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… — 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
The very best thing that could happen to a voice, if it shows any promise at all, is when it is very young to… — Jessye Norman Copy Share Image
There have been occasions - and I think it's very good for any human being that such occasions would be rare - that one… — Jessye Norman Copy Share Image
We singers have a different level of responsibility from other musicians. We have words that we must convey; we have meanings that we must… — Jessye Norman Copy Share Image
