When John Holiday sings Vivaldi’s aria “Ah, ch'infelice sempre” (Ah, how unhappy always), as he did with the Academy of Ancient Music in a 12th-century church in London, he’s singing about loneliness, a lament for lost love. Holiday’s performance brings a timeless depth of emotion to this music from almost 400 years ago.

When he sings the pop ballad “All By Myself,” which he did as a finalist on NBC’s The Voice, the judges – Kelly Clarkson, John Legend, Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton – rose to their feet and collectively lost their minds as the crowd went wild. But ignore all that. Just listen to what Holiday is doing with this song about loneliness, this lament for lost love.