Some noisy tenants have lived above me for years. A few months ago a young couple moved in next to me. They made some noise initially, which cost me some sleep, which I do not like to lose. They apologized, considerately. In their zeal to move in and be settled, I was a bit unsettled.

But I was pleased to lose some sleep during the night initially considering the benefit that I heard during the day: opera singing. I wasn't sure where it came from. It sounded like one of my new neighbors. I talked with the husband about it. He said that his wife was studying singing. I expressed my pleasure to hear it.

I was invited to hear her recital at the new Mixon Hall of the Cleveland Institute of Music on Friday, November 30, 2007 at 7:30 p. m. Because I arrived early, during a time when I was inside alone, I heard nothing. There was silence. No sound entered from without.

Some times when I hear my neighbour practising, she is not flawless. But I understand that the voice is that way when one is warming up. I was expecting her singing to be okay; but I was not expecting it to be enough to write an article about it.

Shortly after 7:30 p. m. soprano Jamie Tennant walked out onto the wooden stage floor of Mixon Hall, with Cara Chowning, who played the piano admirably. Jamie was attired in a striking black and white floor length dress. What followed was a manifestation of Doctor Mary Schiller's teaching.

Jamie sang selections in Italian, French, German, and English by Donizetti, Chausson, Strauss and Copland. Mezzo-soprano Barbara Castonguay joined her for one piece.

I had a desire to hear some quality singing. Jamie did not displease. In the auditorium she turned up the volume. Her voice had to have easily reached the top of the high ceiling of Mixon Hall. It was a pleasure to hear music and singing without electronic amplification. She sang better than I expected; and sang from memory. I heard few flaws, or none. Additionally she was facially expressive.

While enjoying the recital, I was looking at Mixon Hall from my seat. Although it is modern, it is not ugly. Behind the performers is a double glass wall. Through it I could see a bit of a tree during the night's performance. I was able to see the lights of an aircraft flying through the air. Looking down onto the stage was a pretty woman filling the hall with a voice that is lovelier.

It wasn't bad for her first Master of Music recital. She was given a curtain call, even though there was no curtain, and a standing ovation.

That is one Tennant that I would pay to hear.