What should Jackie Evancho sing to win $1 million?

On Tuesday Jackie Evancho -- the 10-year-old girl with the operatic voice -- will sing for $1 million in the finals of NBC's "America's Got Talent."

What she chooses to sing will determine how well she can show off her talent. As her previous performances of "O Mio Babbino Caro" and "Time To Say Goodbye" showed, even an exceptional voice suffers when it doesn't play to its strengths.

The Anglican choral tradition is full of treasures like Mendelssohn's "Hear My Prayer" or this setting of the "Pie Jesu" text by Gabriel Fauré.

Most of these benefit from a supporting choir and the Fauré Pie has too many low notes, which would highlight a weak part of Evancho's voice. Considering that her previous selections were from her self-produced CD and she only has a week to prepare a new number, it is likely Evancho will choose something she already knows well.

Although you can't buy it anymore, you can still view the full track list on Amazon. Here's what we think are the most likely options.

"Ave Maria" by Schubert

"Amazing Grace"

"The Prayer"

"Think Of Me" from "The Phantom Of The Opera" by Andrew Lloyd Webber

Which one do you think suits Evancho's voice best?  Or do you have another suggestion?

-- Marcia Adair

Follow me on Twitter @missmussel

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Comments

[gary villapiano]

She should sing "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" or Toy Story 2 "When She Loved Me".

[Paul Sumares]

I believe there are at least 2 errors with this article: (1) that Jackie's lower range is a "weak part" of her voice. Quite the contrary, she has an exceptional lower range; it maintains the richness of her timbre and she keeps it well on pitch. (2) That her previous selections were from her debut CD. As of the Sept 10 date of this article jackie has sung 3 songs on the AGT stage; only one of them "O Mio Babbino Caro" was from her debut CD, to which the article's own the link to the CD track list will testify.

She will probably sing "Ave Maria" from her debut CD. It is one of the most requested from her.

[rlaimbeer]

Jackie's voice and style are very similar to Sarah Brightman's. My guess is that Sarah Brightman is the singer that Jackie most admires. All of the songs she has done so far were recorded by Sarah. In keeping with that past history, Nella Fantasia would be my choice for her final song with the English interpretation displayed in the background so Sharon does not have to guess what the words mean. It is wonderful soft and gentle song that would showcase Jackie's voice as well as Pie Jesu. It will be hard to beat the impact of Pie Jesu. If you notice the audience sat spellbound (no applause) during the entire performance. I have never seen that happen on AGT.

[Mahen]

I think that Jackie should sing "The Prayer" originally performed by Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli. Since the song has English and Italian lyrics, it would suit her voice really well and I think she'll be able to do a fantastic job of it!!!

[bob harris]

You're probably right that she will sing something she's familiar with. And in fact her performance of "Time to Say Goodbye" which she never performed before was the only one in which she made errors.

Nonetheless, I would like to hear her perform Nella Fantasia or "Anytime, Anywhere", either of which would bring the house down (again) and guarantee that she wins.

And though I'm sure they wouldn't have time to do it, wouldn't it be fun if she and Prince Poppy could do the duet from Phantom on Wednesday:-)

[bob parno]

Wishing you were here again from andrew lloyd weber would be a nice song, the prayer is nice but it is more suited for a duet, but whatever she picks I think she will be outstanding as she has proven to be the one to beat in this competition, as no one has the quality she does. she has an amazing allure and presence on stage and I personally would go to to great lengths to hear her sing.

[Kate]

Seems the public is too misinformed to pick out her flaws, anyway. I blame it on too much pop music. In a nut shell, she sings songs to which people have never heard, and as a result, do not know the proper notes that must be hit, and how the words should sound. If she did a Whitney Houston song, people would be more critical. Alice did a good, but not so perfect job and was cut. Direct comparisons make a huge difference. my personal opinion is that Michael Grimm is more on target with his songs than the other singers. His diction, presentation, and notes seem to be just right every time. Poppycock does things very informal for entertainment purposes, but he does seem to hit all his important notes, and has good diction. Jackie's biggest weakness is diction, and a few times she didn't get as high as Sarah Brightman did for some notes. The next performances
should be interesting.

[indigomomma]

Interesting criticisms considering jackie has been singing for two years of her life and sarah has been singing for ? how many?

[Liz]

I hope she sings "Wishing you were somehow here again."

[Marcia Adair]

@Paul - You're right, her last performance - Webber's Pie Jesu - was not on her disc - I'm not quite sure what happened there but thanks for bringing it to my attention.

Con Te Partiro, on the other hand, is the Italian title for Time To Say Goodbye, which she sang the previous week.

[Jennifer]

"Caro mio ben"

[Marty Gautreaux]

With everyone her being an angel, which I truly think she is, I feel it would really be adventagous for her to sing "Teaching angels how to fly" from her CD. She sings that song with so much emotion, I know it would carry her over the top.

[R]

Isn't it ironic that this kid all ready has a website AND a 'Wikipedia' entry... Stage Mother, anyone?

[fisherman]

Wishing you were somehow here again would be my choice and she has sung this before and is familiar with it.
I was wondering if anyone else had noticed that the audience was basically silent during her performance of Pie Jesu. I had mentioned this to a number of my friends and they did not think anything of it, but I have noticed that the AGT audience is usually rambunctious and not very often silent. rlaimbeer posted this observation, in his comment, and he mentions the audience was "Spellbound" and, in retrospect, I think this is a good word to use as a description of audience behavior. This young lady is a talent that appears only once in every generation and I feel if she is guided correctly she will be a huge star. As it is, she is an absolute delight to listen to and I would pay good money to be privileged to hear her sing. I heard her sing at a local function a year ago and as one of the local reporters stated in his article concerning this performance: “After the she was finished I was left with the feeling that I did not want the music to stop.” This is a good description of her singing as far as I am concerned and you critics just keep quiet...she is a kid having fun and enjoying it and she is setting anexemplary example for other kids to follow. We (I) the unwashed masses and ignorant public absolutely adore her and want to hear more!!!! Sure she will make mistakes, in tone diction, tempo and anything else that might go wrong and once she forgot her lines but just giggled about it. What a lovely child and you critics, please just leave her alone...you are the problem!!!

[dcteacher]

Nessum Dorm is always a winner!!!

[rlaimbeer]

Marcia - the common thread for Jackie's songs is that they were recorded by Sarah Brightman. Another article on Jackie mentioned that she has patterned her style and gestures after Sarah. Odds are whatever the song it will be one that has been recorded by Sarah.

[dan ehrlich]

her recording of memories from cats is also extraordinary...would be a popular selection.

[Joan Patacsil]

I really think her voice is best matched for the Phantom of the Opera-Think of me. That is such an angelic sound just like her voice. I agree the low tones will not show her best.

[EM]

I would love her to sing Laudate Dominum from Mozart's Vesperae solennes de confessore. She won't, of course -- obviously not on AGT -- but it would be heavenly.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKtktL31Fso&feature=player_embedded

[EM]

Fisherman, I agree with you wholeheartedly.

To those who bicker and complain about Jackie's vocal imperfections, her "stage mother," etc., and who feel entitled to give her unsolicited and obviously unneeded and unwelcome advice -- don't.

This child has an extraordinary and unique talent of the kind that comes only once in a long while. It's absolutely not true that "she's just average," or that "other children sing just as well" (really?). Minor imperfections are to be expected in someone who's only 10 and has been singing for just 2 years, and whose body is still developing. Those imperfections certainly do not eclipse her outstanding gift. She will only get better with time.

As to what she should sing, do, whatever -- it's entirely up to her and her family, and none of our business. But it would be strange to keep such a talent under wraps and not let her take the full advantage of any and all opportunities that come her way, as long as she chooses so. She was born to sing, apparently, and there is little, if any, value in making her conform to our ideas of what her childhood should be (traditional schooling, etc.)