Jackie Evancho: Dream with Me in Concert, the Extraordinary 10-year-old Soprano's First TV Special on Great Performances in June on PBS

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Apr 04, 2011, 11:45 ET

Taped at Sarasota's Ringling Museum of Art, the program, co-hosted by David Foster, celebrates the release of her first full-length solo album

NEW YORK, April 4, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Jackie Evancho: Dream with Me in Concert, marks the solo concert debut of the 10-year-old girl with the extraordinary soprano voice. The Great Performances special will be telecast in June on PBS stations.

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Great Performances is a production of THIRTEEN for WNET, one of America's most prolific and respected public media partners.

Already familiar to national audiences from her debut appearances on America's Got Talent, Jackie is the youngest star in Great Performances' recent Hitman Returns: David Foster & Friends concert for March pledge, performing virtuoso interpretations of Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Pie Jesu" and Puccini's "O Mio Babbino Caro." Foster will co-host the special, and serve as music director.

Jackie Evancho's concert will celebrate the release of her first full-length SYCO/Columbia CD Dream with Me, which covers classical crossover material, and will be taped at the spectacular grounds of the magnificent Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota, Florida.

Jackie's musical selection on the program is scheduled to include "When You Wish Upon A Star," "Nella Fantasia," "A Mother's Prayer," "Nessun Dorma," "Angel," "O Mio Babbino Caro," "Somewhere," "All I Ask Of You," "Ombra Mai Fu," "Lovers," "Imaginer," "The Lord's Prayer," "To Believe," and "Dream With Me."

Although her appearance on America's Got Talent introduced the world to Jackie Evancho and her astonishing vocal talent, her musical story begins before her life-changing appearance on the talent contest. At her first talent competition, she came in second place to a 20-year old opera singer. As Jackie's talents blossomed, she sought out more opportunities to perform for audiences.

Eventually, she caught the attention of Grammy-winning producer David Foster when she won a regional competition that allowed her to sing as Foster accompanied her on piano.

Jackie's first on-air America's Got Talent performance of "O Mio Babbino Caro" was transcendent, delighting and amazing the surprised audience.

The judges were instantly smitten. "I can't believe that from this tiny body, this huge mature voice you have," said Sharon Osbourne. Piers Morgan exclaimed, "This is one of the most extraordinary performances that I've ever seen on America's Got Talent." Howie Mandel simply stated, "You're an angel. You're a superstar."

She further wowed everyone with her subsequent performances of "Time to Say Goodbye," made famous by her idols, Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman; "Pie Jesu," also introduced by Brightman when Great Performances premiered Lloyd Webber's Requiem in 1985, and, in the finale, the classic "Ave Maria." Evancho's sterling appearances sent sales of her self-made independent release, "Prelude to a Dream," soaring up Billboard's Top Classical Crossover Albums Chart, where it peaked at No. 2.

Now, in support of the release of Dream with Me, Great Performances presents Jackie Evancho in a solo concert that will fully reveal the complete range and depth of this spectacular young talent. SYCO/Columbia Records will release the album, produced by 16-time Grammy Award winner David Foster, on Tuesday, June 14.

Jackie Evancho: Dream with Me in Concert is a co-production of THIRTEEN for WNET and SYCO/Columbia. For Great Performances, Mitch Owgang is producer; Bill O'Donnell is series producer; and David Horn is executive producer.

Major funding for the Great Performances telecast is provided by the Starr Foundation, the Philip and Janice Levin Foundation, Joseph A. Wilson, and public television viewers.

Photos and other material can be accessed at the THIRTEEN Online Pressroom: www.thirteen.org/pressroom/gperf.

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