Jessye Norman Has Died

Via Twitter

Multiple outlets are reporting the passing of singing legend Jessye Norman. From NPR:

Opera singer Jessye Norman died Monday morning at Mount Sinai St. Luke's Hospital in New York. The official cause of death was septic shock and multi-organ failure secondary to complications of a spinal cord injury she had sustained in 2015. She was 74.

 Her death was confirmed to NPR by a spokesperson for her family, Gwendolyn Quinn, as well as a representative from The Jessye Norman School of the Arts.

Norman was one of the leading opera figures in the world in a time when there were fewer celebrated African Americans than now. The soprano won four Grammys and the National Medal of Arts.

We live in an age where we need art more than ever, to uplift our world with the beauty of the human spirit. Few could summon the angels like the soprano Jessye Norman. A uniquely American voice that broke barriers and moved hearts. We will miss her dearly. May she Rest in Peace.

— Dan Rather (@DanRather) September 30, 2019

1. Jessye Norman, the international opera star, dead at 74

An icon, a trailblazer, and a hero to so many people in music, especially Opera.

This is devastating.  https://t.co/qdfSjAlTNA

— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) September 30, 2019

3. Here is Jessye Norman with one of my favorite performances of Ave Maria.

I am so, so sad that she’s gone.

74 seems so young. pic.twitter.com/mtkkoAXqm4

— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) September 30, 2019