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Home , Crossover music, Deanna Durbin, Freddie Bartholomew, Hayley Westenra, Jordin Sparks, Just Sing

Interview with Toni Gibson

Interview with Toni Gibson By Natasha Barbieri

What inspires you to make music? impressed because he asked me if I would want to sign to his Fanfare Record There isn’t any particular ‘thing’ that Label. Fanfare is another inspired me to sing. I Just love to sing part of the Entertainment label. and always have ever since I was little. It just comes naturally to me, it is part of Once I was signed to the Label, Robert me. suggested some more songs for the and possibly replacing the new Your debut album, “Echo in my Soul” songs with some previous ones. I really is out now. What was the song selection liked his suggestions and was happy to process like? scratch a few songs that didn’t quite work and flow alongside the rest of the We started working on my album over a songs on the album. couple of years ago. I had a big input with what songs I wanted to have on the I wanted to create something that hasn’t album because the album started out as really been done in the classical- our own project. I have been working crossover world before. I wanted to add with Gray Bartlett (he started Hayley not just light elements to the music, but Westenra’s career) over the last 3-4 also darker elements. To mix them years, and he also suggested some together in such a way and create a songs that would be suitable for the spiritual atmosphere within the music. I album and I really liked his suggestions. also like lots of different styles of music and wanted to bring some of these Later down the track when we were close elements into the album to. You will find to finishing recording for the songs, traces of Rock, Celtic, gothic, classical, Robert Rigby (who owns Ambition musical and even a bit of country Entertainment Record Label in ) throughout the journey. Yet I feel all was invited by Gray to see me in these elements work together and flow in New Zealand. Robert must have been and this has been a challenge over the last 2-3 years. We didn’t want the different elements to be confusing and Growing up you took part in a lot of make it unclear on ‘the type of artists competitions. How do you think those that I am’. I am a classical-crossover experiences impacted you as a artist with a bit of an edge, that is the best performer? way I can explain trying to do :). The music is honest. I like to think All the performances I have done over that the album is an expression of my the years have helped me to feel more soul. confident in my ability today.

Your first for the album is I used to be so scared to perform on stage “She’s like the swallow.” What made but after forcing myself past all the you pick that song and how much nerves I eventually learnt to control influence did you have on the video them. I still get nervous all the time but I itself? am in my ‘happy place’ when I am performing on stage and I can feel the During a singing lesson with my singing energies from the audience and I feel like teacher Ellen Barrett, she found the sheet I am doing a good performance. No music to ‘She’s like the swallow’. I doubt the road ahead is scary but it is learnt the song and decided I really liked because all of my years growing up and it because the music has a beautiful performing through many different melody and yet the paint a vivid situations, I feel that I am ready for what picture of a loss of a loved one. There is is ahead. I am also very excited and so much love in the lyrics and yet so blessed to be in a position now where I much sadness, I felt I could express these am heading down the right path to feelings through my voice. Even though achieving many of my dreams that I have this song has quite an eerie feeling to it, had ever since I was little. It is quite it also has beauty and I thought this surreal. would be the perfect song for my first music video. Which artists or composers would you like to collaborate with in the future? Throughout the video process I was lucky to have a big say in how I I love many different types of artists. To envisioned the video and how I wanted it name a few Michael Bubble, Adam to be. I first emailed the 90 seconds video Lambert, Pink, , Sarah crew and painted an outline for them of Brightman, Michael Crawford and one how I wanted the video to be. When it day I would love to sing for Andrew came to recording for the video, they Lloyd Webber! And so many more. followed the outline of what I had asked for and with their professional eye Social media is obviously a very created something that I couldn’t be important medium for the these more happier with? days. How did you use it to launch your songs on it. Shortly after I had finished own career? my E.P CD, the family and I went to a Hayley Westenra concert. Dad noticed in Social Media is very important. I was not the back of the program that Gray really into all the social media stuff, it’s Bartlett’s contact details were there. Dad not really my cup of tea but one day decided to contact him and give him a when I had some free time I recorded copy of my CD. Gray replied and said myself singing and then decided to put it ‘come back in a few years, she is a bit up on YouTube. Not to long after that, young at the moment’. So that is what we my Dad was looking through the internet did. A couple of years passed and I made and came across classical- another E.P CD at Capital E. We sent it crossover.co.uk website. After looking to Gray and he replied with the same through it, he decided to contact Nicola thing ‘come back in a couple of years, Jarvis (owner of the site) regarding my she is to young’. Obviously, we were singing. She replied shortly after and said disappointed but we tried again… We ‘is this your daughter singing on contacted him when I was about age 16 YouTube?”, and dad said ‘yes’. Nicola and he recommended for us to come up then said she wanted to make a profile on to Auckland and record in Manuka her site for me! We couldn’t believe it Studios with Mike McCarthy. I recorded because we often contacted people trying ‘A bit of Earth’ and ‘Wild Horses’ and to get them to listen to my music and then we sent that E.P CD to him. He they didn’t always reply let alone want to then finally said ‘I want to take Toni make a profile for me. My profile is a on!’? long side all the famous classical- crossover singers- It was very exciting I have really enjoyed working with Gray, for us! That incident helped with gaining he has taught me a lot and he really heaps of fans around the world. I then believes in me. He has opened many started using Facebook and started up a doors for me due to many contacts he has account. Social media is definitely within the . Gray and helpful when you are trying to get Trish (Gray’s wife) are both so lovely to recognized with your music. me. They make me feel welcome at their house and Gray drives me around to You have been mentored by Gray meetings and gigs and Trish makes Bartlett. What has that experience been me yummy food :). I am so thankful that like? I have had the opportunity to work with Gray and get to know Gray and Trish. It We first contacted Gray when I was has been great for my music but I also around 12 yrs old. I had won a feel that they are part of my family now. competition and the prize included studio time in Capital E in Wellington. I was You played Joanna in a production of lucky enough to make an E.P CD with 3 Sweeney Todd. Are musicals something you would like to pursue further in the Taekwondo and I am currently on Blue future? Belt, Red Stripe. In my free time I love to spend time with my animals, go for One of the best times in my life was walks or bike rides. Hang out with my playing the part of Johanna in the friends and Family and my partner and I production of Sweeney Todd. I just loved like to watch TV and eat? it so much and I would really love to play that part on the big stage one day! I love Where would you like to see yourself 5 the musical Sweeney Todd because the years from now artistically? music is so fantastic and unusual and the story line fascinates me. I loved playing In 5 years’, time I would like to be the part of Johanna cause she was the overseas, hopefully making a name for little bit of light in the darkness? myself. I would like to be travelling and performing in my own and My ultimate dream is to play Christine in selling many CD’s and opening more the Phantom of the in Westend or doors for my career. My mind is set on Broadway!!! achieving my dream of becoming a well- known successful recording artist, On a non-musical side, I heard you performing in my own concerts around really like self-defense? What else do the world and one day playing the part of you like to do when you’re not singing? Christine in Phantom of the Opera on Broadway and/or Westend. With such an I love martial arts. I like the discipline amazing group of beautiful people and I like how it makes me feel strong. I supporting me and my dreams I believe like to challenge my mind. I do I will achieve all my dreams one day?

Facbook.com/tonigibsonmusic

Interview with

Christina Piccardi

What inspired you to become an opera conditioning. We not only have to master singer? a great vocal technique in order to sustain demanding singing for long periods of I grew up listening to . time but we also have to act and move on My parents put me to study piano when I the stage while doing that. I am not was 11 years old. Since I was a little saying that other genres do not require child I knew I wanted to be a musician. training and conditioning. However, as When I turned 14 I decided to join a local you already said, Opera requires total choir in the little town I grew up in the devotion from us as if we were training south of Brazil. Singing was such a athletes. natural thing for me that I fell in love with it immediately. At age 15 I How important do you think a formal auditioned for the Opera Chorus of the music education is to those who wish to capital city of my state, about one and a pursue a career in opera? half hours away from our house. I was blessed to be accepted since the Since formal education has been my only minimum age required was 18. My first experience in pursuing my craft, it is opera was “Die Zauberflote” (The magic difficult for me speak about other forms flute) by Mozart. When I first heard of training. There have been cases of Tamino’s aria: “Dies Bildnis ist singers who had great careers and did not bezaubernd schoen” I immediately fell in have formal education in a university or love with opera. I remember my thoughts conservatory. However, it is important to as tears rolled down my cheeks: “I want keep in mind the fact that formal to do this for the rest of my life…” I was education is not only expected these only 15! days, but in many cases it is even mandatory. Several competitions, young While I respect many genres, I think of artist programs and also singer’s opera as the Olympics of singing. Do management agencies do not even listen you believe that singing this music takes to you if you do not have a background more commitment than other genres? of formal education in your resume. Therefore, I do believe it is a very Absolutely. I have sung other genres and important factor to consider when can speak from experience. Opera wishing to enter the opera field. demands great body and mental I’ve watched you completely transform has to reach the younger generation. The into your character when you sing stories have to make sense in the world onstage. How do you prepare for a role? we are living now. Most plots could actually happen today, right here. There As you already know I am still in the is nothing wrong with modernizing the very early stages of my career. With five stage and the costumes. The only fully staged on my belt all I can problem is when it deviates so much say at the moment is that the most from what the author wanted that the important thing is to know your text and meaning gets lost. It is a fine line and we the overall story very well. Then, I try to have to be careful to find the right picture myself “Cristina Piccardi” (not balance. Also, lowering the cost of the role I am playing) in such situations, massive expensive productions would and from there I try to imitate reality. help opera companies to continue in Once I know how I feel about the story business. and the scene, I then make sure I speak the words and don’t just go through the Which singers do you listen to? motions. It is very easy to get caught up in the music or the technique. One must So many… Pavarotti is my favorite at all focus on the words and really MEAN times. From the older generation I listen them while singing. to Maria Callas, Joan Sutherland, Edita Gruberova. Renata Scotto, etc. Of this What is your favorite role you’ve generation, Diana Damrau, Jonas performed so far, and which one would Kaufmann and many others. you most like to perform in the future? Your first CD “Rejoice in the Lord” came out in 2008. What was that So far Gilda from Rigoletto by Verdi. experience like and can we expect more My dream role is Amina from La recordings from you in the future? Sonnambula by Bellini. I love the music, the story and her character as well. The experience was great. Expensive and tiring, but great! After inverting so much What are your favorite languages to time and effort in preparation it is always sing in? a good thing to listen to an older recording of my singing and be able to ITALIANO, of course. enjoy it and at the same time measure the progress as I compare it with how I am singing at the moment. What are your thoughts about modern staging of operas? Do you approve? I definitely hope to record more. Every artist should. It is wonderful to be able to Honestly, I don’t feel like I have to capture great moments of our lives and approve it or not. It is the times we are art which would have been forever lost if living in. If we want opera to survive, it not recorded. It is also a great gift to not put all your eggs in one basket; others, especially future generations. remember…it is just another audition, that is all”. Also, it is a rewarding thing to hear from local people many years later: “I was just What challenges have presented listening to your singing on my cd player themselves to you as a woman of faith the other day and I was so blessed!” in the music business?

Competitions are an important part of I have not found any challenge in the getting noticed for an emerging artist opera field that I have experienced in my such as yourself. How do you prepare other circles of interaction. Our faith is yourself mentally for that kind of challenged and we are faced with pressure? temptations everywhere we go. The difference is how spiritually prepared I Competitions are very important for am when facing them and not where I those planning to embrace this career. It am. So far, my greatest challenge has does not only force you to strive for been being away from my husband. I vocal excellence but it also helps in miss him a lot when I am away and wish preparing for the actual role auditions. I could always have him by my side. However, it is part of the package/deal. Competitions are always tough… All I can do is to make sure I keep Actually, singing in a production with nurturing the relationship every day, as colleagues, a stage, props, and specially much as I can, so that we don’t grow without the pressure of being analyzed in apart from each other. every aspect by a panel of judges who may or may not pick you (talk about As a voice teacher yourself, what advice pressure), is always easier and definitely would you give aspiring singers? more enjoyable. I believe most singers do much better when performing than when If this is really what you think you were auditioning. It is just an enormous born to do and that God has given you a amount of pressure that one has to go unique gift to share with the world, go through. for it, dive in full force. Don’t waist you In my preparation I try to avoid thinking time; work hard and be diligent. As long of all I have just mentioned above. Focus as you are not sinning God will be with on the music, interpretation and try to you and will use you mightily to bless forget the panel in front of you. I like the many people whom your life example idea of singing to God to bless the ones may be the only bible they will ever read hearing, as if offering them a gift. Or, as in their lives. my voice teacher Charles Reid says: “Do

Getting to Know Chloe Lewis

I met Chloe Daniel Lewis in 2009 when I transferred to Andrews University. Although not a music major, Chloe shared her lovely soprano voice with the community through recitals every semester. Her programs were not the traditional classical variety but, in the words of a mutual friend, were ‘through-composed’ with a clear vision and theme. I was amazed at their complexity and emotional significance to her and her type of programming has been an inspiration to me.

How old were you when you began art. Many criticize vocal performance as singing? being a lesser skill than expertise on a hands-on instrument, but I strongly Oh mercy… From what I’ve been told, dispute that. If anything, I think singing before I started choir when I was 6 years is more challenging, because emotions old, my babysitter was crying when she and immune system impact the ability to picked me up from daycare because sing, making it require MORE finesse she’d had a bad day and I sang to her and and MORE upkeep than a wind or patted her arm. I don’t remember it, but it stringed instrument. And because I have sounds like me and I’ve been told that learned to get more acquainted with the story several times. My mother – since I parts of my body that help me sing, this was homeschooled & free to come along special self-knowledge has helped me – brought me with her to University teach myself to sing genres besides Chorale on Tuesdays and Thursdays classical. I can’t sing all the genres I from 12:30-1:45p when I was 6 years old want to, but I can sound like a more and I just never left. It truly was a staple “approachable” singer and not just a while I grew up. serious classical soprano. Also, being in a choir taught me teamwork. I enjoy solo You have been involved in choral performing, but I greatly enjoy being part singing for a long time. How do you of a group, and I don’t need to be the think this has helped you develop as an center of attention or in the spotlight, artist? even, to have a deeply satisfying musical experience. Hmm… Stephen Zork was a huge part of my choral experience. If I had been in When did you first begin just any choir for a long time I don’t programming? think I’d know how to answer this. Being in choir almost all my life under Stephen When I was seventeen. I was finishing Zork influenced me as an artist in that I homeschooled high school, if I’d had a learned singing as a disciplined, exacting “graduation ceremony,” it would have been me walking down an aisle all by Singing is a very vulnerable thing and myself with a cap & gown, and that was your added touches, especially your a retarded mental image for me. I wanted poetry readings, must make it even to feel like I had something to show for more so. Do you find that the graduating, so I made a playlist out of my vulnerability makes it more diverse and beloved vocal & rewarding? repertoire. It was right as I was winding down on violin/before I “lost my touch,” Absolutely yes. Like I said, I grew from so I collage-programmed classical, jazz being just a performer to a & fiddling music on violin with opera communicator. I crave that vulnerability. arias, pop, one African-American In every moment of life in every spiritual, once jazz song, and Broadway relationship that would be disastrous, but solos. I entitled it “The Sound of in a moment of art and heightened Sentiments,” since each song I had senses, it’s cathartic to give and helps picked for a relevant, personal reason, convey truth with greater clarity and which I enclosed in the modest, open- beauty. It feels amazing to me to be shut program we printed. transparent in the brief hour of a vulnerable recital, and it touches hearts. What inspires you to create a Artists who don’t let themselves be program? vulnerable may entertain, they may shock & create awe, but they don’t foster It’s inescapably personal. From the connections and personal breakthroughs. beginning it’s been personal and since then it grew less and less about being a You showcase a lot of other talent in performer and more about being a your programs in a very generous way. communicator. The recitals became more How important do you think it is for spiritual (my interpretation was made musicians to be supportive of each clear by the personal commentary in my other? written programs, which accompanied the performances) and more about Oh man. I think it’s wildly important, sharing my personal walk with God and not just important, but I think it’s (even though most of my music was still incredibly beautiful. It’s important secular & classical) in a way I hoped and because we need to affirm each other and still do believe encourages people to see support each other’s’ creativity & unique a relationship with Jesus as something talents. There’s a lot of criticism amongst attractive, edifying and illuminating. I artists and not enough affirmation. use my recitals to show how beautiful Artists and art should have more God’s heart is. Not enough people see appreciation than analysis. Art feeds the God that way, as a Person unlike any soul – how can the soul be fed if analysis other with an incredible & loving heart. is never turned off, if you never just let yourself take it in? How can you ever discover new things to enjoy or a new piano lessons, my brain feels kind of like way to see an issue if you never turn off a piano sometimes – I picture the the criticism or tell your opinions to take keyboard and hear the individual keys’ an occasional back seat? How will you tones, but it all takes much longer to ever grow? I’m all about growth because write than it takes to happen in my head. I think it heightens artistic pleasure – So… I’d say having perfect pitch is like growth isn’t all about growing pains. having a piano in my head that I can play And while a particular artist can be for the note I’m asked for or need myself, appreciated in a certain way if you’re but violin is what taught me perfect attending a solo recital where it is only pitch, and haha it’s with my voice that I them singing – so you can really get to give that note or else I wouldn’t need know their voice & isms – you can get to perfect pitch; I could just play the note know artists in different ways when you on an instrument. When something is out hear their talents compared & contrasted of tune, I can hear it for sure – it’s with a collage of other artists. A pearl painful sometimes in a funny way, ring is beautiful, but you appreciate its though sometimes it really does make me smoothness even more when there are squirm. I’ve grown to be able to adjust diamonds set around it. And I could go more if I’m in a choir that’s going off- on from there with all sorts of metaphors key without a piano; if I insisted on – every singer is a kind of jewel and a singing “on pitch” while the whole group unique soul. They’re great alone and is going off-pitch, they’d aurally have the they’re equally beautiful mixed together; discomfort of dissonance that I have it depends on what sort of program you mentally and of course the audience want to make, what kind of a message wouldn’t like the sound… Also, I can you want to send, how you want to set hear when recorded artists on iTunes off a person’s talent – solo recital or weren’t tuned quite properly or if sparkling collage where everyone has a pressing with throat muscles not quite moment to uniquely shine? hard enough caused them to sing just under pitch; I’ve flinched a few times What is it like to have perfect pitch? hearing a song on its first round when one of those flat notes is sung. I don’t Hahaha. Good and bad. I’ve always had a often hear people sing sharp; if/when I good ear but I didn’t get perfect pitch till do, it’s in a real-life situation; not on I transcribed a violin piece off a iTunes. And all this being said, just recording onto sheet music – listening to because I have perfect pitch doesn’t all the notes over and over, playing them mean I always sing in tune. I try, but if on my violin to make sure I was right; I’m having an emotional day and can’t that forever imprinted what an “A” get a handle on my feelings, if I’m sounds like; it’s the easiest note to getting over a truly bad cold (because I’ll produce when asked to give a note. But I sing until I’m forced to stop/sound like can sing any note on the scale (in my Yoda; I’m not one who rushes into “sick range) because having taken violin and bay” because I get a cold), and if I’m simply out of shape/rusty/haven’t had a box that already exists, or they want to lessons in a while, I’m not as “athletic” make their own “music box” and have it about good technique, like if you quit recognized & celebrated. I am ALL for going to the gym & put on weight, you’re supporting those artists; I just feel like not as flexible & motivated as before. my musical style & abilities and So…having perfect pitch doesn’t mean repertoire will be evolving and perfect singer. Definitely not. It just expanding till the day I die. I also know means my brain has extra training. I that there will be some kinds of things I think any musician could learn perfect will always love: staples. Creative pitch if they wanted to. It just takes time individuals mix together the liberal and & focus. I got mine by accident; I was traditional into something new – they just trying to transcribe a violin piece, appreciate both what is radical and what and it happened because of what I was is “old”. I think there’s an equal amount doing. So if someone picked a project of transcendent beauty in the newest like that or developed exercises that had music these days as there is in classical them constantly listening & confirming music. And I think there’s just as much different notes, I think they could learn it soul and honesty in classical music as like I did. And then the musical world there is in today’s musical world where would be a better place! Haha there are pretty much no boundaries for stopping an artist from expressing his or You have been trained classically but herself in whatever way they want. I am recently have done a lot of singing in not always and cannot always be creating more popular styles. Would you new playlists and coming up with new consider yourself a classical crossover ideas; most of the time, actually, I’m not musician? And what do you think the dreaming up new stuff & making it crossover genre as a whole? happen (though I know that when I do it creates a mild ruckus, so people may Hmm… Well, to me classical crossover think it’s what I’m always doing), I’m musician implies (from what I’ve seen in soaking up what other artists have done. I the media) that the artist never returns to think that classical pop and classical classical; that they were classical, crossover artists are misjudged and crossover and “start a new colony” of underappreciated because they’re not musical style. I still love classical. I think either-or. I think they’re creative, I could perform others’ “classical because they’ve mixed two into a new crossover” songs quite well, but I’d one, like a marriage. Musical purists known – myself – as a creative might call it blasphemy but I think artist. Not classical or crossover. That’s is beautiful and eloquent why I dropped my music major (apart for the right audience. And just like from wanting to go into ministry) – I feel anyone could learn perfect pitch, I’ve as though music is too often boxed in, taught Myself to learn appreciation for and I don’t want to be boxed in. But I’m new genres – if I spend money on a song not normal, and some people really want from iTunes, I make myself listen to it until I like it, until I see what IT has to Petersen, Alison Brook, Frank Sinatra, offer ME, rather than expecting it to Dean Martin, , , magically know what I think I want in Kiri Te Kanawa, , Barbra that moment or else I’m going to hate it. Streisand, , Debbie Reynolds, Someone else in the world created that Kurt Elling, Diana Krall, Demi Lovato, song and its style and they did it for a All Sons & Daughters, Lisa Gungor, The reason that was unique to them (or Brilliance, Pink, Churchill, Megan Hilty, whoever was paying their bills) – either Robin McKelle, Indie.Arie, Lady way, I think it’s a sign of respect to not Antebellum, The Welcome Wagon, demand music instantly please me or else Shane & Shane, Bryan & Katie Torwalt, I reject it. And honestly, I’ve never had Tiago Arrais, , , Chris to make myself like crossover music. I Rice, Kate Havnevik, The Civil Wars, think it’s legitimate musical art. Only , Bon Iver, Lindsay McCaul, musical snobs seem to have trouble with Natalie Grant, Coldplay, Sleeping At it. And as a retired, older photographer Last, Sara Bareilles, Audra McDonald, friend once told me, “the worst thing art Miranda Lambert, Bridgit Mendler, can do is not move you either to positive Snow Patrol, Missy Higgins, and more or negative.” So even though some snobs I’m sure I’m forgetting. I’ve picked up may never like crossover music, at least all kinds of new songs and artists thanks it moves them somehow, even if to to Grey’s Anatomy, which is about to dislike. Crossover music is legitimate art start its 10th season this fall; lots of new that moves people for better or for worse artists have – I think (unconfirmed) and, from what I’ve seen, mostly for the become famous because Grey’s Anatomy better. debuted their song(s), and the audience that loves Grey’s have enough emotional Who are some of the artists that overlap with the soundtrack’s artists that inspire you? their music becomes hot.

Kelly Clarkson, Claire Bowen (the whole These ^ are all artists I respect and like show “Nashville” on ABC), Ingrid fistfuls of songs by, but it’s more than Michaelson, Hayley Westenra, Charlotte just artists that inspire me. I find new Church, , Dawn Upshaw, music by listening to songs sung & Joan Sutherland, , created by artists I don’t know. So an , Ella Fitzgerald, John important part of this answer, though you Legend, Sean Kingston, The Rescues, didn’t really ask for it, is that I’m Tegan & Sara, Phil Wickham, Melissa inspired by whatever my intuition picks Otto, Colbie Caillat, Jason Mraz, Taylor up on. If a song I’ve never heard before Swift, Martina McBride, Carrie from a genre I’m not used to triggers an Underwood, , Jennifer emotional response in me (and I have a Hudson, Beyonce, Owl City, , very vivid inner life I know well enough , Marvin Sapp, Jamie to articulate pretty clearly and pretty Cullum, Michael Buble, Andrew easily, regardless of the situation), I like it. Period. I’m constantly sound-tracking I would like to accomplish never ceasing my life and storing memories in music. I to make and enjoy music, as well as literally – these past few years, since the continuing to discover new music. My fall of 2010 – have been making playlists tastes and the programs I keep putting by the month. Whatever new songs I together aren’t just indebted to the talents came across (or old ones that came back of people who sing with me and play for to me), went into a playlist for that me, but they’re indebted to the creative month, which makes the playlists more individuals who make the songs I hear on like folders full of memories than TV shows, in movies & find randomly playlists full of songs. I love it. I also – when I surf iTunes late at night. If I were random – love hearing an artist come out no longer able to make music or hear with a new album that sounds like he or music, it would kill my quality of life. she is exploring, creatively. Sara Music is a window on heaven, it’s an Bareilles’ newest album, “The Blessed exotic hobby (which you can only have if Unrest” is a marvel when I compare it to you’ve suffered music lessons – thank her first album that had the hit, “Love you Mom & Dad for paying & making Song.” All her songs sounded like her (I me practice and not !), it’s sense the same spirit in them, which I therapy, catharsis, soul food and sanity. guess is Sara Bareilles’), but each new My father says I have music coming out album she made sounded more mature of my pores; it’s more than a potential and more expanded. The songs I bought career; it’s a need. Even religious authors from “The Blessed Unrest” I spent – not just artistic authorities and money on because – just from the sample psychologists – recognize that music – they sounded like she was setting plays a special role in our personhood, herself free to be completely unique and development, quality of life and intimacy it made her points and emotions come with God. The world needs music; music across in a more individual, enjoyable needs to never stop being explored. And way that I could really revel in, aurally. since I’m a committed music lover, I will always have a love affair with music What would you like to accomplish happening somehow in my life, and it musically in the future? will grow as I grow.

Chloe Lewis studies Religion at Andrews University.

Meet our team member Chantelle Constable

First of all congratulations on your gleaned about life that would change my marriage! I think it’s so important for outlook and opinions?” I am always singer’s to have lives outside of their stunned when I encounter deliberate music as it really gives them more closed-mindedness; I cannot imagine perspective on the things that matter. Do living my life without a constant attitude you agree? of exploration and discovery. And that includes sometimes “discovering” that I Thank-you! I am a very happy “Sadie was wrong in my past assumptions! Sadie married lady.” For myself, I don’t My husband helps my live “outside” know if it’s so much having a life outside myself by helping me work through my of music, because being dedicated and foibles of second-guessing myself and invested in your art is never a bad thing, my ever-present achilles heel of, “If I but I absolutely think it’s vital for human can’t do it perfectly the first time, I’m not beings to have a life “outside of” going to try at all!” He is always themselves. And it doesn’t have to be a encouraging me to try, and praising my life of wild intrigue and excitement, efforts no matter how insignificant I feel although I love travel and adventure, but they are. I’m very blessed to have such a having your eyes open to the world and strong supporter by my side! And of events and other people and their lives course, every day is an adventure. He and their stories… I think as the introduces me to new music, experiences, priviledged Western World and and opinions that I would not have especially as artists we can very easily discovered on my own. become too self-centered, and I think we can get stuck in our thought habits What inspired you to begin your without ever stopping to consider, “Is classical training and how old were there any new information I could have you?

Who else? . Just apart and made me a Special Someone. I kidding… sort of… Apparently, I liked getting pats on the head for being displayed enough fondness for singing as an “old soul.” Obviously, with age, the a child that my parents let me join a novelty wears off, and you wake up one children’s choir (The Columbian Youth morning and realize, “Oh. I can’t get by Choir in Wamego, KS) when I was ten. I on precocious talent any more — it’s had begun playing piano when I was strictly hard work from here on out!” five, so the music bug was already in my system. I learned some excellent singing You’ve always had a fondness for the basics in choir that allowed me to make a standards and opera. Do you think it’s sort of “party trick” of imitating some of important for musicians to be open to the music I was listening to at the time, other genres of music? which included Charlotte, as well as Sandi Patty. It was a laugh for me, I think it’s important for EVERYONE to because I could mimic the sounds and it be open to other genres of music! I’m made the “grownups” pay attention and severely irritated when I begin to discuss applaud me. Always looking for the a certain artist or another and the reaction spotlight, apparently! Well, I guess of the person I’m speaking to is, “Never things snowballed and I started taking heard of them!” and they cut me off. voice lessons when I was twelve, Please at least say, “I’m not familiar with although I didn’t have a proper teacher that artist, would you tell me more about until I was fourteen — mostly sweet them?” Listening to a variety of genres ladies who could read music, you know. can teach you a lot about culture and Classical music became my “counter history; it’s not just about the technique rebellion,” especially as a young person and theory, it’s about how music affects who was homeschooled, lived in the people’s lives, and knowing that can in country, and didn’t have access to the turn make you a better musician. For usual venues of teenage exploration. My myself, I believe it brings a vital well- few friends obviously thought I was nuts roundedness and intelligence to creation for not listening to , but I and performance. What I learn from the liked being the perverse (and yes, emotion of I can apply to snobbish!) one who retorted, “Oh yea? the delivery of an aria, and what I learn Well you don’t even listen to opera, but I from the technique of Leontyne Price I can sing it!” (Ah, youthful boasts…) can apply to letting my voice be heard Because I grew up with more adults as over an amplified rock band without my peers than young people my own age, screaming myself hoarse. Also, being it also gave me a sense of connection. I well versed in a variety of music and was already into the music of an older music history prevents you from looking generation — Bing Crosby was my first really dumb to an audience that may be music crush — so classical music and more informed. There are young artists opera was just another notch in my belt who declare they are doing something of “grown up” things that I felt set me “for the first time!” and that’s not the case at all. If they would have done their I think I prefer concerts — because as I research they would see it had been done mentioned earlier, I’m not such a great in the 1940s, and again in the 60s, etc. actress. I’m just a great big ham! Fanny Brice was a dream role to play, and one You played Fanny Brice in a production of the reasons I love singing showtunes is of ‘Funny Girl’. What was it like to because it’s fun to put on the mask of prepare for a role that one of your another character for a minute or two, but had originated? in general I think I prefer just singing and being on stage with my friends. All of It was comforting, in a way. I felt like I that learning lines and choreography stepped into the role knowing 90% of it, business is pretty intimidating! and that was the best way for me to make my foray into performing a lead role. I Was there a moment when you realized had great cast mates so I wasn’t too you needed to go beyond classical to terrified about not “living up to” Barbra fully express what was going on in your Streisand’s standard, although the life? dancing did throw me for a loop! I don’t think I went one night without stepping Looking back — at least from this point on my leading man’s feet. But the in my life — I’m almost not sure how I biggest aid to me was that I connected so got so “stuck” on classical in the first much with the character of Fanny Brice, place. Don’t get me wrong, I still love it! which is the reason I loved the musical I’m just not sure how it happened. As so much in the first place. Now, of I’ve said, I think the whole thing sortof course, only a year later I can already see snowballed out of misplaced vanity and a so much depth and complexity I wish I youthful desire to stand out. I could make would have brought to the character, but my voice sound big and “angelic” and that fundamental idea of a stage-struck people liked it so I kept doing it. But I kid who just wants to be in the spotlight was already in love with Judy Garland (sound familiar?) and who is always when I was fourteen, so I think cracking jokes to hide her self-doubt, to simultaneously I’ve always been trying the point where she starts believing her to get to a place where people took me own facade and misplacing her values, seriously singing those songs. It was resonated so deeply with me that I almost really a matter of waiting for my voice to didn’t feel like I was acting. I just had to mature from a girl’s into a woman’s, and sink back into the character. She was the same for my emotional maturity and right there, waiting for me. ability to sell the song.

Which do you think you prefer concerts I was always trying to write my own or musicals/operas? songs — oh, I should burn those early notebooks! — but never really satisfied with anything. I suppose the willingness to identify myself as a came Fundamentally, I think strong emotion is gradually, along with the rest of the girl- what tends to ignite my creative spark; I to-woman process. I tried to study music have a lot of angry songs, but also a lot as a part time college student and daily of sappy happy newlywed songs. Either became more frustrated with the whole way, my default is definitely not to write college system. I was out in the world, from a detached point of view. meeting people, travelling, adventuring, A specific thing that has been inspiring losing people from my life… Finally me recently is feminism. And in the gaining a little more depth than my life loosest sense, to me that means had held thus far. It just… happened. celebrating and uplifting women, and not Suddenly I had to sing it all. being content to accept the limits that have been placed on women throughout How did you begin writing original society and history. music? And what inspires you to write Finally, I would say that I am inspired by now? the non-musical arts — a story, painting, photo, , even architecture can create Oops, I got ahead of myself with this a “scenario” in my imagination that I question! I have always loved to write, want to write about. Sometimes it’s just a and I spent hours at my piano inventing gorgeous day and my heart wants to sing. melodies, but it was and still is a struggle (And I’m not afraid to be cheesy, to create something I feel is “as good as apparently.) it can be.” In other words, I’m a Perfectionist Artist, and that’s the worst How would you describe your sound? combination. I thwart myself from both sides; I often fear beginning a song Which sound? I still love singing because I won’t be able to accurately showtunes and ballads and jazz — but I convey the vague concept I have in mind, don’t think I could ever be considered a but I also get “stuck” on a detail and true jazz singer. I sound too “trained,” don’t like to make changes to a song I’ve I’ve been told, which has been a source deemed finished, even though that of frustration for me but I am reconciling change would be for the better! myself to being a semi-legit (a la Barbara I tend to be a very literal writer, and am Cook) pop standards vocalist. more at home in prose. I have an active In my own “solo” music, I wouldn’t imagination, but it doesn’t lend itself to know where to begin. I’m inspired by verbal flights of fancy. So, I’m trying to lots of lovely lady . Jennifer open my mind and realize that there Knapp and Sarah Slean have always been aren’t rules, and I don’t have to limit favorites and recently I’ve developed a myself to certain subjects or even styles music-crush on Fiona Apple. But I think of lyric writing. Hotel Gypsies has fun you can hear some of the “drama” of just writing about our daily lives; I don’t theatre or opera in my compositions. know how many little “Ode to Whiskey” They are very… complex, so I’ve been ditties we’ve jokingly started writing…! told! Too many chords, when four would Being a classically trained singer is what do just fine. got me invited to join the band, actually. The bass player of Lithus was a friend Hotel Gypsies’ official description is from college, and it was his mom that “plainsbilly sophisticate & hobo folk brought my name up when she knew the noir.” I think our one official press write- guys were looking for a “soprano girl up compared us to the Oh Brother Where singer.” It wasn’t such a switch-up as a Are Thou? Soundtrack. But we don’t singer, since they wanted me to do what insist on being stuck in one genre. We I’d always done, but it was definitely not have an assortment of instruments from the way I was used to creating music… guitar to banjo to accordion, we do silly and it was very loud! Ear protection isn’t stuff, we do old-timey church stuff where just for old folks! I don’t know that I I break out the “big guns,” vocally learned anything pertaining to “playing speaking, we do Muppet songs and as a classical musician” aside murder ballads and sappy love-song from — you’re not invincible, don’t hurt originals (I can’t tell you how much fun yourself! But it was and still is a it is to sing a love song to my husband on challenge for me to create music in a stage!). “jam” mentality where you just throw stuff out there, almost like an idea Right now, the rock band I’m playing in vomiting session, and you’re willing to calls ourselves ECHOPOD, and we are have ideas thrown away or shredded drums, bass, and keyboard. I’m not sure apart and put back together… That’s how I would describe us! My first band, very foreign for me; I much prefer to Lithus, drew comparisons to hole up and create something by myself and Evanescence, and I suppose that’s and only bring it to the table when it’s still there simply in the “classical girl “complete.” So, I guess my advice would vocals” element. We’ve decided our be: loosen up, trust the people you’re genre is “synth rock;” I use a TC-Helicon playing with (hopefully they are your VoiceLive Touch on almost every song friends already), and remember that and we rework a lot of familiar concepts unlike classical music where you have a into unexpected combinations. This is the “perfect” final product that has specific band I write a lot of my “angry feminist” instructions on how to perfectly songs for. Stay tuned, I guess! reproduce a performance, original music created in a group is always in a state of flux, both in writing and performance. You got involved with a rock band! What was that like coming from your classical/choral background? And did Here’s a little triva for the readers: I you learn anything you think classical ended up marrying the drummer of that musicians could pick up on? rock band I joined. So — there’s the moral of the story for you. Trying new things may lead to even greater adventures than you imagined!

rules — it goes to show you don’t have audiences are generally to write a big sweeping Diane Warren less rigid than classical audiences. Is ballad every time. Write what you want! this something you enjoy while Have fun with it! Joseph Arthur is a performing your new music? prolific songwriter whose flow-of- thought writing style, almost like Jack I hadn’t really thought about it before, Kerouac, I admire very much. but yes, having a more informal audience This is ironically coming full circle, but is definitely fun. Of course, there’s Charlotte Church’s new material — her something thrilling about holding a EPs “One” and “Two” so far — is some formal audience spellbound, but you of the most fantastic new music I’ve never know when that rapt silence might heard in a long time. The vocal effects just be boredom, and the applause may she uses are a lot like what I do with my just be polite, not genuine. Hotel Gypsies VoiceLive. Definitely inspirational stuff performs at a local open mic about once there. a month, and when that crowd applauds and whistles you know they mean it! We As someone who dabbles in popular played at a church ice cream social last genres, while still keeping your foot in month and got the folks singing along classical, what do you think of 21st with our closing song, “I’ll Fly Away.” century classical music and the Goosebump inducing! However, I will crossover phenomena? say this: For goodness’ sake, don’t clap along if you can’t keep the rhythm or 21st century classical music is… even find the offbeat. Thank you! incredible. I follow a lot of modern art song and choral composers on Twitter What artists inspire you to experiment? and Facebook, and it’s thrilling to me to see them posting about, “Working on a Well, there are several artists I admire new piece! Rehearsing a new piece! whose sound I am tempted to try to Debut performance of a new piece…!” emulate (I’m smitten with a lot of old It’s like watching history being made, swampy-swing jazz and French jazz and of course in the melting pot that is manouche right now), but as far as music, 21st century classical is drawing inspiring me to be completely from the wealth of everything that experimental on my own… Fiona Apple, preceded it, both in classical and popular as I mentioned. Her most recent album is genres. very minimal: almost solely piano, drums, and voice, but you’d never think As far as the “classical crossover” genre so because it has such a big sound! My itself goes, I think it has a lot of potential husband’s favorite band is They Might and I’m always excited when I see a Be Giants and they are great to listen to talented new artist arrive on the scene because they really do break all of the with innovative and original ideas.

Obviously, I myself enjoy singing , this song is a free for all and so I “” standards and showtunes just sing and belt it out there… Using the that are a mainstay of the classical VoiceLive Touch while singing with crossover repertoire. However, I think ECHOPOD has been a great help the genre is somewhat… how shall I say because I can get all sorts of effects: it… inbred? And unfortunately, there are reverb, echo, layers, harmony, and even NOT a lot of new ideas being generated; special effects like a megaphone, all just the next pretty young novelty singing without having to push my voice beyond the same songs and following in the its capability. exact footsteps of those who came before, because it made money for the I will say the one exception is that if I’m guys at the top. I get easily frustrated doing a legit classical performance, like with formulaic music. While there’s when I was the soprano soloist in PDQ nothing wrong with using a pop star Bach’s “The Seasonings” with the Flint marketing approach to lure people into Hills Masterworks Chorale this past their first classical vocal experience, and spring, I go back to my full, properly- I applaud the concept of “making trained classical voice. No “pop” classical music accessible,” I fear that inflections sneaking in there! people are simply stopping there and becoming lazy listeners. To be fair, What are some of your musical goals? though, I think today’s music industry can lead to lazy listeners in any genre. Lately, my goal has simply been to “not Also, the older I get the less enchanted I give up.” Sometimes the monotony of a am with the child star phenomenon… day job can drain my creative motivation, and that’s all I’m going to say about that! and it often seems like there isn’t an audience for the type of music I want to Vocally, how do you change your voice create. Thankfully, my life partner is also to adapt to different styles? my music partner, and he is very good at motivating me (sometimes that means You know something… I really don’t. dragging me along!) to keep working day Others may have different methods that by day by day. work for them, but the biggest “secret” of Short term, writing songs is high on the all, to me, was finally realizing that list — solo, Hotel Gypsies, and trying to deliberately adapt my voice to a ECHOPOD — as well as playing live myriad of styles was actually very gigs whenever we get a chance. Hotel straining. These days, I try to just open Gypsies in particular is not ashamed to my mouth and produce a healthy and bust out the ukulele and kazzoo just at natural sound. I am Chantelle, and this is any ol’ backyard barbeque! how I sing. Of course, it may vary song- I would like to keep recording and by-song… this song is sassy and gets a releasing EPs of my original songs, like I little bit of a snarl, this song is more did with “The Mad ones vol I.” I also delicate so I use more of a thin head have some ideas for a couple full-length local area, and maybe someday it could concept of standards and develop into a larger-scale concert showtunes, but we’ll see. Recording involving an orchestra, or a big band, on someone else’s music is more expensive some more renowned stages. I’d love to than recording your own! perform at Carnegie Hall, at least once! In a long term, big dream sort of scale, I A couple big “bucket list” items that would like to develop a sort of cabaret come to mind are: To be a guest on one-woman concert type show Prairie Home Companion, and to combining some of my favorite genres someday, somewhere, somehow be part (standards, 1970s “Laurel Canyon” of a performance of Mahler’s 2nd material, maybe some of my own . It is my all-time favorite originals) to perform with a pianist in the piece of music!

www.chantellesings.com

ByRunaway Jennie Johanson Soprano

Maria Callas. Anne Frank. Adolf Hitler. an hour, Edith playing, Edna singing. Mel Torme. Winston Churchill. What did When their parents returned later that all of these people have in common? night after Edna was in bed, Edith told They were all ardent fans her father very seriously, “I think Edna of Deanna Durbin. Who is this person has a great future as an opera singer.” who could awaken admiration from such She knew that he could not afford the diverse people? kind of education Edna would need to go into such a profession, so she said, “I’m Born in , Canada to English so sure of Edna’s talent, that I’ll pay for parents on December 4th, 1921 “Edna her singing lessons with the money I get Mae” Durbin was the youngest child of from teaching.” two girls. From an early age, Edna possessed a naturally beautiful voice, The truth is, the Durbin family had fallen sometimes performing at church or on hard times, as had many other people singing for the neighbors. However, it in America at the time. They had moved wasn’t until she was ten years old that from Canada to California several years her sister Edith, who was eleven years prior, because the weather was better for older, recognized her unbelievable gift. Mr. Durbin’s health. He worked very hard as a welder and took whatever other It happened one night while the two girls manual labor jobs he could find. “His were left at home together. Edith listened clever hands, combined with my attentively as her little sister sang the mother’s intelligent housekeeping got us traditional English song, “Drink To Me all through the Depression,” Edna would Only With Thine Eyes.” “That was later reminisce. However, he still lovely Edna,” she said, “Why don’t you struggled with health problems. Her sing it again and I’ll accompany you on parents never expected that their ?” The two girls sat together for youngest daughter would soon be providing an income for them, but soon The deciding moment came later, the door to an incredible opportunity however. “I remember when [my father] opened for them. came to pick up mother and me from the studio. Dad looked pale and sick. He had MGM prided itself as being the studio fainted twice and the doctor had told him that had “more stars than there are in the that he had to stop working for quite a heavens,” and they were always on the while. He was desperate. ‘Would it help lookout for new talent. One day, an agent Dad,’ I asked, ‘if I brought home a named Jack Sherill visited Edna’s school, hundred dollars a week? The studio which was only seven miles away from wants you to come back tomorrow and the studio. MGM was going to make a sign a contract for me.’ I’ll never forget bio-pic about the famous contralto, the look on his face, the happy tears in Ernestine Schumann-Heink, and they his eyes.” needed a little girl with a remarkable voice to portray the diva’s early years. After becoming the newest MGM Sherill was very impressed by Edna’s property, Edna started going to school part in the recital and told the little girl with other young MGM employees, and her mother that she should audition including , Judy Garland at MGM. and Freddie Bartholomew. However, the studio decided against making the movie The day arrived, and Edna and her about opera singer Schumann-Heink, and mother entered the gates of MGM with from that point, they were unsure of what great anticipation. The young songstress to do with her. Another talented had already tried out at Disney for the adolescent, Judy Garland, posed the same singing voice of Snow White, only to be problems. Judy would go on to say: told that her voice was “too mature” for “They didn’t know what to do with the part. Deanna would later say of her thirteen-year-old girls…I mean, you MGM audition, “I sang for one executive either had to be a munchkin, or you had who went out and got another executive to be…well…eighteen or something.” and I sang again, and I sang again. Each time I sang there was a lot of whispered Finally, they put the two prodigies consultation and someone else was sent together in a movie short called Every for. I must have sung about ten times in Sunday. To cut costs, the studio had all.” Louis B. Mayer himself was away decided to keep only one of the girls in New York at the time, but his under contract, so after watching the executives called him up and the twelve- eleven-minute film, Mayer told one of year-old sang “Il Bacio” to him over the his staffers to “drop the fat one.” He was phone. He made her an offer right then referring to Judy Garland, but there was a and there. misunderstanding and Edna’s contract was cancelled instead. “For me this was the end,” the star would later recall, “My dog Tippy and I went for a long walk. I was crying bitterly and decided that I’d Universal’s total profits, which is an kill myself-I couldn’t go back to school a amazing amount for one performer failure.” Providentially, a talent scout making approximately two movies a from Universal Studios also saw Every year. There was a price for fame, though. Sunday, and decided that she was just the “I hated being in a goldfish bowl. If I person they were looking for to play the went to New York, I had to stay in my youngest sister in their new hotel room or go everywhere under picture, . guard, whisked away in a big black limousine, terrified that the fans running Universal didn’t like the name “Edna” alongside would get hurt in the traffic. and asked the girl to change her name. My mother and I were once mobbed in She chose “Deanna” because it reminded Texas: the police lost control of the her of a nickname her sister used to call crowd and my mother suffered two her: “Dee Dee.” Deanna found the broken ribs from people trying to reach experience of making movies very new me. I have never been so frightened. They and exciting. “I liked the people with put me in the town jail for safety and to whom I worked and after the nervousness avoid the mob still waiting at the station, of the first day, I felt completely at ease they flagged the train down in the middle in front of the camera.” Three Smart of nowhere, where I got on safely.” Girls was a huge success; everyone left the theatre talking about the little girl Another difficulty was that the studio with the lovely lyric soprano voice, wanted to keep her movie persona the brilliant blue eyes, and charming and same, even as she grew vivacious personality. Because business older. Deanna felt more mature than the was so poor due to the depression, characters she was playing. While Universal studios had been about to file making the sequel to her first film, she bankruptcy and shut down. However, the and a young man who worked at the profits from Deanna’s first two studio began seriously dating. She had were so great, that the studio was saved. met Vaughn Paul prior to this, but only It irritated MGM head Louis B. Mayer to casually. They started going to dances, see a such a remarkable talent, which he movies, football games and races let slip through his fingers, making so together. In December of 1940, the much money for his rival. couple announced their engagement. Deanna was just nineteen “Deanna Durbin” became a huge star all years old. Initially she wanted a simple at once. Dolls were made of her. She wedding held at her parent’s house, but won an Academy Award. Her face instead the marriage ceremony became a graced the cover of dozens of magazines. highly publicized affair with many She had her own perfume and line of famous people from the movie industry clothing. Her first screen kiss made the in attendance. Thousands of fans flocked headlines. In the late , Deanna’s movies accounted for 17 percent of outside the church, and the 45 policemen busy, as she continued to star in movies were stationed around the building to and make live appearances. keep the peace. Since America was in the midst of the Vaughn Paul had recently become an Second World War, Deanna had the associate producer at Universal, but the opportunity to entertain the troops. Not movie he had been assigned to work on only would she sing for them, but to was not doing well. Vaughn grew bitter break the ice she would visit their service as Deanna’s success only increased. His clubs, eat with them in the mess hall, and humiliation at being outdone by his wife even serve meals. To keep her became a divisive issue in their performances light and marriage. Deanna would go on to say, “I friendly, Deanna chose less operatic work very hard; very hard trying to make material in favor of popular selections good pictures. But no matter how good such as George Gershwin’s the critics thought they were, Vaughn “.” In turn, the soldiers would always find fault with them. It was would get such a thrill out of hearing her very discouraging.” Over time, their love live, and go crazy stomping and cheering ebbed away, and soon living together after her each song. Afterwards, she became unbearable. Her husband would would cry because it was such an often stay out late nights without any emotional experience. “They seemed so explanation, and when he was around, it happy, and I felt just the opposite. You do seemed like all they did was fight. Sadly, so little and they think it’s wonderful, they filed for divorce in 1943, only two and the whole thing’s out of proportion.” years after they had so optimistically wed. One touching story involving the war years didn’t come to Deanna’s attention This was difficult for the studio to until quite a while afterwards. There was accept, especially since divorce was so a group of Americans were imprisoned scandalous at the time. “When my first by the Japanese and kept under horrific marriage failed everyone said that I conditions. Their captors tried every could never divorce. It would ruin the method of humiliation they could to ‘image’. How could anyone really think I break their spirits, including telling them was going to spend the rest of my life that Deanna Durbin had died a horrible with a man I didn’t love, just for the sake death while giving birth to her first child. ‘of an image’?!” Deanna questioned. She The prisoners were heartbroken and even continued to work, and when possible, decided to hold a small service spent time with her sister’s family. She for her. adored her young niece and nephew, and being a good aunt to them helped her not One day, about a year later, one of them to feel quite so alone. Of course, her made a makeshift radio which was able work as an actress and singer kept her to receive news from San Francisco.

While listening to it, Deanna’s voice favorite girl next door clad in a sultry came on the air announcing her next black dress as the broken-hearted torch song, and she began singing! The good singer. , which also news spread, and while the prisoners starred Gene Kelly, was her first secretly rejoiced, they had to be very financial loss for the studio. Deanna went careful not to show it. The camp was back to making sunny musicals, but her liberated in 1945, and years scripts kept getting worse. Although she later, Deanna received a letter explaining was the highest paid female actress of her how hearing her voice had brought them time, she still did not have any say in her so much joy. She wrote back by saying: career because Universal made the “Your letter told me so beautifully of choices for her. your feelings…now, I shall try and tell you mine. To start with, there were tears. Even more disappointing was the way Then a sort of overwhelmed happiness her second marriage was souring. The that you managed to contact me and that much older, and already thrice divorced, after all these many years I am able to Jackson expressed his dissatisfaction keep and cherish your letter with its with his life as a married man about a fabulous happy ending!” year and a half after their wedding, and a short few months later he deserted his After the war ended, Deanna married her wife and their new baby. “The second second husband, , a man divorce was traumatic, for there was a who had worked on several of her child involved.” Deanna admitted, movies. At this point, the star was “Being the child of a movie star can genuinely frustrated about being cast in mean a life even more unreal than that of the same type of role. It wasn’t that she the parent, and at that point I knew that I was disliked her movies, but she longed didn’t want my daughter to grow up in to branch out and have more creative Hollywood.” They separated in 1947, input about which parts she was to play. and Deanna was granted full custody of In 1944, Felix gave her the chance to do her daughter when the divorce was something completely different, and cast finalized. her in a dark dramatic role in the film, Christmas Holiday. “I was scared After director Charles David asked her to to death to do it,” said Deanna “But I marry him in 1950, Deanna consented wanted to do it more than any picture I under one condition: that she would be have ever made. I’ve done romantic allowed to retire from show business, and comedies so long that I just didn’t know never be pressured into performing whether or not I’d be capable of playing again. He agreed, and even suggested a dramatic part.” Deanna poured her that they move to his homeland of France heart and soul into her character Jackie, a after her retirement. Before fallen woman whose descent is brought leaving, Deanna had to reject many on by her husband’s shocking crime. offers from people who hoped she’d However, nobody liked seeing their postpone her departure. “Just once was I seriously tempted, by the prospect of My the world, going to concerts, operas and Fair Lady on Broadway. It was still in an museums. They enjoyed a long and embryonic state just a few songs happy marriage for nearly fifty years completed when Alan Jay Lerner came to until his death in 1999. my home to play them for me. I loved them…but I had my ticket to Paris in my Although Edna disliked intruding pocket and anyway, Julie Andrews was reporters and other “blood sucking great and so was Audrey Hepburn in the insects” as she dubbed them, there is a film.” story about one recording executive who proved to be more of an amusement to The move to France to start her life over her than a nuisance. This particular was a happy one. She always enjoyed the young man happened to be driving prospect of being a full-time homemaker, through the French countryside where he even when she would visit her sister’s stopped at a local tavern. While sipping home and “putter around the house.” In his drink, a sweet but strong soprano an earlier interview she admitted that she voice wafted in from outdoors. “Listen,” liked doing housework for people that he asked the bartender, “who is that she loved. However, for a while, singing?” The man turned to him and Hollywood tried to entice her to make a explained, “That’s Madame David who comeback. One of her producers, Joe lives in a farmhouse just a few minutes’ Pasternak, would telephone whenever he walk from here.” After hastily paying for was in Paris. “Are you still happy?” he’d his drink, the executive started towards ask. “Yes” she would reply. “Damn, well the farmhouse. I’ll try again next time,” he’d say before hanging up. An attractive woman in her 30s answered the door and asked if she could help him. Deanna did not miss fame and fortune. He told her who he was, and insisted that “The idea of being recognized wherever she should audition because his record I go holds no enjoyment. I would like to company was on the lookout for talented be able to shop in a store or go to the newcomers like her. Surprisingly, she theatre without people saying politely declined, looking amused as if ‘That’s Deanna Durbin.’ I would like to she knew some kind of inside joke. He have people like me because I was just assured her that if she would only come Edna, not Deanna.” Upon leaving tryout he could make her rich and Hollywood, she went back to her original famous. “I’m sorry,” she smiled, “but I name, and friends came to know her as don’t want to leave my husband and “Edna David” instead of “Deanna.” After family.” Noticing her subtle American moving to the village of Neauphle-le- accent, he continued with his pitch. Chateauhe, Edna gave birth to a second “You’ll remember American singers child, Peter David. When her children like Deanna Durbin, Jane Powell, grew up, she and her husband passed , and Jeannette their final years together traveling around MacDonald. I can guarantee that my company can make you as big an the memory of an angel. Once again, he international star as they used to be!” asked the bartender about her. “It’s a Madame David shook her head, and he shame she turned down my offer. She’s finally realized that pressing his point beautiful and quite talented; I really further would be futile. could make something of her,” he grumbled. “Yes, she has a lovely voice,” Walking back to the main road from her the barman grinned, “Actually, she used farmhouse, her voice haunted him like to sing professionally and make movies. They called her Deanna Durbin.”