Jackie Evancho makes the Saroyan swoon
Jackie Evancho made a lot of people happy Sunday night when she brought the most talked about 11-year-old voice in the nation to the Saroyan Theatre. “We love you, Jackie!” a person in the crowd called out in the midst of a standing ovation. “I love you, too!” the singer replied, and a woman sitting by me offered the contented sigh of someone whose lofty expectations from repeated listenings of Evancho’s CD were satisfied by seeing and hearing her live.
As for me, I was in the minority in the audience, for sure. Yes, I admire Evancho’s talent, and she has a sweet personality on stage. There were times in the program — particularly in her intense rendition of “The Lord’s Prayer” and in her trademark “O Mio Babbino Caro” — that I got a glimmer of why there’s been all the hoopla surrounding her rise to fame (first on “America’s Got Talent,” followed by a popular PBS special and the best-selling album “Dream With Me”) — namely that of pure, haunting, almost preternatural vocal presence. But in many of her songs at the Saroyan, I just didn’t connect. Her lower range sounded like a little girl trying to sing older than her years. Some of her higher notes, such as in the song “Nella Fantasia,” were a little less pure and resonant than I would have expected. And while I realize that many in the audience found her demeanor on stage unaffected and entrancing, to me her performance habits — which include breaking character before the ending of a song to smile and wave at the audience — detracted from the experience.
But that’s me. There’s no doubt Evancho has a warmth and sincerity that affects audiences.While there’s a lively ongoing debate in the music world about her career in the music world, she has legions of fans, and a lot of them were there Sunday night at the Saroyan. I’m glad they had such a good time.
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Pictured: Jackie Evancho sings with the Fresno Grand Opera orchestra, conducted by Bob Tweten, at the Saroyan Theatre. Photo: Carlos Camarena / The Fresno Bee
Responses to "Jackie Evancho makes the Saroyan swoon"
I am one of those loyal fans and I have read many reviews. The ones who are detractors are generally trying to garner some buzz about their review by being personally insulting to both Jackie and her fans. You have not done that and which is a respectful approach to journalism. You plainly stated that you did not connect and tried to explain why…it is just as difficult for us to explain why we do. As far as Jackie breaking character..she is 11 and gets excited when she thinks she’s done a good job and will get “claps”. Not sure what you were expecting there. It’s not always the bringer of the gift but how we receive it that determines the joy associated with it. It is unfortunate for you that you could not enjoy her music like everyone else, but thankyou for not making it personal toward her or her fans.
Yes, she provided a very good time for legions of people. She has a way about that. Perhaps those legions ought know a smile or wave before the end of a song may(should?) distract from their experience. On the other hand, they may be better off less they know. Ignorance is bliss!
psssst… psssst… I have a hunch they were born on the farm anyway!
Overall a fair review. Mr Munro was able to express his experience without denigrating the performance or the fans. Which is a whole lot more/classier than you can say about some big city writers.
►► As far as Mr. Munro’s review goes, that’s about as much as can be expected, after all, Jackie was performing at the Fresno Grand Opera. He chose not to expand on the point that Jackie has in abundance what every performer prays fervently for when their head hits the pillow every night… the intangibles. The unexplainable reasons why one performer is successful, and another is not.
Stop every concert goer and ask why they went out of their way to buy a ticket, get dressed up, and travel to the Saroyan to experience, in person, a magical performance by Jacqueline Evancho. What is it about this young lady that compelled them to be there that night… the answer will never be found in a critical review.
I think something should be noted about the point of Jackie “breaking character” before the end of a song. I wasn’t in attendance so I have no first hand on the event.
However if one is to watch the dozens of videos of her available on YouTube, it should be noted that Jackie almost always waits until the last note of an orchestra is played, and even until the last note of a CD she may be singing along with. I am amazed by how “into” the music she appears to be most often.
Most adult artist don’t wait for the last note to before breaking that smile or whatever.
Lets keep in mind Jackie’s numbers are not part of an opera, and that makes a difference in regard to staying in character.
Not sure it makes any who how anyway, as half the audience is clapping away and doing the bravo thing before the last vibration of a violin string. The appreciative audience draws that smile out of Jackie. Okay, she wouldn’t make a good poker player or border patrol agent. Fine by me.
I read your review of Jackie Evancho. Too bad you didn’t connect with her, because there are literally millions around the world that do connect with her. In my opinion, and millions of others, she is the greatest female vocalist of our time, so for you to “not connect” is your loss.
One more thing – Jackie Evancho has the most pure and resonant voice of any female vocalist alive today, and she will go on to become the greatest female vocalist ever.
Wow. The greatest female vocalist of our time? Not too sure about that one. I wasn’t at the performance, but I have heard her sing. She is very cute and has a pretty voice, but the greatest? Given, she is 11 years old and will mature vocally through the years, but you need a little more than a break on America’s Got Talent to be considered as the greatest female vocalist of all time. I’m sure that millions around the world have connected with her, but I’m sure they all did the same with Sanjaya from American Idol, too.
Jackie is first and foremost a perfomer, not a vocalist. What she loves is being on stage and recieving the applause of the public. Yes, she has a very beautiful voice and a recognizable talent, but what makes her really extraordinary is that at only 11 years old she has the confidence to sing for the President of the US not once but twice, as well as to sing the the Emperor’s family in Japan. Regardless of what you may think about her technique she can connect to people in the highest as well as the lowest of places, and she does it with confidence and humility. That is without a doubt her greatest gift.
I echo Ms. Manning’s sentiments above. I too am sorry that you weren’t able to “connect” with Jackie, but thank you for an honest and professional review. Whatever shortcomings anyone finds in her performances, I simply remind them that she is only 11 years old. Count me as a loyal fan.
Ok guys I love little Jackie singing also. As far as the article goes and the author of said article. Most everyone have been polite and courteous with him. Although a few comments have been pushing it a little. He was nice to Jackie lets everyone be the same toward him. Because he stated his opinion respect him as he did Jackie. Thank you Mr. Munro for this article I had not know she played at the Saroyan Theatre and the info was a appreciated……PS guys and gals you know a lot of other writers have been hard on Jackie.
I’m amazed at the amount of people who troll the Internet to support Jackie. I guess it’s not unlike the people who love David Archuleta or other “Idol” favorites. But still, that’s dedication. Props to all you guys, I suppose.
If she is first and foremost a performer, not a vocalist, then is she just a kid act? Will people still fill concert halls to hear her when she’s 17 and can’t get away with the cute kiddie stuff?
*** to me her performance habits — which include breaking character before the ending of a song to smile and wave at the audience — detracted from the experience.***
This statement had me wondering. What song would it have mattered if Jackie did this? Nella Fantasia? When You Wish Upon a Star? The Impossible Dream? What gives?
I felt if Mr Munro saw significance in this, I thought I owed it to myself to look into it.
What song would be impacted by this? After All most of Jackie’s numbers are of the light sort.
Unfortunately only 5 or 6 songs were available for me to view on video. That’s about half or half the concert. Yes, Jackie did smile a pinch before the last note of the orchestra and even waved in a number. Mr Munro only mentioned “a song”, one song, I assume that means.
All told the sum of Jackie dropping the ball (my words) in all the videos/5 or 6 songs was about 1 1/2 seconds. The crowd was long gone applauding by the time Jackie did this. Did the audiences applause distract from anybodies experience? Who knows?
Seriously, I’d like to know which song was spoiled by Jackie breaking from character.
For the time being, I’m going to view some videos of Fleming, Netrebko, Scotto, Battle, Tebaldi and other greats to see if they spoiled a paying customers evening by smiling too soon.
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I did not say that she was not a vocalist, merely that it was secondary to her ability as a performer. In answer to your question, I don’t know what the future holds for her but I believe and hope that she will continue in her journey and grow in both. Furthermore, I believe that her courage in singing in venues where many adult performers would have buckled under the pressure deserves respect.
How condescending of you.
I think this was a very kind article.
These tv talent acts do tend to attract internet warriors, don’t they! Well, good for her, I suppose.
I agree she has a very pretty voice, although I suspect much of her appeal is the fact that she’s a child. I hope that she’s able to transfer that appeal, and maintain her voice, as she gets older. She seems like a charming little girl.
I don’t think this is the type of act that a company said to “present world class opera” should be presenting, but I understand the reasoning.
Those who love and appreciate everything that makes Jackie who she is continue to outnumber those who don’t. These articles will never change my loyalty to her as a fan. David Foster has seen many performers in his career, and even he has
said Jackie’s gifts are extraordinary. Her fans love the smiles, the waves and laughing. Its not just the music its who she is that brings us back for more.
Mr. Munro, good thing we as a society take little to what critics say. It’s your opinion and you voiced it loud and clear. Those things that bothered you also bothered me, but the difference is that I have had kids and know that children do the craziest things. She is a little girl that’s been given an amazing voice. Her personality and charm is what wins people over. She doesn’t have to stand a certain way or be stiff and ridged while performing. Once again, she is a little girl. We need to give her some slack and not expect her to be perfect in her performances. It’s just amazing to hear such a gift from such a small little girl who is so adorable. I’m sure as she grows older, she can become ridged and stuffy while performing and then you can critique the performance. But for now, get a grip and relax. You are only one person and there are thousands that have enjoyed her performances
It must be hard to remain unbiased when you hear this little girl belting out songs that could intimidate a seasoned singer. It must also be hard to remain unbiased when you see her on that stage, micorphone in hand, pushing her hair out of her eyes and singing her heart out. She has such a clear voice, such an innocent and angelic presence that it’s hard to remember she is only 11 years old. To not be able to connect with that is truly a shame!!! Whether or not she is still around in ten years isn’t important, what is important is that she was here, in Fresno, and we were able to spend the evening with a sweet, talented little girl.
No, for real, I give you guys props for trolling the Internet as hard as you do. It’s not an easy thing to do.
Why do critics forget she is a kid? It’s because when she sings, she is an adult in there minds. Which is very confusing, when she stops singing and becomes the kid she is.
What a considerate and fair review! I recently followed a thread of comments about Jackie Evancho elsewhere on an arts bog and was stunned by the contempt shown toward her and her fans by the more strictly classical contributors. She was diminished as just another “moppet� and was said by one especially thoughtless reviewer to have brought to his mind “Jonbenet Ramsey�. Why would anyone make such an inappropriate and morbid reference?
Jackie Evancho’s avid fans were referred to disparagingly with such terminology as “the masses� or “the herd�. Their intelligence was routinely mocked. I wondered where the gentility and good taste were that one would have expected from this crowd. And the snobbery was pervasive. These formal and informal critics lived up to the most negative stereotypes possible of the classical genre, most especially opera. It is true irony that these classical critics demonstrated so little class. One would have thought otherwise.
At any rate, it is refreshing to see critical comments about Jackie expressed with honesty and consideration. Too many of Ms. Evancho’s critics took the cowardly and easy road of condescension and sarcasm. Mr. Munro, on the other hand, took the higher road of objectivity and decency. That was a reflection of character.
Most if not all of the true and real fans of Jackie who have followed her closely since her first performance on AGT would understand,unlike critic Munro, that her entire performance each and every time from the moment she first walks onto the stage for the particular evenings performance to when she is walks off is “her character” during all of the time she is on stage.
I understand what Munro was refering to but for her it is never a question of breaking character or not because she is just being an 11 year old girl doing what is natural for her and at all of her concerts the audiences embrace and love her for all that she does while on stage. If her smiling and giving a little wave before the final note of the song was something the audiences did not like or did not approve of I am sure that she would have been informed of it and would have eliminated it.
I suppose you’d know about trolling.
I saw Jackie’s performance in Fresno and had a smile on my face the entire evening and then some. I loved every moment of her performance and looking around the audience, most of the people there had that same smile on their faces as I had on mine. She brought me to a whole other place. She is a beautiful young performer who is extremely talented and so far seems to be untouched by all of this. I would love to see many adult performers who have her poise and confidence, to say nothing of extraordinary talent
I have been a professional musician (originally from Fresno) for 50 years now. To me, this little girl sings like an angel and her presence is wonderful and so is her intonation and phrasing. I dont care if she started bouncing a ball on stage during a song. She has what SO MANY DO NOT….a spiritual essence that comes across in her singing and moves me deeply and goes straight to my heart…just sayin
I was at the Saroyan Theater on Febuary 26th. She sang like an angel and I think her appeal is her sweet personality and the fact that she goes right to your heart. I hope to see her again.
I didn’t see any of the concert, but I have followed much of her music on Face book and have her CDs and DVDs. She is NOT singing in an Opera, but does sing some arias. Since she is not in character as a performer in Opera must be, she ought to be cut a little slack! Her demeanor is that of a young girl who has amazed many of us and has brought us to both smiles and tears. If she smiles at the end of her song and seems to welcome the response and waves to the audience, find someone who minds. I envy her parents and grand parents who have such a little angel in the family. To the critics who adopt a more personal attack on Jackie, feel free to e-mail me for money to make a phone call to someone who cares for their ignorant rants!