Jessye Mae Norman is an American Grammy award-winning contemporary opera singer and recitalist. A dramatic soprano, Norman is associated in particular with the Wagnerian repertoire, and with the roles of Sieglinde, Ariadne, Alceste, and Leonore. Norman has been inducted into...
Howard University, A. R. Johnson Health Science and Engineering Magnet High School, University of Michigan
Nationality
United States of America
Parents
Silas Norman, Janie King-Norman, O Divine Redeemer, The Holy City, Je te veux
Nicknames
Norman, Jessye
Awards
Kennedy Center Honors
Nominations
Grammy Award for Best Classical Crossover Album, NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work - Biography / Auto-biography, O Divine Redeemer, The Holy City, Je te veux
Movies
Symphony for the Spire
Star Sign
Virgo
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Quote
1
[on her memoir 'Stand Up Straight and Sing'] I've made a lot of commencement speeches, 'yes, do get on with our lives and be really be good citizens' kinds of speeches. But what I really wanted to do with this book was to talk about the nurturing and nourishing that is needed - not just by people who go into the performing arts - but by all off us.
2
I would like to go to symphony orchestras in [America] and see the orchestra look more like the demographics that they're meant to serve. I would like to see more African-American singers as part of our opera companies.n
3
What I find today is that students, whether they are instrumentalists or singers, are so glued to the page, so glued to notes, they don't get that within all of that they need to make music.
4
There is a lot of propaganda about opera singers not being able to act. That's not necessarily true and hasn't been true for a long time. And certainly, there are those instances when singers were told they need to fit into a certain size dress. Of course, women. Men? They just make the costumes bigger.
5
[on what is on her mind whilst performing] I think about the words, I think about the characters. I think what a pleasure it is to sing some of the text that I have. I am so grateful to to be saying those words, they're so beautiful.
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Fact
1
She was awarded the American National Medal of the Arts on February 25, 2010 at the White House in Washington D.C. for her services and contributions to music.
2
She was awarded an honorary doctorate for her services to music from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at the 1998 Commencement Ceremonies.
Actress
Title
Year
Status
Character
Christmas Glory from New York
2001
TV Movie
Soprano
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
2000
TV Series
Thunder Mountain Woman
The People's Passion
1999
TV Movie
Narrator
Margie Gillis: Wild Hearts in Strange Times
1996
Great Performances
1993
TV Series
Jocasta
Die Walküre
1990
TV Movie
Sieglinde
The Metropolitan Opera Presents
1983-1988
TV Series
Ariadne / Primadonna / Madame Lidoine / ...
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
Restless City
2011
performer: "Four Last Songs - Im Abendrot" written by nm0006309
$3 Million
