Following Knowles' performance of the ballad at The O2 Arena in London, a writer for the newspaper "Irish Independent" commented that "an Irish audience surely cannot sit through the old convent staple 'Ave Maria' ... without feeling something cold squeeze the heart." Alice Jones of "The Independent" felt that the performance was an "exceedingly odd segment" during the tour. While reviewing Knowles' performance at the Madison Square Garden, a writer of "People" magazine compared her look with Madonna's. While reviewing another concert by Knowles, Ann Powers of "Los Angeles Times" also compared the performance with "pop's ultimate alpha female" Madonna at the 1984 MTV Video Music Awards. She also compared "Ave Maria" with the singer's 1989 song "Like a Prayer" because they both used religious imagery to elevate a romantic connection. A writer of "Evening Chronicle" praised the performance of the song during the tour, saying that it showed off Knowles' "incredible" vocals. MTV News' Jayson Rodriguez commented that Knowles uses her softer side while performing the ballad. Jim Farber of the "Daily News" praised the performance of the song, saying that "Beyoncé hit notes with a new delicacy, then moved seamlessly into the final operatic crescendo". Barbara Ellen of "The Observer" was negative about the performance of "Ave Maria" during the I Am... Tour, comparing it with "Challenge Anneka" and bridezilla. She described it as "nonsense... [it] has no place in a Beyoncé show".