I haven’t felt like this, my dear
Since I don’t remember when …
Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne
from It’s Been a Long, Long Time, 1945
More than 15 years after she last sang on an Upper Valley stage, Ellen Nordstrom is tuning her mezzo-soprano voice for a sentimental journey through “the songs that got us through” the two World Wars and the Great Depression.
Singing Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree, Over the Rainbow and other favorites to and with her father, who’d served in the Navy in the Pacific during World War II, got Nordstrom through his final days in the fall of 2015. That experience inspired Nordstrom to develop the revue “Songs from the Homefront,” which she and pianist Abigail Charbeneau, aka the Mairzy Doats Duo, will perform on Sunday afternoon at the First Congregational Church of Lebanon.
“When my dad went into hospice, I saw a lot of the people at his retirement community come to life when we were singing these songs,” Nordstrom, who lives in Concord but still coaches voice students part-time at the Upper Valley Music Center in Lebanon, said this week. “Seeing them by his bedside, singing this music, it was so wonderful that I got to thinking, ‘We should do this again.’ ”
Nordstrom and Charbeneau, both of whom teach in Concord, had been performing songs spanning the World Wars and for several years in presentations at the Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site in Plymouth Notch, Vt., where Charbeneau, a graduate of Woodstock High School, directs the summer music program. Last July, “there were children learning songs that I would never imagine a 6-year-old singing, like Mairzy Doats,” Nordstrom said of the nonsense-words novelty hit from 1944, its title derived from “mares eat oats.” “The grandparents often thanked us, saying, ‘Wow, these are my songs, but my grandchild never knew them before now.’ ”
Nordstrom came to the wartime morale-boosting hits relatively late as well. She had focused on opera and musical theater while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in music at the University of North Carolina in the mid-1980s, then training with Dartmouth College instructor Louis Burkot. During her early years in the Upper Valley, she earned certification to teach and also performed with Opera North and Northern Stage — much of it while also working part-time jobs in restaurants, in local radio and in the Dartmouth College Library system.
By the mid-1990s, she had built up enough of a critical mass of voice students to work full-time singing and teaching, and learned other genres in the process.
“Teaching a wide range of people, from ages 6 to 89, I was introduced to so much repertoire that I had to sing to them, to help them through the material,” Nordstrom said. “They made me more aware of music that I’d never really sung.”
While her duo is billing Sunday’s performance as a celebration of “the Greatest Generation in song,” Nordstrom also sees it as a homecoming to the Upper Valley, 10 years after she moved to Concord. The duo also will present a private concert at the Wheelock Terrace retirement community in Hanover on Friday, and will return to the Coolidge homestead on July 16.
“My heart always belonged to the Upper Valley,” Nordstrom said. “I’ve been able to stay connected by teaching at the music center, but as a performer, this is my ‘Hello, Upper Valley! I love you, Upper Valley! I embrace you wholeheartedly.’ ”
As the Mairzy Doats Duo, mezzo-soprano Ellen Nordstrom and pianist Abigail Charbeneau perform “Songs from the Home Front: the Songs that Got Us Through” on Sunday afternoon at 4, at the First Congregational Church of Lebanon. Admission is $5 to $15. To learn more, visit uvmusic.org.
Best Bets
The first in the Vermont Humanities Council’s statewide series of readings of one of abolitionist Frederick Douglass’ most famous speeches takes place on the bandstand of the Norwich Green tonight at 6:30. On July 5, 1852, Douglass, who had escaped slavery and gained worldwide acclaim for his advocacy against the institution, spoke about the irony of expecting former slaves to celebrate Independence Day. To learn about subsequent readings in the Upper Valley over the next two weeks, visit vermonthumanities.org/.
Students and teachers from the Interplay Jazz & Arts summer camp kick off Pentangle Arts’ series of free Brown Bag concerts this afternoon at 5:30, with a performance on the village green in Woodstock.
On Friday night, Interplay faculty musicians perform two sets of New Orleans-style jazz at the Suicide Six ski area in South Pomfret. To reserve tickets ($75 for the show accompanying dinner at 6, $35 for the show accompanying dessert at 9:30) and to learn more, visit interplayjazzandarts.org or call 802-356-5060. Proceeds benefit Interplay’s scholarship fund.
And on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., camp students perform jazz, blues, Latin rhythms, bebop, big-band tunes and world music at Suicide Six, during Interplay’s jazz and arts festival. While admission is free, donations to the Interplay scholarship fund are welcome.
Young actors from around the Upper Valley and central Vermont stage Shrek the Musical, the Tony-winning adaptation of the animated series of films about a flatulent, grumpy ogre with a heart of gold, at the Chandler Music Hall in Randolph at 7 tonight, Friday night and Saturday night and at 2 Sunday afternoon. For tickets ($12 to $18) and more informatin, visit chandler-arts.org or call 802-728-6464.
Pianist Sonny Saul plays several of his compositions, spanning more than 35 years, on Friday night at 7, during a concert at ArtisTree Community Arts Center in South Pomfret. His accompanists include bassist Bill Martin, drummer Pete Michelenie, clarinetist Quincy Saul and soprano Luette Saul. Tickets cost $10 at the door. To learn more, visit artistreevt.org.
George and Donna Butler lead their 16th annual patriotic sing-along for Fourth of July on Tuesday morning at 11, in the Mary Keane Chapel of the Enfield Shaker Museum. The Butlers are encouraging listeners to bring flags to wave, and active members of and veterans of the service to attend in uniform. Donations at the door are welcome.
In the first of three free concerts of world music on the green in Hanover, Corey Ledet & His Zydeco Band set the rhythm for dancing by belting out a mix of Creole roots tunes, pop, funk and jazz on Wednesday afternoon at 5:30. For more information on the Hopkins Center’s summer offerings of free concerts and movies, visit hop.dartmouth.edu.
Looking Ahead
North Country Community Theatre will stage the Disney adaptation of the studio’s movie version of Beauty and the Beast seven times over the second and third weekends of July, at the Lebanon Opera House. For tickets ($13.50 to $23.50), showtimes and more information, visit ncct.org or call 603-448-0400.
Upper Valley Americana stalwarts Bow Thayer, Spencer Lewis and Celia Woodsmith are among the musicians who will provide the soundtrack to the July 8 FableFest at the former Clark Farm in Barnard. Woodsmith, a Norwich native and graduate of Hanover High School, will sing with Chris Hersch, her partner in the duo Say Darling. The festival begins at 2, and includes a sculpture show, art walks, workshops, a square dance and activities for kids. To reserve tickets ($10 to $40) and learn more, visit feastandfield.com.
Theater/Performance Art
With a cast that includes 25 sheep from Strafford’s Spring Valley Farm, choreographer Ann Carlson presents the world premiere of Doggie Hamlet on the green in Hanover this afternoon at 4:30 and 7. Between the shows, Upper Valley farmers and organizations will demonstrate the process of turning wool into clothing, and offer hands-on activities for spectators of all ages. Admission is free. To learn more, visit hop.dartmouth.edu.
The New London Barn Playhouse continues its production of the musical adaptation of The Secret Garden with performances at 7:30 tonight, Friday night and Saturday night, at 5 on Sunday afternoon and Wednesday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. For tickets ($20 to $40) and more information about this and subsequent shows, visit nlbarn.org or call 603-526-6710.
The Lincoln, N.H.-based IMPACT Theater Company performs Thumbelina at Claremont Opera House on Monday morning at 10, in the venue’s weekly series of musical adaptations of popular fairy tales. General admission tickets cost $6. To learn more about the series, visit claremontoperahouse.org.
Music
Singer-songwriter Scott Forrest plays during the Lebanon Farmers Market, in Colburn Park, from 4 to 7 this afternoon.
Julia Wiles serenades the weekly Feast and Field Market with folk and roots music tonight at 5:30, at the former Clark Farm in Barnard. Admission is free.
The Coteries trio barnstorms through the Upper Valley this week, performing roots and Americana songs and tunes at Colburn Park in Lebanon tonight at 6:30; at the monthly house concert at 30 Summer Street in Bradford on Friday night at 7; and on the Flanders Stage in Sunapee Harbor on Saturday afternoon at 5. Admission is free to the Lebanon and Sunapee concerts, and donations are welcome at the Summer Street performance.
Canyon Run plays Americana, folk and country at the Haddad Bandstand in New London on Friday night starting at 6:30. If the weather is iffy, the show will move into Whipple Hall.
The Twangtown Paramours duo of Mike Lewis and MaryBeth Zamer performs Americana music on Friday night at 7 at the Strafford Town House, during the next concert in the series benefiting the restoration of the historic building’s spire. Admission is $20. To reserve tickets (seating is limited to an audience of 200) and learn more, visit atthetownhouse.org.
Pianist John Davis opens the summer concert series at Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site in Cornish on Sunday afternoon at 2. The concert is included in the $10 admission to the historic site.
Flutist Leslie Stroud and pianist Matthew Odell perform works of Mendelssohn, Carl Reinecke and Charles Widor on Sunday afternoon at 4 at the Church of Christ at Dartmouth College in Hanover. While admission is free, donations to the literacy-based mentoring program Everybody Wins! Vermont are welcome.
Gerry Grimo leads the East Bay Jazz Ensemble onto the bandstand on the Newport Town Common on Sunday night at 6. In the event of rain, the concert will move to the Methodist Church next door.
Dana and Susan Robinson play folk music on the bandstand at Lebanon’s Colburn Park on Monday night at 7.
The Vermont-based teen chorus Village Harmony swings through Alumni Hall in Haverhill on Monday night at 7:30. To reserve tickets ($5 to $10), visit alumnihall.org or call 603-989-5500.
The Aaron Audet Band covers pop and rock classics on the Fairlee Town Common, Tuesday night at 6:30.
John Lackard plays the blues on the Quechee Green on Wednesday night at 6:30.
The Dr. Harp Blues Revue Band plays the first free concert of the summer series on the Ben Mere Bandstand overlooking Sunapee Harbor, Wednesday night at 6:30.
Dance
Students from the Mascoma Valley Parks and Recreation dance camp perform an adaptation of Thornton Burgess’ Old Mother West Wind on Friday night at 6:30, in the auditorium of Mascoma Valley Regional High School. Admission is free.
Bar and Club Circuit
Pianist John Lovejoy plays at the Canoe Club in Hanover tonight from 6 to 9.
Singer-songwriter Brad Myrick performs at Taverne on the Square in Claremont tonight at 7. SIRSY plays a set of rock on Friday night at 9, followed by the rock band Tirade on Saturday night at 8.
The Occasional Jug Band performs in the tavern at Jesse’s in Hanover on Friday evening at 5.
Folk singer-songwriter Cosy Sheridan kicks off the Sunapee Community Coffeehouse’s summer series of concerts on Friday night at 7, with a performance at the Harbor House Livery in Sunapee Harbor. General admission costs $5 to $15. To learn more about this concert and about the series, visit sunapeecommunitycoffeehouse.org.
Bassist Dave Clark performs at the Inn at Weathersfield in Perkinsville on Friday night at 7.
Guitarist Ted Mortimer plays the Salt hill Pub in Hanover on Friday and Saturday nights at 8.
The Conniption Fits rock the Salt hill Pub in Lebanon on Friday night at 9, followed on Saturday night at 9 by singer-songwriter Chris Powers.
Singer-songwriter Ben Fuller plays the Salt hill Pub in West Lebanon on Friday night at 9. On Saturday night at 9, singer-songwriter Haley Katrin appears.
The weekend lineup at the Salt hill Pub in Newport features singer-songwriter Chris Powers on Friday night at 9 and Flew-Z on Saturday night at 9.
The Chris Kleeman Blues Band performs at Skunk Hollow Tavern in Hartland Four Corners on Friday night at 9.
Rumblecat pulls into Windsor Station on Friday night at 9:30, followed on Saturday night at 10 by the 1-2-3 punch of Cultural Chemistry, Maiden Voyage and Caesar Comanche.
Open Mics
Ramunto’s Brick & Brew Pizza in Bridgewater hosts an open mic starting at 7:30 on Thursday nights. Participants get a free large cheese pizza.
String players of all ages and abilities are welcome at the weekly acoustic jam session at South Royalton’s BALE Commons on Friday night from 6:30 to 10.
Joe Stallsmith leads a weekly hootenanny of Americana, folk and bluegrass at Salt hill Pub in Hanover on Monday nights at 6.
Bradford’s Colatina Exit holds an open mic, Tuesday nights at 8.
Jim Yeager hosts an open mic at Hartland’s Skunk Hollow Tavern at 8:30 on Wednesday nights.
David Corriveau can be reached at dcorriveau@vnews.com and at 603-727-3304.