AN AFTERNOON WITH JEAN STILWELL

by Judi Argue

For me, the word diva conjured a vision of a supremely talented prima donna, but one who is perhaps erratically behaved, intensely spoiled and impossibly insecure.  So as I walk up the stairs to the home of mezzo-soprano Jean Stilwell, one of Canada's principal opera divas and a resident of Toronto's trendy loft district in Riverdale, I am slightly apprehensive.  In our interview, would she piercingly belt out her A flat, two octaves above middle C, shatter a crystal goblet and insist I sweep it up?  Or have my stereotypical preconceptions taken over my better judgment?

At first blush, Jean Stilwell's presence is a study in contradictions, out of step with the ample-bodied, heaving-bosomed opera singers of yesteryear.  Lithe and statuesque, powerful but intimately accessible, Jean's energy is palpable.  She speaks unaffectedly but fluidly, articulating with clear, well-phrased breathing, making anything she says sound profoundly musical, I discovered a woman rich with sensitivity, humour and grace with a sense of style that is best summarized as "mainstream eccentric," a term also reflected in the eclectic, grand edge meets get-down comfort of her urban loft.

I asked her to describe her artistic purpose and how she uses her considerable talents towards that purpose.  "I use my entire body to sing and to communicate. I need to channel the range of emotion, colour and tapestry of sounds and lyrics the composers originally intended," she says.  "It is all about communicating truthfully and authentically and being the best I can be."  She describes the process of performing as "getting out of the way of your instrument" and "stripping yourself of distractions."  What is most important to Jean Stilwell?  "The pursuit of the truth and with that, love."

Juxtaposed to her classical roots, Stilwell's "instrument" bears graphic depictions of what she describes as her "emotional evolution" - six tattoos placed artfully on graceful limbs and, as Jean explains it, at energy centres or chakras of the body, each one carefully earning its place through rich experience or because of its poignant personal significance.  Most memorable is the Spanish fan on her right calf, commemorative of the twenty-five sexy Carmens for which she is best known.  Etched as deeply as the grief and anger at losing her mother to ALS is the tattoo of a wolf howling at the moon positioned at the right side of her belly (ALS of Lou Gerhrig's Disease is a cause for which Jean Stilwell is national spokesperson).

My diva preconception is further challenged as I learn about Jean's newest CD, Carmen Unzipped - a bold leap from the opera house to the cabaret stage with pianist Patti Loach, a skilled and energetic virtuoso with a passion of musical theatre, jazz and classical music. For Jean, this departure from recital, concert and operatic performance, for which she is world-renowned, is not so extreme.  She is 100% committed to the emotion of each role and the type of music she performs.  "I know technically what to do, so it is a matter of finding the bottom-line emotion."  In this new CD, there is no scarcity of diverse emotionality in her moving renditions from Bizet's Habanera from the opera Carmen to the evocative "Falling in Love Again" made famous by Marlene Dietrich and the cleverly fanciful "Taylor the Latte Boy."  The CD takes the listener on a tour de life.  It demonstrates that love, passion, loss and triumph are timeless themes, especially when illuminated by the diversity and vocal agility of one of Canada's most treasured soloists.

As Patti Loach joined my interview with Jean Stilwell, it became apparent that the two are sister friends - kindred spirits - although Patti maintains she is far too sensible to expose the "wild core" Jean insists they have in common.  Patti starts, "We finish each others sentences and when it comes to performing..." Jean completes her thought, "we couldn't make the kind of music we do unless we shared that kind of commonality."  Having proved their point, they look at each other with a delighted giggle.  Patti knows Jean and her voice so well that she has chosen all of the music for the CD and their performances together. "Out of hundreds of pieces, maybe there have been two that I didn't think would work for me." Jean said.

They both cherish relationships with their supportive and musical families.  Jean's former husband, Robert Speer, who is still her best friend and with whom she shares a remarkably healthy partnership in raising their 12-year-old son, Freddy, is a double bass player for the Canadian Opera Company and the National Ballet.  Patti's husband, John Loach, is a mechanical engineer and trumpet player.  Jean tells me that the Loach's home in the Beach district features a grand piano and state-of-the-art recording studio - the backdrop for many casual dinner parties.  It is a place where the great musical and theatrical talents of the country showcase their "chops," partake in great wines, fine cheeses, Patti's brilliant culinary skills and yes, good coffee.  These magical gatherings catapult the notion of entertaining at home to a whole new level.

With the launch of her new CD Carmen Unzipped, upcoming headlining performances as "the old lady" with Toronto Operetta Theatre's production of Leonard Bernstein's Candide opening December 27, and in the role of "Margot" in next November's premiere of Transit of Venus in Winnipeg for the Manitoba Opera, Jean Stilwell displays her versatility, and range, not only as a soloist, but as an actor/performer (For more info, http://jeanandpatti.com/)

Before sitting down to write this piece, I revisited the dictionary to review the simple Latin derivations - prima donna; "the principle woman singer in  an opera" and diva; "goddess, the feminine of god."  Then it made sense as an apt description for Jean Stilwell, this urban goddess, a divinely vast soul who in scores of leading roles has blessed audiences with her ethereal musical gifts from the stages of the world's most prestigious opera houses.  In our time together, aside from her rightful position as a foremost mezzo-soprano, Jean dispelled my misconceptions by demonstrating her love of and reverence for life, depth and compassion as a person, mother, friend and activist.  Diva?  Yes, by definition, but warmly, refreshingly, uniquely Stilwell.