International Opera Singer Jessye Norman Passes At 74

Jessye Norman

international opera star JESSYE NORMAN has passed away at 74 this morning at 7:54a (ET) at MOUNT SINAI ST. LUKE'S HOSPITAL in NEW YORK surrounded by her loved ones, it was revealed in a statement issued by her family through the family’s spokesperson, GWENDOLYN QUINN. 

The regal AMERICAN soprano earned a total of four GRAMMY AWARDS and a LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD from THE RECORDING ACADEMY.  The NEW YORK TIMES called her "a towering figure on the operatic, concert and recital stages... She brought a sumptuous, shimmering voice to a broad range of roles at the METROPOLITAN OPERA, and had a notable career as a recitalist and soloist with orchestras."

In a career that began in the late-'60s, NORMAN sang the title role in VERDI’s “Aida,” WAGNER’s heroines, characters in JANACEK, BARTOK and STRAUSS,operas, and Cassandre in “Les Troyens” by BERLIOZ, in which she made her MET debut in 1983.

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. 

NORMAN was the eldest of two remaining siblings, JAMES NORMAN and ELAINE STURKEY, from a total of five children. 

The family issued the following statement: “We are so proud of JESSYE’s musical achievements and the inspiration that she provided to audiences around the world that will continue to be a source of joy. We are equally proud of her humanitarian endeavors addressing matters such as hunger, homelessness, youth development, and arts and culture education.” 

Funeral arrangements will be announced in the coming days.

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