannot understand, and are therefor so jealous of and p'd off about. All I can say to you is, hahahaaaa, it-all-don't-matter-none! Your opinions, anger, jealousy, mediocre talents, etc really does not matter to us, the very appreciative audience of this little girl's spectacularly extraordinary NATURAAAAAAAL! TALENT! Something you gals(meow!) NEVER possessed and never will. And besides that, she is so gracious, generous, charming, kind and warmhearted, all the things you bitter lot do no have a farthing's arse's clue how to be. If I were you, I'd just be hanging my head in shame at being the very little people you are, forced into eternal obscurity by the internal beauty, intelligence, charm, grace, kindness ant huge talent of a small girl who loves what she does so well, loves sharing it with us and does it with so much Grace and obvious Joy. We Love you Jackie! Keep doing what you do so beautifully, and just don't look at, or listen to this low ugliness here, it's not worth your time or talent.
I too have a concern that she could well be harming her voice be imitating an adult vocalization,but the fact that she seems to be able to be on point and pitch with such ease gives me some reassurance,I am not aware of (the trembling lip )problem,though i am sure i have seen a few trained opera singers with a slight tremmer.The point i wish to make is, she is a truly gifted child with such natural grace and charm and is setting a beautiful example for our children to follow.She is a shining light of innocence and beauty,she has a noble spirit and artless grace that other young and gifted singers did not have.there is something very special about this child that touches the heart and soul which is greater than some of the parts.she brings JOY wherever she goes.Long may she do so.
Still the discussion about "harming her voice" and "Imitating an adult vocalization"? This is the problem when someone comes from outside the box – folks who can't or refuse to see outside of the box keep trying to shove that someone back inside of it "where everyone belongs" – back into the comfort zone.
Jackie doesn't imitate anyone. She sings how she sings. That her voice is comfortable in singing classical-crossover style music instead of rock, pop, or country is a quirk of genetics. That she is an autodidact, and is able to sing what she does (and sing it well) at such a young age, with minimal formal training, puts her even farther isolated on her unique spot on the bell-shaped curve – and an open target for those who insist that what she does is just not proper, possible, or even allowable! The creativity of her critics knows no bounds: "she's lip-synching!"; "her voice will be ruined!"; "she should be at home playing with her friends!"; "her parents are exploiting her"; "she sings with a microphone!"; "the music she sings is improper for her age!"; "her voice is a product of manipulation"; "she hasn't paid her dues and suffered like…!"; "she has no PROPER training!" and so on, ad nauseum. Good grief! But such is the way society treats the unique among us.
All you have to do with Jackie is to close your eyes and LISTEN. She is 99.9% pitch perfect. Her voice is full and rich in her low range, and sweet and pure on the high end. Her timing and phrasing are deliciously behind the beat. The speed and depth of her vibrato varies with the piece that she's singing. Her lungs are still not fully developed, and the normal changes that occur with adolescence have begun, but she is adapting well. Her voice is richer than ever, and her upper range better than ever (watch the video connected to the Las Vegas Sun link at the bottom)
See her perform live. She feels what she sings, and conveys that to an audience better than any other performer that I have ever experienced. 16 time Grammy winner David Foster felt the same way when he crossed company lines to produce her "Dream With Me" album and PBS Great Performances special. He also invited her to perform in his "Hitman Returns" special, "David Foster & Friends" in the U.S. and Japan, and again with just David Foster and Jackie at the Mandalay Bay. Jackie was invited back to Japan twice, a year apart, where she performed at the grand re-opening of Bunkamura Orchard Hall with the Youmiuri Nipipon Symphony Orchestra in a program titled "Symphony Meets Broadway", followed the next day in the same venue in a solo concert with the Tokyo Philharmonic. She was invited back in 2012 to perform in the "Peace-Arch Memorial Concert" in Hiroshima, followed by a return solo concert at Bunkamura Orchard Hall again with the Tokyo Philharmonic. She was also invited to perform for the Japanese Royal family, and on Japanese television.
(continued on next comment)
She has performed for the David Foster Medical Foundation in Toronto, Chefs for Seals (as part of the Humane Society of the U.S.'s efforts to stop the slaughter of baby seals), twice (and perhaps a third time-not confirmed yet) for Muhammad Ali's CelebrityFightNight Parkinson's Disease Charity Gala. She's performed for President Obama at the National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony, and again at the National Prayer Breakfast and Dinner.
Maestro John Mario Di Costanzo, who also is a noted coach of Italian opera, has been Jackie's accompanying conductor for both her "Dream With Me", and "Songs From The Silver Screen" concert tours. He could have stopped after the first one if he felt that touring with Jackie would adversely affect his reputation. Obviously he didn't.
Russian tenor Dimitriy Hvorostovski, who was publicly dismissive of Jackie prior to their "Bouquet of Opera" concert (in front of an audience of 100,000 in Palace Square, St. Petersburg, Russia), was hugging her, and throwing her back on-stage to take a second bow during the concert (where she sang solo, and also sang a duet with Soprano Sumi Jo). The audience loved her.
On May 31st, Jackie (for a second time) shares the billing with music icon Tony Bennett at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Alpharetta, Georgia. Jackie will be accompanied by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (also for a second time).
Are you DoubtingThomases perhaps seeing a pattern here? Well, here's one more example for you to consider:
Cirque du Solei's seven shows in Las Vegas are all going dark on March 22nd to put on one very special show: "One Night for ONE DROP" in the "O" Theater at the Bellagio. Their website: http://www.onedrop.org/en/default.aspx
("ONE DROP" is Cirque founder Guy Laliberté's foundation established with the purpose of ensuring that clean and safe fresh water is accessible to all people everywhere, forever.)
This one-time gala benefit event will be incorporating 227 of Cirque's performers, and will be a culmination of an entire week of associated events in and around Las Vegas. 12 cameras will be recording it, and a 90 minute program will be broadcast streaming the week after (with hopefully a television and/or DVD/Blu-ray disc to follow).
The event committee is made up of: Prince Albert II, of Monaco, President and CEO of Cirque du Soleil Daniel Lamarre, Director/Writer/Producer James Cameron, Chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts James Murren, and Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Tom Staggs.
Out of all of the thousands of talented entertainers outside of the Cirque sphere that might have been invited by those responsible to participate in this amazing event, their choice for the sole musical performer is: Jackie Evancho.
Have a look here:
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2013/mar/11/photo…
Perhaps a few of you will take a peek outside of the box. Or not.
I did forget one other little item: Robert Redford watched Jackie's Great Performances "Dream With Me – In Concert" special on PBS.in 2011. He made inquiries, had her audition, and cast her as "Isabel Grant", the daughter of his lead character "Jim Grant" in his latest motion picture "The Company You Keep", due for U.S. release on April 5th.
Th very first time I heard Jackie, I was astounded. I couldn't believe that was a child of 11 singing. My next thought was, "Will her voice change as she grows into adulthood?" I don't know if singing the way she does at her young age will harm her vocal chords because I am neither a doctor or an opera singer. I just remember Charlotte Church who amazed me with her voice and what happened to her and I don't want it to happen to another talented, exceptional child.
How sad for a child to be taken such of advantage of for the sake of the money that she can make for those surrounding her. How do you think her sound would be without that echo chamber mike? She isdefinitely not an opera singer.
No, Jackie Evancho is not an opera singer, and has publicly and adamantly denied being an opera singer on numerous occasions. She is a classical-crossover singer. She uses a microphone.
She is also not, nor will ever be Charlotte Church. Or anyone else.
She has not had years of rigorous musical training. She is a young lady born with the music inside of her. How she interprets and expresses that music comes from within her – not from the narrow confines of what someone has taught her "how it should be".
"How do you think her sound would be without that echo chamber mike?" How small of you.
Here she is singing for National Public Radio in a program titled "Tiny Desk Concert", recorded in their office almost two years ago. Microphone, simple mixer, recorder. Jackie is accompanied by Michael Baitzer, Julliard opera coach and chorus master on keyboard:
http://www.npr.org/2011/05/23/136336310/jackie-ev…
"How sad for a child to be taken such of advantage…"
You can only write something like that out of ignorance, jealousy, or both. She's having the time of her life! She's living her dream singing for audiences from Japan to St. Petersburg, Russia. She sings on her concert tours accompanied by symphony orchestras. This Friday March 22nd, she sings in "One Night for ONE DROP", Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberté's charity benefit gala in the "O" Theater at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, where she's hanging starting 30 meters above the stage, and performing at 10 meters:
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2013/mar/11/photo…
You think that this is "sad" and that she is being "taken advantage of"? Singing with Tony Bennett, the Canadian Tenors, having two of her own PBS Great Performances concert specials? Being asked for, and cast by Robert Redford to play is daughter in his latest movie? Having 16-time Grammy award winning producer/songwriter/performer David Foster take her under his wing? Singing in St. Petersburg with tenor Dimitriy Hvorostovsky and soprano Sumi Jo in front of 100,000 people? Becoming a spokesperson for the Humane Society of the U.S.? The list is much longer. She is obviously impressing important people inside and outside of the music and entertainment industry with her performances, stage presence, and professionalism. She is repeatedly invited back to perform again.
What is sad is the number of small-minded miserable people who would rather stuff her into a box that they are comfortable with, and deny her this incredible journey that she is following. You should be ashamed of yourselves! Look in the mirror, and then go find some other small creature to kick at.
Listen M.F., aka Maria Forschina, Ms Jacqueline Marie Evancho has stated many, many times that she is not an opera singer. She is a Classical Crossover artist, and is considered by most, if not all, to have the purest, most beautiful voice in recorded history. Dmitri Hvorostovsky, who IS a top tier world class opera mega star, when questioned by the press about Ms Evancho's duet with Sumi Jo, at the "Bouquet of Opera" in St. Petersburg, Russia, repeated one word in English twice, to make sure he would not be misquoted, "Excellence…Excellence"
That you seem to believe anyone, other than small minded fools like Ms Montalbano and yourself, cares what you think is absurd.
Here is a video of Ms Evancho at age 8, just a few short months after she desided she wanted to sing.
I wish you could enjoy it, but that is very unlikely, unless you have had a complete personality makeover since you posted this comment. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quycUbq5Uy4
Watch this you bitter, small minded, opera star.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qw7e_qvPgks
Watch this you small minded, blackhearted, ugly soul, bitter 'opera diva'. Stop being a baby feeling sorrow for yourself. Count your blessing, be thankful for what you have, do not try to belittle those who are better than you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLDkSr38BhU
Jay you sound like a Dick
For Maren Montalbano and other opera snobs here:
Jackie appearing with Jose Carreras in Taiwan in April … http://josepcarreras-tenor.blogspot.com/p/schedul…
Opera singer? Maren Montalbano is the fraud.
Lina, very well said. I am not a singer or musician of any sort, but like most people, I enjoy music. I listen to what moves me. Jackie moves me, but some singers with "correct technique" simply do not appeal to me.
There may well be some risk to her voice in singing the way she sings now – I am no judge of that. But at the same time I think it would be harmful to force this gifted girl to sing simple little ditties until she is deemed mature enough by the establishment for arias, just as it would be harmful to prohibit a mathematical prodigy from studying calculus until high school, if he wanted to do learn it in elementary school.
Let gifted children soar if they want to. Dumbing them down to age appropriate activity can break their spirit and result in disinterest and disengagement.
I used to be a musician. in the beginning i enjoyed music so much. i could listen to our instruments play and perfect chords all day. My love for music made me so enthusiastic and i became very good very quickly, technically. as I progressed i never guessed this would become a problem rather than an advantage. But as I played under overstressed conductors who would care only for technicality, and I got better at nitpicking and hearing everything separately until eventually that's all I could do, I couldn't hear the music in our music anymore. Also the end result often sounded worse to me somehow… unenjoyable… when I pursued perfectly correct technique. I eventually quit being a musician. why be a musician when you don't enjoy the sounds?This author, this professional singer and all the other educated singers may have years of training and may be correct, technically, but theres a reason people aren't phenomenally moved by her singing but are by Jackie's. in the end music is never about what's technically correct, it's about hearing something that awakens your senses and opens your soul to all the emotions we can humanly feel. Before she was ever trained ive listened to Jackie singing, and her singing a single note can bring such strong emotions and tears to my eyes before I even realize it. It Is a gift and an honor for her to allow me to experience such a phenomenon. Does it require her to be a trained opera singer?her singing is beautiful no matter what it's "called" or what genre it falls into and I'd rather listen to something that brings tears to my eyes than something that is technically correct any day. And that's what I'm doing. I listen for hours and it's pure joy the emotions I feel just listening. that's what music is about and that's only what you can hope to do as a musician. Can all you educated musicians do that?? That's what being a musician means… It's not about being technical mathematical or scientific. Thank you jackie evancho for sharing your music with us. No matter what this blog author says, she will never be remembered as someone whose singing touched millions. She will probably be forgotten within a very short time period as someone who hated on the little girl with a gift that could do just that no matter if she's singing a Christmas carol or crossover or if she one day does decide to sing "real" opera … Jackie has it.
About the vocal cords… Not a singer but apparently there's much evidence of children who turn out to be ok. She has a lot of support and seems terribly smart and grounded. either way its obvious she wants to sing. How can you stop her or hold her back? shes going to do it and i pray that she comes out ok, but either way shes doing what she wants to do now. And lastly, prodigies can't be expected to go by the book anyway, I imagine they are why the books are written..
Lina, very well said. I am not a singer or musician of any sort, but like most people, I enjoy music. I listen to what moves me. Jackie moves me, but some singers with "correct technique" simply do not appeal to me.
There may well be some risk to her voice in singing the way she sings now – I am no judge of that. But at the same time I think it would be harmful to force this gifted girl to sing simple little ditties until she is deemed mature enough by the establishment for arias, just as it would be harmful to prohibit a mathematical prodigy from studying calculus until high school, if he wanted to do learn it in elementary school.
Let gifted children soar if they want to. Dumbing them down to age appropriate activity can break their spirit and result in disinterest and disengagement.
This blog to me is just a vent for all of your jealousy, get over yourself.
Maren Montalbano, this is a truly offensive, disgusting blog. Shame on you.
This blog is totally wrong. What is the problem with Maren Montalbano? If she wants to be seen as an opera singer and a creative contributor, what on earth would cause her to write such an offensive and disgusting blog? Maren is wrong on every aspect of her posting, particularly on the facts, which she appears to know nothing about. As Maren Montalbano has the temerity to assert in her post, who is the "fraud" here? The obvious answer is Maren herself. As Maren also makes the mistake of questioning in her post, who is the singer of little talent here? Again, the obvious answer is Maren herself. So, why would she have posted this offensive blog in the first place, and why does she leave it on the web? She clearly intends to harm others, the subject of her post most specifically. It also would appear that she (at least originally) hoped to elevate herself. In that regard, obviously, her post has been disastrous for her. Perhaps the little world she lives in is just a very dark place which she has no perspective out of. If that is true, one can only hope that someone who knows Maren Montalbano will help open her eyes, let her know what a catastrophe for her this disgusting blog is, and strongly encourage her to take it down as quickly as she can.
All I can say is… I agree -_- The voice DOES take time to mature and I do think it's worrisome about that lip wobbling. At least she should slow down her process a little? But the thing that annoys me most is something that someone said in another comment. They said the lines between child and adult woman are becoming blurred. JESUS! Jackie is NOT lovely… or cute… IN A NATURAL WAY!!! She's putting on an act and if you are right about the voice, she is IMITATING the lovely adult women like Sarah Brightman. Why can't she wait to grow up? Like Connie Talbot? Her voice would be so much beautiful and not to mention, HEALTHIER if she took the time to GROW into it! Her acting as "lovely" … sometimes I wonder whether that is REALLY jackie evancho ugh.. it annoys me really. JUST BE A 11 year old! If you are an 11 year old with a big voice, you don't have to do that weird smiling thing and lovely hair tossing! YOU HAVE TIME FOR THAT WHEN YOU GROW UP! Enjoy being a kid! My God! -_- T_T UGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow. What a strange and sad post. And so very wrong. Enjoy your day.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qw7e_qvPgks
Almost two years ago. In NPR's Music office. A microphone, simple mixer, recorder. Jackie is accompanied on keyboard by Julliard opera coach and chorus master Michael Baitzer:
http://www.npr.org/2011/05/23/136336310/jackie-ev…
This is some of what this "unnatural imitator" as you have called her, has been, and will be doing:
On April 20th, Jackie will be singing in Taiwan – having been invited to share the stage by none other than José Carreras (of the Three Tenors).
Last summer Jackie performed in St. Petersburg, Russia with tenor Dimitri Hvorostovsky, soprano Sumi Jo, and Sara Hicks conducting in front of 100,000 in Palace Square.
She will perform (for a second time) with Tony Bennett on May 31st in Alpharetta, Georgia.
She has performed solo concerts (a year apart) in Bunkamura Orchard Hall accompanied by the Tokyo Philharmonic. She also performed at the Hiroshima Peace-Arch Memorial Concert and for the Japanese Royal Family.
She performed last March 22nd in "One Night for ONE DROP", a charity gala event to support Cirque du Soleil founder Gil Laliberté's ONE DROP Foundation. All seven Cirque shows were dark on a Friday, with all of the casts supporting this show. Jackie was the only vocalist invited to perform.
16-time Grammy Award producer David Foster has taken Jackie on his "David Foster and Friends" tour. He crossed company lines to produce her "Dream With Me" album and the first of her two PBS Great Performances concerts. He also shared the stage with her (and special guest Kenny G) in their joint concert at the Mandalay Bay Arena in Las Vegas.
Maestro John Mario Di Costanzo (who also coaches Italian opera repertoire) is Jackie's orchestra conductor for her concert tours. On all of her tour concert performances are accompanied by symphony orchestra.
(continued next post)
She's appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno four times. Twice on Oprah (including performing in the finale show), and repeatedly on a string of other news and talk shows.
Robert Redford was having problems casting his lead character's daughter in his latest movie "The Company You Keep". Here's his story as related at a press conference in New York April 1st. Jackie is asked the question first:
Interviewer Annette Insdorf: Jackie, you're a newcomer among these acting veterans. Your background is singing–since 2009, you're recorded at least five albums, including one platinum and one gold, with three Billboard 100 top-ten debuts. In 2010, you competed on America's Got Talent and finished second. I'm curious, what led you to acting?
RR: Let me do the lead, because it's a wonderful story. I was in Vancouver getting ready to film in a few days, and I couldn't find a young actress to play my character's 11-year-old daughter. I was flustered in the interview process, because I was interviewing girls who were lovely, and fine, and their mothers were dressed like they wanted a part in the movie, too. I like kids to just be and these kids were too busy acting. I was sitting in a hotel room, depressed, mindlessly surfing the channels although I don't watch much television, and suddenly boom. There's this vision on the screen, an angelic creature who was 11-years-old. I said wait a minute, what's this? She's singing Puccini. How does that work? So the camera pulls back, and there's this huge orchestra in a symphony hall, and this creature standing there is just belting this music out,; it was so powerful. I said somebody who has that composure, who can do that in front of that kind of an audience, with that kind of register, that kind of complexity, maybe that's the one. So I contacted our casting person, and they found out she was in Pittsburgh. They went there and sent back a tape of her. It was clear that she didn't know what was going on, but I thought there was something and decided to take this chance. She was hired on Tuesday and we filmed on Wednesday, the first day I met her. We had fun together, improvised together, and I can only tell you that from that point on I figured I am one lucky man, because she turned out to be absolutely lovely. I ended up the beneficiary of risk-taking.
Jackie Evancho: All I can say is that I'm extremely honored to have had the chance to actually act with you guys, I was really, really excited that I got the role, and I really had a lot of fun. So thank you.
AI: Were you nervous the first day?
JE: I was extremely nervous, I didn't know what to think.
RR: She was nervous, but she was so busy having fun that it disguised her nervousness.
AI: Jackie, did you know the name Robert Redford, and had you seen any of his films?
JE: My dad always talked about him with his brothers, so I knew the name, but I wasn't very familiar with it. The only thing that I knew was that my dad told me he played a cowboy. That's all I knew!
(continued on next post)
Jackie lives in a nice, semi-rural suburban house with married parents, three siblings (one of each of which accompany her to all of her performances), and large extended family. There are a wide variety of pets, and the normal assortment of kid's activity equipment (bicycles, trampoline, pool, etc.). For her birthday she wanted a "dirt bike". Last year she got 100 stitches in her leg from a cut she got while playing "Air Soft" with her brother. She does online school because of her touring, and is doing excellent work. The family takes vacations going to the beach, fishing, amusement parks — you name it. They all dress-up for Halloween. If this doesn't fit squarely into the "NORMAL" category, I don't know what does. Just what is your learned definition?
You attack her for smiling? Hair tossing? Perhaps she doesn't sit in a chair properly for you, either. She smiles because she's a happy kid living her dream and having a blast. And you go on to write that she is "NOT lovely… or cute… IN A NATURAL WAY!!!". That's obviously why Paul Marciano of GUESS® invited her to model for GUESS KIDS®. And why Robert Redford cast her as a plausible sibling for Brit Marling in addition to his many other reasons. As with your take on "NORMAL", you have failed in providing your definition of "NATURAL".
"IMITATING" and "putting on an act". Good grief! She can only sing how she sings. She sounds like no one else, and no one else sounds like her. Robert Redford cast her over all of the others he had auditioned *precisely* because she wasn't "acting". In one of his other interviews he stated that "she was real, and human". And "lovely". Be annoyed. Google "Redford and Evancho", and be more annoyed.
Why is it that so many important and talented people in the music and entertainment industry internationally (and who should seemingly know better) don't see the fakery and fraud that you, this blog's owner, and a few other kind souls posting here do? It is a rhetorical question.
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Thank you for this fascinating blog and conversation… If I may jump in…..
I only heard one song from Jackie via an e-mail link: the ‘To Believe’ song. While it did grab my heart, I quickly noticed her deep voice – I found it odd.
Reading through all the posts here, I pondered on how the beauty of human sound channels in the higher dimensional frequencies into our materialistic Reality (some call it god).
While most adult men would never open their cold hearts hearing a mature adult woman sing (or talk), their hearts simply melt over the voice AND view of a 12 yr-old girl singing tear-jerking ‘operas’. The music industry genre created just for this phenomenon knows this very well and exploits it to the fullest extent.
Jackie will have a great career, not hard to predict that. She will make millions (mostly, for the industry), some for her parents, some for herself and she will live happily ever after.
My musing is only with the message of her performances: as she captures millions – their hearts are opening to the wonderful promise: to live in peace and harmony, loving one another, no poverty, wars, etc…
While this enchanting message comes though such genre of music, it seems the music industry just uses it to make money off the masses longing for a better world. This, to me, is the real tragedy. By allowing to release the for living in a better world in a song will satisfy the masses: they had a good cry, now they can go home to their slave lives.
And the song goes on and on…
Thank you for taking the time reading this. Blessings to Jackie and to us, ALL ~.~
As a singer with years of classical vocal lessons in high school and almost three years of collegiate study, I have a serious problem with what you wrote. To diminish the (said) natural talent of this girl is an outrage. I have been to operas, symphonies, and concerts and there is one common theme, empty seats. Not only do you see a lack of attendance, but most people today would be unable to name one great opera star. I recently went to see Dmitri Hvorostovsky in concert. It was definitely not a sold out crowd! I also went to see Jonas Kaufmann. Almost a quarter of the hall was empty. The people attending were of a more "mature" generation. There were a handful of young people.
What am I getting at? Although we may not like it, opera or more (I will generalize it) classical performances are dying out in popularity. When a girl like Jackie sings these beautiful works, it allows people to hear music that is fast losing support. I, going into the world that is opera music, applaud this girl for choosing to sing these beautiful songs in an innocent and lovely manner. Yeah, she chooses to sing in a different manner than many of us would like.
She sings beautifully. That type of talent can only come from God. Most of us could only dream of singing with the beauty and expression that she does. Please leave the chin quivering, voice, phsychological analysis, and worried observer remarks to her parents, the people God put in charge of that little girl.
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You're a sad bitter little person,I really feel sorry for you.
Who is this sicko Maren Montalbano? Doesn't she have someone who can explain to her what a totally idiotic blog this is . . . and to think that she has left it on the web for a couple of years now. What a black eye for opera fans, and a total embarrassment for her. Maren Montalbano of lilliputian talent has the bad taste and poor judgment to attack one of the most gifted singers ever. Of course, everything that Maren stupidly wrote in her fraudulent blog has been definitively proved to be laughably wrong. Maren's jealous tantrum only makes Maren look foolish and petty.
This blog does make a few things clear: Maren Montalbano is a fraud. Maren Montalbano is jealous. Maren Montalbano is bitter. Maren Montalbano is vicious. Maren Montalbano should not be writing blogs. Maren Montalbano should not be commenting on other singers. Maren Montalbano should comfort herself with her own very limited skills, and leave others out of her sad little world. Maren Montalbano needs to get a life. Maren Montalbano needs to grow up. It also makes clear that no one should feel sorry for Maren Montalbano because she is the cause of her own disgrace and shame.
Why has the moderator of this Tufts Roundtable Commons not removed Maren Montalbano's offensive blog from this site?
Ok I'm going to try and make sense of all the comments for and against Ms. Jackie and the reasons behind it all just for my piece of mind. So here I go…………
I'm not an opera singer, I'm not a Pop singer, or famous in any way. I look at this girl, Jackie, and see pure talent. There are a lot of comments about how her chin wobbles when she sings and the comments of how this comes from improper training and how it shows "stress or strain". Anyone ever watch other extremely talented singers, opera or pop, folk or country? A good number of them have "chin wobbling". Whitney Houston for example. I personally do not care for Whitney Houston (just an example) but she sang for years, was and is considered one of the most talented singers of all time, and her chin wobbled. How long has Jackie been singing? Do any of you posting comments know for a fact that she doesn't have a voice coach? Do you know for a fact that her singing is stressful or straining? I have been watching video after video of her singing and yes it is a little freaky that such a big voice is coming from such a young and little person. I have also notice that from the first video I watched of her from 2010, til now 2012, her voice only seems to have gotten better. Some people are just talented, from the get go, hence the word Prodigy!!!! It's weird to watch a 4 year old play classical piano like any older piano player like Liberace, their fingers don't even look long enough to spread over the range of the keys, but it was done.
I'm not saying anything negative against Maren, who self claims to be an "Opera Diva", I'm just wondering why you all seem so concerned about one little girl, who seems to be enjoying life, enjoying singing, and why you all just can't say, "Way to go Jackie!" You know, as in everyone else's life, famous or not, nothing lasts forever, sometimes you win and sometimes you don't, some become rich and some don't, but it's of no consequence to any of you what she does or doesn't do, how much money she or her parents have or make, if she sings for 5 years or 50. With the way the world is today or any day, nobody is guaranteed tomorrow, so be all you can be, do everything you can do, sing what you want and how you want. And last before I sign off here, Maren, you do come across as a little jealous, angry that you do not have the same attention, and just plain ridiculous that a little girl is possibly making money and you aren't.
I apologize for the few typos in the above message, but I think I made my point. Also the year should have been 2013, not 2012.
Great comment. I, too, have no experience singing, and I, too, have been watching youtube videos and have noticed that many, many singers have a chin wobble. Not sure why people are singling out Jackie Evancho.
Keeping it real simple – Jackie is one of the most gifted singers of all times. Maren is a jealous nobody. End of story.
I believe that prodigies are angels who come with a prior knowledge of their talents, else where would a 5 year old Mozart get the Mozart music he plays at 5 years of age? It affirms to be that there is a connection between generations of the past with generations of the present and for the future. As the same time, I buy the comments that this knowledge needs to be protected from vocal chords not yet seasoned. So, I do not believe that anything in our present bodies has come seasoned for such as we have seen on the stage by Jackie or anyone else.
Hello, You wrote this a long time ago – I just found it because a person in my choir sent out the Jackie Evancho -To Believe video – as a good thing – and after watching part of it I stopped it because I didn't think it was a good – or a natural – thing. I'm not a professional singer, I'm in a choir for the first time in my 60 years so I can't comment on the technical musical stuff. But I've been around plenty long enough to recognize when adults take advantage of children and saw that big time. David Foster (like me) is Canadian and I'm ashamed of him. Not only the soloist but the choir presented were there only to tug on heartstrings and make money for whoever. That young singer has a gift, but I'm not at all certain where it came from – heaven or a whole lot of training. Thank you for not going along with everyone who has nothing but good to say about an aberration. That emperor really has NO clothes!
Louise7iris, you must be kidding. Your post is totally inappropriate and misinformed. You should do a tiny bit of homework before piling on to a post as mean-spirited and offensive as this screed from Maren Montalbano. If you gave it a moment's thought, I don't believe you would want to cast your lot with someone as jealous, vicious and repulsive as Maren.
As a mother of two girls who enjoy singing and who admire Jackie immensely (as do I), I find this blog extremely offensive. Maren's comments are very ill-considered and seem to be made by an exceptionally envious and immature person. Maren's comments should never have gotten on the web, and she bears heavy responsibility for the harm she has caused by posting comments meant only to damage others. This blog must have a monitor who should take responsible action and ban Maren, or at least this truly offensive blog, from the site. I'm sure that I speak for many other mothers and aspiring young artists.
You are jealous, admit it. >:(
What nut-job wrote this blog? Jackie is an international superstar singer, a budding actor and model, and an incredibly sweet and generous person. So what possible basis could the no-talent moron who wrote this blog have for attacking her? Extreme envy and jealousy are the obvious answers, and also just plain old mean-spirited nastiness. It's a shame to see such a disgusting and inappropriate posting on the web, and the author should hang her head in shame.
Dear Maren,
I will not repeat a single word you have presented, for it is 100% correct. I started singing at the age of 5 and did so for the majority of my life, singing opera, oratorio, lieder, Broadway, etc., so I know what I state is true to fact. At 60 years of age, I can firmly attest to the fact that too many parents have and continue to give in to the money aspect and exploit their children, to the destruction of way too many young potential classical singers.
Those in this forum who think you speak out of jealousy or disdain, know nothing of what it takes to become a classically trained, mature singer of any genre. So, in short, ignore their comments and keep fighting the good fight.
Yours in spirit and experience,
Tom
Dear Tom,
You are a dunce.
Maren,
You are a jealous, pathetic, nobody who, like Tom, knows nothing of which you speak. Like Tom, you have besmirched your own name with bad intent and purpose.
In disdain of your offensive and mean spirit.
Brad
Brad,
There is nothing in either Maren's or my comments that would allude to jealousy or besmirching of this child's character or ability, so your comments lack both integrity and credence. It is quite obvious you know naught of what you speak!
And, if you cannot do anything more than name-call, please refrain from posting anything in this or any other forum on the web.
Thank you!
Tom,
Your comments are just incredibly uninformed and foolish.
Maren's comments exhibit nothing but jealousy and besmirching of an extraordinarily talented artist that deserves none of Maren's bitter spite. It's Maren who is guilty of name calling (read her posting again with your brain turned on this time if you didn't see that) and your piling on is what makes you seem like a dunce.
Prove me wrong about you and correct your earlier blog by recognizing how offensive and inappropriate Maren's blog is, in spirit and in fact.
This blog is a study in absurdity.
Here you have some local performer with limited ability criticizing one of the most gifted artists alive, who also happens to be an international superstar.
Maren whining about Jackie's talent and success is like a sign painter critiquing Picasso, a law ornament carver questioning Rodin, or an infomercial scriptwriter comparing themselves to Shakespeare. Face it Maren, you are a production line velvet painting (the kind people sell for ten dollars along the highway), while Jackie is the Mona Lisa.
This blog is a study in absurdity.
Here you have some local performer with limited ability criticizing one of the most gifted artists alive, who also happens to be an international superstar.
Maren whining about Jackie's talent and success is like a sign painter critiquing Picasso, a lawn ornament carver questioning Rodin, or an infomercial scriptwriter comparing themselves to Shakespeare. Face it Maren, you are a production line velvet painting (the kind people sell for ten dollars along the highway), while Jackie is the Mona Lisa.
why don't you worry about you and stop worrying about what an 11 year old girl is doing. the only reason you made this blog is because of what that woman said to you. stop acting like your 11 years old and move on….
I just want to mention something in response to what you said about voices maturing: I am 20 years old and people often comment on my "being so young". They often mistake me for a 12 year old. My face still has a young, innocent look to it, but the part that really gets them is my voice. I still have the voice of a little girl. I have a high pitched voice and when I sing, it is even more noticeable. Why can't a young girl's voice mature just the same way mine hasn't? (Maybe there is a scientific reason that I don't know of.) Just wondering….
I have always dreamed of using my talents to benefit the public. People have told me that I have a great voice and have even told me to put out CD's. Unfortunately, it won't happen for reasons I do not wish to make public. Jackie is a lovely, polite, sweet, and caring girl (notice her love for animals and will to help them). As a side, she is a beautiful girl with an incredible voice. If she wishes to spread happiness to others with her voice, then that's a very special thing and I see nothing wrong with it.
We are all given gifts and talents and they're given for us to use. However, we must not be jealous of other's gifts, talents, and strengths. It seems you have fallen into the hands of jealousy – I hope I'm wrong.
And by the way, if you have nothing nice to say, please don't.