Jessye Norman 1945 - 2019

[pjme]

The soprano died from septic shock and multi-organ failure secondary to complications of a spinal cord injury she had sustained in 2015, according to family statement issued to the Associated Press.

"We are so proud of Jessye's musical achievements and the inspiration that she provided to audiences around the world that will continue to be a source of joy. We are equally proud of her humanitarian endeavors addressing matters such as hunger, homelessness, youth development, and arts and culture education," the family statement read.

Norman was born in Georgia to a musical family. As a child, she sang in the church gospel choir and listened to the Metropolitan Opera via radio. At 16, she entered a singing competition named after her idol — Marian Anderson. Norman did not win, but was offered a full scholarship to Howard University.

After graduating with a Masters from the University of Michigan in 1968, Norman spent a decade in Europe building up her operatic repertoire, performing with German and Italian companies. It wouldn't be until 1982 when she made her U.S. debut performing with the Opera Company of Philadelphia. She would debut at the Metropolitan Opera — the company she listened to as a child on the radio — the following year. By the mid-'80s, she was one of the most in-demand sopranos in the world.
Norman sang at the second inaugurations of presidents Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton. In 1996, she sang at the Opening Ceremony of the 1996 Summer Olympics, which were held in her home state of Georgia. She also famously sang at the 9/11 memorial in March 2002.
Norman won four Grammy Awards over her long career and won the Life Achievement Award in 2006. She was also bestowed many honors, including the Légion d'honneur, the Kennedy Center Honors, and National Media of the Arts. She received the 12th Glenn Gould Prize for her contribution to opera and the arts in 2018.
She was also a philanthropist, contributing to many causes dear to heart, including music and homeless programs, and AIDS research.

R.I.P.

https://www.youtube.com/v/Se0HPsJex04

[ChopinBroccoli]

RIP... iconic singer

[André]

Very sad. I heard her in concert. She had incredible charisma. Fortunately she leaves a fine and abundant recorded legacy.

[JBS]

 

[Ken B]

Wonderful singer. Best version of Four Last Songs. Which it will take a long time for me to dig out.

[mc ukrneal]

So sad. When she was 'on', she was as good as anyone.

[ritter]

R.I.P. One of the truly great ones....

[vers la flamme]

Rest in peace to an astonishing talent. She did our state proud.

I have been listening to a mesmerizing performance of Schoenberg's Lied der Waldtaube that she sang with Pierre Boulez and the Ensemble Intercontemporain. I highly recommend it to any fan of great music.

[Mandryka]

I saw her twice as far as I remember, once in Ariadne and once in  the Wessendonck lieder and Erwartung. The Strauss was really impressive, I swear you could see her tonsils from the dress circle in Covent Garden. I enjoyed the Wagner less, though who can say why? Not me.

[Roasted Swan]

Very sad. I heard her in concert. She had incredible charisma. Fortunately she leaves a fine and abundant recorded legacy.

Just so........

[Cato]

I saw her twice as far as I remember, once in Ariadne and once in  the Wessendonck lieder and Erwartung. The Strauss was really impressive, I swear you could see her tonsils from the dress circle in Covent Garden. I enjoyed the Wagner less, though who can say why? Not me.

I had written here on GMG not long ago about a PBS broadcast of her 1980's performance in Erwartung.  I still have my video recording of it, which I transferred from a tape to a DVD.

"Septic shock" ?!  I would like to know more about what happened after that spine injury.

[aligreto]

A true Great with a wonderful legacy.

[Marc]

That's sad to hear.

I thought Jessye Norman was quite phenomenal as Countess Rosina in Mozart's Figaro (recorded with Colin Davis).
Also very well casted, imho, as Sieglinde in Janowski's Ring, but that's a bit arrogant of me to say, cuz I'm not a Wagnerian really.

I think she developed from lyrical to dramatic soprano. Personally I preferred her fresher tone of her younger years, but, as they say, these things are personal.
I wasn't all too fond of her Carmen or Dido (the latter role brought her much fame iirc), but I very much liked her Frauenliebe- und Leben (Schumann).
No doubt she was very charismatic indeed.

May she rest in peace.

[André]

That's sad to hear.

I thought Jessye Norman was quite phenomenal as Countess Rosina in Mozart's Figaro (recorded with Colin Davis).
Also very well casted, imho, as Sieglinde in Janowski's Ring, but that's a bit arrogant of me to say, cuz I'm not a Wagnerian really.

I think she developed from lyrical to dramatic soprano. Personally I preferred her fresher tone of her younger years, but, as they say, these things are personal.
I wasn't all too fond of her Carmen or Dido (the latter role brought her much fame iirc), but I very much liked her Frauenliebe- und Leben (Schumann).
No doubt she was very charismatic indeed.

May she rest in peace.

Frauenliebe was the centrepiece of the recital I heard her in, in the mid-seventies. I didn't know the work at the time and was bowled over by the torrents of voice and emotion she brought to it. I also recall well the spirituals she sang as encores, but forgot about the rest of the program she sang. As the first solo singer recital I ever attended, this was a memorable event indeed.

[Traverso]

I cherish her recording with"Des Knaben Wunderhorn" Concertgebouw Orchester / Bernard Haitink

May she rest in peace.

[vers la flamme]

I cherish her recording with"Des Knaben Wunderhorn" Concertgebouw Orchester / Bernard Haitink

May she rest in peace.

This is a great recording which I only know because you showed it to me.  Going to have to give it a listen again soon.

[ritter]

Here she is, in one of my favourite vocal  (and favourite Mahler) performances on disc ever:

https://www.youtube.com/v/Z2_0d9BjgMc&

Brava, Jessye Norman! Bravissima!

[Traverso]

This is a great recording which I only know because you showed it to me.  Going to have to give it a listen again soon.

Glad to hear that you like it,it is one of my most favored Mahler works.

[Scion7]

I watched her many times on PBS. Very talented.
R.I.P.

[Mirror Image]

I didn't realize that Norman had passed away. What an unbelievable talent she had! Her Ravel, Berg, Mahler, and Strauss were just exemplary. She will be missed. RIP, Madame Norman.