Skip to content
    skip to navigation

    Classic FM

    Listen

    On Air Now

    Alan Titchmarsh 7am - 10am

    Alan Titchmarsh

    Now Playing

    Holberg Suite Opus 40 (5) Edvard Grieg Download 'Holberg Suite Opus 40 (5)' on iTunes

    Holberg Suite Opus 40 (5) artwork
    • Playlist
    • Schedule
    • Home
    • Radio
    • News
    • Discover Music
    • Composers
    • Artists
    • Lifestyle
    • Win
    • Charity
    • Podcasts
    • Events
    • Dating
    • Follow us on:
      Follow Classic FM on Twitter
      Follow Classic FM on Facebook
      Follow Classic FM on Instagram
      Follow Classic FM on Youtube

    Artists

    Jessye Norman

    Biography

    Biography

    The award-winning, critically acclaimed dramatic soprano, wowed audiences and critics all over the world, especially in her performances of the music of Wagner, Richard Strauss and Mozart.

    Born on 15 September 1945, Norman was singing gospel songs in church from the age of four.

    At nine, she heard opera for the first time on the radio and was immediately converted. At 16, she won a scholarship to Howard University in Washington.

    She won the 1969 ARD International Music Competition in Munich and made her operatic début in Berlin in Tannhäuser.

    In 1970, she sang the role of the Countess in Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro and recorded the role under Sir Colin Davis.

    She debuted at La Scala in 1972 where she sang the title role of Aida.

    She only made her U.S. opera début in 1982, appearing in Stravinsky's Oedipus Rex.

    She made her début at the Met in 1983 in The Trojans.

    In 1986, she appeared as a soloist in Richard Strauss's Four Last Songs with the Berlin Phil during its U.S. tour.

    In the mid-1990s, she began to move into singing mezzo parts.

    On 11 March 2012 she performed America the Beautiful at a service unveiling two columns of light at the site of New York's twin towers.

    Jessye Norman died in October 2019, aged 74.

    Did you know?

    Norman may actually have had a rare voice type known as a Falcon, close to a mezzo soprano in tone, but a dramatic soprano in range.

    View more

    Latest on Classic FM

    Sergei Rachmaninov, born 150 years ago.

    12 ways Sergei Rachmaninov changed music forever

    Rachmaninov

    Bradley Cooper stars in and directs the upcoming Netflix film, ‘Maestro’; a biopic of Leonard Bernstein’s life

    Maestro: everything to know about Bradley Cooper’s upcoming Bernstein biopic on Netflix

    Bernstein, L

    Rachmaninov comes alive in artist’s striking 3D portrait ahead of 150th anniversary

    Rachmaninov comes alive in artist’s striking 3D portrait ahead of 150th anniversary

    Rachmaninov

    Italian piano superstar Ludovico Einaudi wins Best Classical Artist at the Global Awards

    Ludovico Einaudi wins Best Classical Artist at the Global Awards 2023

    Global Awards

    Josafat Raman performs Einaudi’s popular solo piano work, ‘Experience’ on TikTok

    Pianist with congenital hand disability astounds with Einaudi melody in viral TikTok

    Discover Music

    Girl and her great-grandfather play a piano duet

    Toddler plays a heartwarming piano duet with her 100-year-old great-grandfather

    Discover Music

    The introduction of the £1 Ticket Scheme will help families access music-making events at the London chamber music venue

    Wigmore Hall launches £1 ticket scheme for families who face financial barriers, to access music

    Nicolò Foron won the 17th Donatella Flick LSO Conducting Competition with a programme of Wagner, Grieg and Berlioz.

    Joyous moment 25-year-old conductor wins competition with storming Berlioz symphony

    LSO

    James Bowman sings at Leeds Town Hall, 1972

    Leading countertenor James Bowman, who ‘inspired a generation’, has died aged 81

    Andrea Bocelli and HAUSER duet in New York

    Andrea Bocelli and cellist HAUSER perform a glittering New York Times Square duet

    Andrea Bocelli

    More artists

    See more More artists

    Nicola Benedetti

    Lang Lang

    Luciano Pavarotti

    André Rieu

    Most read Jessye Norman features

    Incredible black opera singers

    11 black opera singers you should know about

    Discover Music

    Black musicians who changed classical music

    19 black musicians who have shaped the classical music world

    Discover Music

    Jessye Norman In Concert At L'Olympia

    Opera icon Jessye Norman remembered at hometown funeral: ‘she had the ability to make the world stop’

    Soprano Jessye Norman has died aged 74

    Jessye Norman, international opera singer, has died aged 74

    Jessye Norman awarded the RPS Gold Medal

    Soprano Jessye Norman awarded Royal Philharmonic Society gold medal at a star-studded ceremony

    Jessye Norman singer opera soprano mezzo American

    Jessye Norman's guide to the singer's life

    First page Prev
    1
    Next Last page
    Back to top

    Also on Classic FM

    • Listen to Global Player
    • Alexander Armstrong on Classic FM
    • Google Doodle
    • Quizzes
    • Mozart
    • Debussy
    • Music theory
    • Instruments
    • Classic FM Live
    • Brahms
    • Vivaldi
    • Bach
    • LBC News
    • Tchaikovsky
    • Chopin
    • Andrea Bocelli
    • Florence Price
    • Beethoven
    • Best classical music
    • Classic FM Requests
    • Best pianists
    • Harry Potter music
    • Saturday Night at the Movies
    • Star Wars soundtrack
    • Composer or pasta
    • Music for Studying
    • Best violinists
    • Classical music tearjerkers
    • Relaxing classical

    Useful Links

    • Contact Us
    • Help
    • How To Listen
    • About Classic FM
    • Company Details
    • Cookies
    • Privacy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Advertise
    • Global Jobs

    Download the app

    Get it on the app store Get it on Google Play

    Follow Us

    Follow Classic FM on Twitter
    Follow Classic FM on Facebook
    Follow Classic FM on Instagram
    Follow Classic FM on Youtube
    © Global 2023
    30 Leicester Square, London, WC2H 7LA
    Privacy Manager