I sing in languages that I speak. So when I'm singing a Schubert song, I know precisely what every word means and, you know, when it was composed and who was the poet and all of that and whether Strauss… — Jessye Norman Copy Share Image
I sing in Hungarian. I read Hungarian. I do not pretend to speak Hungarian, but I sing in languages that I have studied as languages. And I find that to be central and very, very helpful. I think if you're… — Jessye Norman Copy Share Image
One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation. — Jessye Norman Copy Share Image
I have a particular affliction. I am unable to say a word I can't spell. — Jessye Norman Copy Share Image
The high notes always hard to hit. I mean, one has to understand how high notes even happen. The vocal cords have to vibrate… — Jessye Norman Copy Share Image
I want to sing more in Spanish. I want to sing the songs of Granados; the songs of Montsalvatge. To do things that truly… — Jessye Norman Copy Share Image
I love singing jazz. I don't like the idea that classical music should be over here and jazz should be someplace else. It's all… — Jessye Norman Copy Share Image
I wasn't born Austrian; I wasn't born German. My roots are from Africa, and I do not have any reason for not wanting to… — Jessye Norman Copy Share Image
'Swan,' by Mary Oliver. Poems and prose. Reading from this book is as if visiting a very wise friend. There is wisdom and welcoming… — Jessye Norman Copy Share Image
If you send up a weather vane or put your thumb up in the air every time you want to do something different, to… — Jessye Norman Copy Share Image
There's no anger ever in a spiritual. There's always the dream of a hope of a better day coming. That God understands the troubles… — Jessye Norman Copy Share Image
I enjoy reading about the lives of musicians, and find many similarities in their ideas of preparation and their utter devotion to this great,… — Jessye Norman Copy Share Image
As for my voice, it cannot be categorized-and I like it that way, because I sing things that would be considered in the dramatic,… — Jessye Norman Copy Share Image
