Last year, America crowned an opera singer, Neal E. Boyd, the best new act in America and the winner of America’s Got Talent’s Season 3.
This year, history is poised to repeat itself with Barbara Padilla.
The former stay-at-home mother and cancer survivor has all the hallmarks of a winner. With the powerful voice of Neal E. Boyd to a survivor’s recovery story much like Donald Braswell, Barbara Padilla was on every AGT viewer’s short list to see in the finals. Many of those other top-ranked performers, however, were cut by the judges, leaving Padilla with only one or two possible rivals who could edge her out at the finale.
Only one question remains unanswered when it comes to Padilla: Is America ready for another opera singer?
The answer may be no, especially not with at least a few other top talents to choose from, specifically Thia Megia and Lawrence Beamen, but considering the present shape of her competition, this is a question that will most certainly not be answered until the finale. Padilla has set the bar very high for her competitors and is now only one of three top contenders. If she continues to perform at the caliber of her open call and chooses her songs wisely, she will absolutely be performing during this season’s finale.
Comments
It's curious, though, how her fate is still so uncertain. She has no competition as far as singers go, since she's the only female opera singer in the Top 40. She might have a great chance if she's allowed to do straight opera (and not the crossover stuff that they had Neal do). That way, to the industry, she'll be different from Neal, but Simon can easily market something like a Neal-Barbara "opera" tour to a public who doesn't know the subtleties of classical and classical crossover music.
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!