Jean Stilwell, mezzo-soprano

Jean Stilwell, mezzo-soprano
	Jean Stilwell is famous for her twenty-five blisteringly sexy Carmens in Canada, the US, Britain and Japan. She continues to perform on the opera and concert stages, as well as in her new cabaret show, CARMEN UNZIPPED. Jean is often asked about her tattoos. They are a visual biography, a map of a work in progress. In her words… The Carmen Tattoo: I have a large and very colourful tattoo on my right leg that pays homage to Carmen, since it is she who has been a constant through many of the seminal moments in my life ... falling in love, getting married, having a baby, and losing my mother. The tattoo itself, is a gypsy, because it was started in Tucson, Arizona, made a short stop in Toronto and was finished in Victoria, British Columbia. In it are a number of symbols that have meaning for me: a Spanish fan; a butterfly to remind me that life is metamorphosis; a red Gardenia, which is the flower that Carmen wears in her hair; and, at its very centre there is the initial 'F' for my son Freddy who was just two weeks old when I performed Carmen at the New York City Opera. The Goddess Tara: the writer-director Morris Panych suggested the tattoo on my left arm when I was playing Jenny in his production of Three Penny Opera in Vancouver. It is a picture of an earth Goddess. Picasso’s Dove: this tattoo, which is on my right arm, was done in Columbus, Ohio and it is the most recent tattoo. In it are broken flowers - symbolizing so many things to each of us - and the dove of peace. Always her own woman, Jean did not follow a conventional path to reach the stature that she enjoys today in the world of opera, concerts, art song recitals and now, cabaret. The daughter of two Toronto musicians— a church organist and a professional chorister— Jean studied piano as a young girl. he didn’t actually start formal voice lessons until the day that her mother Margaret heard her repeating the exercises, while she - Margaret - vocalized. Margaret thought that Jean was simply imitating her because Jean’s voice was so very similar to her own. When Jean responded by saying, “but Mom, that’s how I sound when I sing”, Margaret sat her right down on the piano bench beside her, and listened, amazed, as Jean flawlessly repeated the songs that Margaret had sung for years, in a remarkably full and vibrant voice. Voice lessons quickly ensued, as well as coaching in French, German, art song, opera, and acting. Margaret proudly introduced her daughter to the choral conducting legend, Elmer Iseler. One can only imagine how excited he would have been to have two female voices that blended absolutely perfectly — a mother and daughter team! — in the front row of his prestigious ensembles, The Mendelssohn Choir and The Festival Singers of Canada. Her experiences as a paid chorister led Jean to chorus work in theatre at Canada’s world famous Stratford Festival. While there, her natural talent for acting compelled Jean to try her luck in the spotlight. She studied music and acting in Toronto, in Banff at the Centre for Fine Arts, and in New York, where she was heard by opera legend Matthew Epstein. She auditioned for, and was awarded, solo roles at the Festival’s productions of Gilbert and Sullivan. It was in these productions that Jean honed and refined her talents and skills in performance of all kinds. Her talent and her art are the direct result of her innate musicality, and the supreme dedication of a seasoned performer who has chosen a life “on the boards”. A career that began in choirs and operetta quickly evolved into a career in opera that has included performances around the world, and twenty-five blisteringly sexy Carmens so far. Musicians who have worked with Jean speak of her performances with respect for her talent, as well as with an appreciation for her quick wit and humour. People often ask Jean, “What kind of music do you like to listen to?” She has recently become an iPod addict and, if you checked, you would find music as varied as Gustav Mahler, Kurt Elling, Rene Pape,Coldplay, Bill Charlap, Anne Sofie Von Otter, Dmitri Shostakovich, Dave Matthews, Arvo Part and Warren Vache on her “Top 25 Most Played List”. Her other addictions include good coffee, old Cheddar, and belly laughs. Is Ms Stilwell a singer who can act? Or is she an actor who can sing? You decide.

Jean Stilwell is famous for her twenty-five blisteringly sexy Carmens in Canada, the US, Britain and Japan. She continues to perform on the opera and concert stages, as well as in her new cabaret show, CARMEN UNZIPPED.

Jean is often asked about her tattoos. They are a visual biography, a map of a work in progress.

In her words…

The Carmen Tattoo:

I have a large and very colourful tattoo on my right leg that pays homage to Carmen, since it is she who has been a constant through many of the seminal moments in my life ... falling in love, getting married, having a baby, and losing my mother. The tattoo itself, is a gypsy, because it was started in Tucson, Arizona, made a short stop in Toronto and was finished in Victoria, British Columbia. In it are a number of symbols that have meaning for me: a Spanish fan; a butterfly to remind me that life is metamorphosis; a red Gardenia, which is the flower that Carmen wears in her hair; and, at its very centre there is the initial 'F' for my son Freddy who was just two weeks old when I performed Carmen at the New York City Opera.

The Goddess Tara:

the writer-director Morris Panych suggested the tattoo on my left arm when I was playing Jenny in his production of Three Penny Opera in Vancouver. It is a picture of an earth Goddess.

Picasso’s Dove:

this tattoo, which is on my right arm, was done in Columbus, Ohio and it is the most recent tattoo. In it are broken flowers - symbolizing so many things to each of us - and the dove of peace.

Always her own woman, Jean did not follow a conventional path to reach the stature that she enjoys today in the world of opera, concerts, art song recitals and now, cabaret.

The daughter of two Toronto musicians— a church organist and a professional chorister— Jean studied piano as a young girl.

he didn’t actually start formal voice lessons until the day that her mother Margaret heard her repeating the exercises, while she - Margaret - vocalized. Margaret thought that Jean was simply imitating her because Jean’s voice was so very similar to her own. When Jean responded by saying, “but Mom, that’s how I sound when I sing”, Margaret sat her right down on the piano bench beside her, and listened, amazed, as Jean flawlessly repeated the songs that Margaret had sung for years, in a remarkably full and vibrant voice.

Voice lessons quickly ensued, as well as coaching in French, German, art song, opera, and acting.

Margaret proudly introduced her daughter to the choral conducting legend, Elmer Iseler.

One can only imagine how excited he would have been to have two female voices that blended absolutely perfectly — a mother and daughter team! — in the front row of his prestigious ensembles, The Mendelssohn Choir and The Festival Singers of Canada.

Her experiences as a paid chorister led Jean to chorus work in theatre at Canada’s world famous Stratford Festival. While there, her natural talent for acting compelled Jean to try her luck in the spotlight. She studied music and acting in Toronto, in Banff at the Centre for Fine Arts, and in New York, where she was heard by opera legend Matthew Epstein.

She auditioned for, and was awarded, solo roles at the Festival’s productions of Gilbert and Sullivan. It was in these productions that Jean honed and refined her talents and skills in performance of all kinds. Her talent and her art are the direct result of her innate musicality, and the supreme dedication of a seasoned performer who has chosen a life “on the boards”.

A career that began in choirs and operetta quickly evolved into a career in opera that has included performances around the world, and twenty-five blisteringly sexy Carmens so far.

Musicians who have worked with Jean speak of her performances with respect for her talent, as well as with an appreciation for her quick wit and humour.

People often ask Jean, “What kind of music do you like to listen to?”

She has recently become an iPod addict and, if you checked, you would find music as varied as Gustav Mahler, Kurt Elling, Rene Pape,Coldplay, Bill Charlap, Anne Sofie Von Otter, Dmitri Shostakovich, Dave Matthews, Arvo Part and Warren Vache on her “Top 25 Most Played List”.

Her other addictions include good coffee, old Cheddar, and belly laughs.

Is Ms Stilwell a singer who can act? Or is she an actor who can sing? You decide.