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A Musical Home of Operatic Proportions
The Massey Home
From Historic
Living, February 2001
Text by Ann Bohanon
Photography by Michelle Wurth and courtesy of the Masseys
It is as if you can
hear an aria from a favorite opera when you walk through the entrance of
the Massey home in Heritage Hills. Chances are you actually could, since
George Massey is a baritone and Susan Peterson Massey is a soprano! It
is a lyrical home and a romantic one just as the couple is. They met,
after all, singing for the San Francisco Opera in La Boheme.
Susan, a native of Enid,
received her Bachelor’s and Master’s of Music degrees from Oklahoma City
University, where she studied voice with Inez Silberg. A Metropolitan
Opera National Auditions winner, Susan did her post-graduate study at
the Juilliard School of Music in New York City, studying with
world-renowned vocal coaches and was selected to perform in Master
Classes.
Highlights of her operatic career include leading roles with the New
York City Opera and the Santa Fe Opera. A favorite appearance for this
talented Heritage Hills couple was when they appeared under the auspices
of Gian-Carlo Menotti at the Spoleto Festival in Spoleto, Italy.
That was the site of their European debuts and from there they have had
illustrious professional careers singing in both America and Europe.
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The Masseys’ living
room has the feel of a New Orleans salon. Notice Tosca
outside the window. |
Since 1975, George has been a leading baritone with many of America’s
opera companies, including San Francisco, Dallas, Houston, Miami,
Minnesota and Cincinnati. He made his Kennedy Center debut with Eve
Queler and the Opera Orchestra of New York in Richard Wagner’s
Rienzi.
In the past few seasons, George has been the featured artist for an
Oklahoma City Civic Music Association recital and debuted with the
Canterbury Choral Society as Mephistopheles in Hector Berlioz’s The
Damnation of Faust. He received his Bachelor’s in Music Education
from Jacksonville University and his Master’s in Music from the
University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.
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Operatic touches can
be seen throughout the house.
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After living in New York City
for ten years, traveling extensively and singing at Carnegie Hall and on
the stage of the New York City Opera, what made them move to Oklahoma
City and settle in Heritage Hills? A need to have a different lifestyle,
parents who live nearby, and a darling son named Brent who is a student
at Westminster School. After looking in many areas of the city they
loved the homes, people and neighborhoods of the Historic Living
area.
They purchased their home in 1993 and both are now teaching at OCU where
George is an Associate Professor of Voice and Susan is an Assistant
Professor of Voice (and, romantically, office next to each other).
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Visual interest in
the kitchen: a dramatic window, lamp and floor. |
Their
students are from all over the world, have performed with numerous opera
and musical theatre companies and have been awarded many scholarships.
The Masseys feel that the art of singing perpetuates itself and they,
through their students, are playing a significant part in that.
After knowing their backgrounds it will come as no surprise that, when
asked their thoughts on their home, they say, “The house has great
acoustics and there is room for the piano.” The necessities of life for
these talented people who also teach private students in their home.
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The master suite
features a wrought iron urn head board that is massive yet
lyrical. |
One
prized possession is seen on the beautiful grand piano and that is a
Charles Ives original songbook. He is called the father of American
music so it is very appropriate that it is one of their
treasures.
They also have an incredible piece of antique music, the 1898
Lohengrin score by Wagner. Mementos from their travels and
performances in Italy as well as gifts commemorating special
performances (a Madame Butterfly doll from Susan’s mother) create an
ambiance that reflects who they are personally and professionally. Their
son, Brent, did a papier-mâché dachshund titled “Sylvie.” It is proudly
displayed along with other art of his throughout the house.
Their home is a two story brick Colonial Revival home built in 1922 by
Mr. And Mrs. Samuel Trave. The Masseys purchased the home from Mr. and
Mrs. Richard McLean, who had done much of the restoration and added a
beautiful stained-glass window at the top of the stairway. Ron Licklider
with J. Kimball Interiors assisted George and Susan with their home’s
lovely interior. There are elegant, “operatic,” dramatic touches
everywhere. The dining room’s window treatment perfectly fits those
descriptions, as do the fabulous lamps in the entryway.
Mr. Licklider has taken their
eclectic pieces of artwork, mixed them with wonderful furnishings and
created the feel of a New Orleans salon in the living room (music room).
Looking over their well-used grand piano (through the outside window)
you see a fantastic sculpture they named, naturally, Tosca! She seems to
be holding court just outside the room’s window and, I am sure, she
loves listening to the voices of the owners as well as their students.
Another notable piece of art is the painting in the dining room titled
‘Valley of Light’ by Paul Holman. It is a painting of Sedona where they
once performed.
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Son Brett’s room pays
homage to South Park |
A whimsical surprise is the
zebra carpet leading up the staircase. An idea of Licklider’s, the
Masseys love it because it is unexpected and, somehow,
theatrical. Perfect for this home! Continuing up the carpet, we see
George’s dad’s magnificent grandfather clock, a favorite family
possession. This is also the location of the stained glass window
mentioned before.
A garden theme also runs throughout the home. Upstairs in the master
suite is an incredible wrought- iron urn headboard found by the interior
designer. Massive but graceful and, again, lyrical. The bedspread also
captures the garden theme. An abstract painting of a ship by Oklahoma
artist Loraine Moore hangs in this room and helps create a secluded,
cozy feel to the room that the Masseys love.
The Masseys talk about their home and vocal profession in terms of
sensations and imagery. Both are important and play a part in who they
are and where they live. Since their instruments are their voices, they
are constantly aware of both when performing and teaching. When they,
with their son Brent, are enjoying their wonderful home they are aware
of the sensation of warmth, texture, sound and images of the beautiful
fabrics, paintings, shadows and colors. A lyrical home and a happy one! |
