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It was like a toothache had suddenly been replaced by peace and joy. Now that, I thought, is what music is supposed to *feel* like. That was the first time I heard of Charlotte Church, and the first time I heard her sing "Pie Jesu."

Oh, please. Her greatest asset is her PR manager. As young as she was when she started, it's painful to listen to her play with fire. I'll be surprised if she has a voice at all in ten years.

You want to hear heaven? Find old copies of Mirella Freni, Victoria de los Angeles, Jennie Tourel, Placido Domingo...great voices - and all with great technique.

oh-oh... I like Charlotte Church, too!

I love her Panis Angelicus! And her Tantum Ergo and any "Mary" song I've heard her sing.

As you are a trained musician, I understand and sympathize with your preference for the best of the best.

To unsophisticated old me, though, her naivete was part of her charm. It seemed to say, "This is a gift and not the product of years of diligence." In addition, she had presence all out of proportion to her age at the time.

On her video, she shows up for rehearsal with the symphony, and the musicians are visibly unimpressed. AFTER rehearsal, though, not only are they enthusiastic, there's a shot of one of these jaded old pros looking at her with something akin to worship on his face.

Okay, she is not the polished product of years of study; but when a 13 year old girl sings like that, with that assurance and presence, I have to ask: where did this come from, except from God?