News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Jeanne Wentworth dazzled a holiday crowd at Barclay Park during the annual tree lighting ceremony.
Her voice soared across Barclay Park during the Sisters Tree Lighting Ceremony on Friday with the unmistakable operatic tones of a trained mezzo-soprano.
Jeanne Wentworth's solo on "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" was a stunning highlight of that special evening, and marked a kind of debut for the classically trained singer.
She arrived in Sisters last July, moving with her family from New York and Connecticut, and has established a teaching studio in her home. While her expertise is in classical singing, she notes that her teaching instills "good technique that can be applied to any kind of singing."
Good technique is of critical importance to any singer. Improper singing can do lasting damage.
"You can get nodes on your vocal cords at any age," she said. "It's very, very important, especially for younger people."
She believes there is a place for classical voice and piano in the vibrant artistic palette of Sisters Country.
"So much wonderful classical music was composed in an environment very much like Central Oregon," she said. "And it seems appropriate to expose especially young people to this important part of musical and cultural history."
Wentworth is deeply steeped in those artistic traditions.
She debuted with Eve Queler's Opera Orchestra of New York as Henrichetta in "I Puritani" and with the Spoleto Festival USA in "Der Prinz von Homburg." Her credits include performances with Dayton Opera, including Mercedes in "Carmen," Hansel in "Hansel and Gretel," Zweite Dame in "Die Zauberflöte," and many more. In addition to her operatic repertoire, Ms. Wentworth is highly sought after as an oratorio soloist. She has performed Haydn's "Creation" with the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh, singing the role of eve, and as the mezzo-soprano soloist in Mozart's mass in C minor, and the "Durufle´ Requiem," with the Bach Choir of Pittsburgh.
On December 15, she will sing "Gesu Bambino" at The Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration, with her 10-year-old daughter Alessandra singing the part of the children's choir.
Alessandra is in fourth grade at Sisters Elementary School. She plays piano and cello and sings, but her mother says that "her latest thing is horse-everything."
The move is a major culture change for the Wentworths. Jeanne's husband, David, found the place through Benny Benson, with whom he's worked on power plant projects. He moved here to work with Benson. The family jumped at the opportunity for a change of lifestyle.
"It was just too fast, too busy," Jeanne said. "We kind of needed a slower pace, I think."
Wentworth is looking to build her student base and to find opportunities to sing in the community.
"I'd love to do fun things, like Italian art songs in some of the restaurants with a guitar," she said.
She hopes to pass on the many benefits and joys music has brought into her own life.
"I've had the good fortune to sing on many operatic stages, in recordings, on film ... and that discipline has served me well as I've matured as an artist," she said. "I have seen similar positive influences on many of my former students - and hopefully my daughter. I would welcome the opportunity to help young people in this region explore some of their musical aspirations, and I hope I get an opportunity to do so."
To inquire regarding lessons with Wentworth, email her at [email protected]
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
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