Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

September 15, 1945 in Augusta, GA

Death

:

September 30, 2019 in New York City, NY

Genre

:

Opera

 

 

Vocal

 

Jessye Norman was an American opera singer and recitalist who was widely regarded as one of the greatest sopranos of the 20th century. Born on September 15, 1945, in Augusta, Georgia, she grew up in a musical family and began singing in church at a young age. Her parents encouraged her talent and she began taking piano lessons at the age of four. She later studied voice at Howard University in Washington, D.C., and at the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore. Norman made her professional debut in 1969 at the Deutsche Oper Berlin, where she sang the role of Elisabeth in Richard Wagner's Tannhäuser. She quickly gained a reputation as a powerful and expressive singer, with a rich and resonant voice that was capable of conveying a wide range of emotions. She went on to perform at many of the world's leading opera houses, including the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the Royal Opera House in London, and La Scala in Milan. One of Norman's most famous performances was her rendition of the aria "Summertime" from George Gershwin's opera Porgy and Bess. She first performed the song at the Spoleto Festival in Italy in 1984, and it quickly became one of her signature pieces. Her recording of the song won a Grammy Award in 1985, and she went on to perform it at many of her concerts and recitals. Norman was also known for her interpretations of the works of Richard Strauss, Gustav Mahler, and other composers of the late Romantic era. She was particularly admired for her performances of Strauss's Four Last Songs, which she recorded with the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra in 1991. The recording won a Grammy Award for Best Classical Vocal Performance. In addition to her work in opera and recital, Norman was also a champion of contemporary music. She premiered works by many of the leading composers of the 20th century, including John Adams, Philip Glass, and Kaija Saariaho. She also collaborated with jazz musicians such as Wynton Marsalis and Bobby McFerrin, and recorded an album of spirituals and gospel songs with the Boys Choir of Harlem. Norman received many awards and honors throughout her career. She was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Ronald Reagan in 1984, and was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 1999. She was also awarded the Kennedy Center Honors in 1997, and was made a Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French government in 2009. Norman was known not only for her vocal talent, but also for her elegance and grace on stage. She was a tall and imposing figure, with a regal bearing that commanded attention. She was also known for her philanthropic work, particularly in the areas of education and the arts. She established the Jessye Norman School of the Arts in her hometown of Augusta, which provides arts education to underprivileged children. Norman's career was cut short by a spinal cord injury in 2015, which left her partially paralyzed. She died on September 30, 2019, at the age of 74. Her death was mourned by music lovers around the world, who remembered her as one of the greatest singers of her generation.

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