Jackie Evancho: O Holy Night
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This came out in 2010 (when Evancho was just 10 years old). It's a 4-song EP that also includes a DVD. (If I have one complaint about the album, it's that it's not longer.) The first track on the CD is "Silent Night," and Evancho's rendition is quite good. Then there's "Panis Angelicus," which is not nearly as familiar to me. In fact, I'm not sure if I'd even heard of the song before she did it, though I might have. (Either way, I'm glad I know of the song, now.) Anyway, it's probably the highlight of the album for me, partly because she sings it so well, and partly because it seems unlikely that I'll ever have an album with anyone else singing it (though I might). Then there's "O Holy Night," which has long been one of my favorite Christmas songs, at least when it's done well. And Evancho's rendition must be among the best I've heard. Then there's "Pie Jesu," which is even less familiar to me than Panis Angelicus. And while I think her performance sounds beautiful, the song itself just isn't that memorable to me.

The CD was released shortly after Evancho's appearances on "America's Got Talent." I never watch that kind of show, but I'm sure I saw at least one clip of her performing on that show, on YouTube, so I knew she was really good. The DVD that accompanies this CD includes a YouTube audition she did for the show ("Panis Angelicus" again), as well as clips from the show itself: a couple of songs I'm not familiar with, and "Pie Jesu," and also "Ave Maria." That one's a song I've always quite liked, and her rendition is certainly very good (though it didn't seem to be the whole song). Also there's a short interview with Evancho. Anyway, I guess it's a decent DVD to have, though it's less important to me than the CD.