Jessye Norman

One of America’s most decorated artists Jessye Norman tells how she travelled from childhood in the segregated south to performing great operatic roles on the world’s biggest stages. Norman, who is flying in from the US to be at the festival, is one of the world’s most admired singers, but her own life story has also turned her into an American icon.

Raised in a tight-knit community centred around the church, she recalls the important role played by her parents and the strong women in her life. Norman describes how she came face-to-face with racism not only in childhood but also as an adult out and about in the world. She is particularly known for the Wagnerian repertoire and for playing the roles of Sieglinde, Ariadne, Alceste, and Leonore.