I enjoy reading about the lives of musicians, and find many similarities in their ideas of preparation and their utter devotion to this great, eternal language: music. Jessye Norman devotionenjoyeternal Change image and share on social
I want to sing more in Spanish. I want to sing the songs of Granados; the songs of Montsalvatge. To do things that truly I've not done before. Jessye Norman granadohavemontsalvatge Change image and share on social
If you send up a weather vane or put your thumb up in the air every time you want to do something different, to find out what people are going to think about it, you're going to limit yourself. That's a very strange way to live. Jessye Norman airfindlimit share on social
As for my voice, it cannot be categorised - and I like it that way, because I sing things that would be considered in the dramatic, mezzo or spinto range. Jessye Norman categoriseconsiderdramatic Change image and share on social
One has to draw upon one's own musical thoughts and one's own musical acumen, and not to be afraid to let that come into one's work. Perhaps that comes with more experience, but perhaps it also comes with daring, and believing that you should. Jessye Norman acumenafraidbelieve share on social
I am deeply spiritual; I revel in those things that make for good - the things that we can do to shed a little light, to help place an oft-dissonant universe back in tune with itself... Long live art, long live friendship, long live the joy of life! Jessye Norman artbackdeeply share on social
I didn't think at all as a young child that music would be my profession. It was just something that one did along with going to Brownies or going to church or going to school or anything else that one did in sort of one's very young life. Jessye Norman browniechildchurch share on social
There have been occasions - and I think it's very good for any human being that such occasions would be rare - that one would feel that one is a channel, and there have been some occasions when it seemed as though I was standing outside of myself watching and listening to myself sing. Jessye Norman channelfeelgood share on social
It takes a caring community to raise a child that will be a whole person and a contributing citizen. Jessye Norman carechildcitizen Change image and share on social
I feel comfortable singing in the great cathedrals of the world because I spent so much time as a child singing in church. And it isn't very different. Of course, nothing looks quite like Notre Dame de Paris. Jessye Norman cathedralchildchurch share on social