Opera Chic

How to Act in the Presence of a Diva: Jessye Norman

The acceptable behavior is to shut up and listen. Earlier last week, multi-industry heavyweights including Jessye Norman supped in Manhattan's Greenwich Village for ACRIA's 18th annual holiday dinner and fund-raiser.

As a longtime supporter of the AIDS research foundation, Norman spoke to an audience that included fashion and entertainment celebs such as Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, Bernadette Peters. Commanding the microphone like Carmen, Norman toasted late ACRIA philanthropist Judith Peabody. From WWD's party reportage:

But when Jessye Norman, regal in an elaborate gown, rose to deliver remarks, one could hear a pin drop. Table conversations stopped, forks went down and the room was still, silenced by the privilege of an audience with the diva.

Norman was paying tribute to the late Judith Peabody and she talked like....this...enunciating...each...word. It left the room hanging on her every turn of phrase as if she were still on an opera stage, one towering grand dame tipping her hat to another.

Diva born and bred.

Jessye Norman 4 Vice President

President Obama paid his respects to Jessye Norman the other night at the Ford's Theater reopening celebration in Washington, DC (the theater underwent an 18 months
renovation. Photo EPA/Aude Guerrucci/POOL)

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A video of the proceedings (with Lincoln impersonator) after the jump!

Pin it to Her: Jessye Norman Wins an Award That's Too Long to Write in This Title

American soprano Jessye Norman represented up in Vienna, as she accepted the Austrian Cross of Honor for Science and Arts from Prez Heinz Fischer earlier today.

Norman is in good company, as the Österreichisches Ehrenkreuz für Wissenschaft und Kunst past winners include prominent architects, philosophers, and scientists. The classical world recipients included luminaries such as Carlos Kleiber, Krzysztof Penderecki, Herbert von Karajan, and Fabio Luisi. She's obvs the kewlest award-winner on that list yet.

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Jessye Norman's Hamptons Gig

Last weekend in Southampton, 1980s opera mecha diva Jessye-With-a-Y Norman made an appearance at an intimate outdoor benefit concert. American stage director Robert Wilson hosted the inaugural event at his Watermill Center, a conference hub founded in 1992 for studies in the arts and humanities. The first annual Watermill Benefit Concert (being called "The Last Song of Summer") was held to raise money for the center's artist residencies and educational programs.

The crowds paid $125 to $500 to hear the fabulous Miss Norman (as well as the Wainwright clan, including la Rufus), while Jessye belted her renditions of Gershwin's "Summertime", Ellington's "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" & "In My Solitude".

La Norman was rocking some yummy challah on the top of her head, peeking out of a golden schmatte. She's teasing us, but no one would dare tell her because she'd be all like, "Not to be rude, I'm just hating on your rules". Gheorghiu wishes she could be that fierce. Images below were taken from here, here and here. Still busted and lusted!

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~*~*~(Above: Jessye with "some dude". "Some dude" is the gorgeous, talented, witty slab o' man, Mark Markham, Miss Norman's pianista.)

~^~^~(Above: Robert Wilson, Rufus Wainwright & Jessye Norman)

It's Jessye -- Miss Norman if You're Nasty

The University of Michigan-Dearborn's African American Studies department recently sponsored the showing of the documentary on the great Jessye Norman. Norman is an alumni of UMich, where she had procured a Masters in Music. Although Norman wasn’t in attendance, her brother was there for a Q&A afterwards.

The documentary confessed Norman’s pedestrian pleasures, where she stated: "I love walks on the beach. I love to hear children in the garden playing. I love oceans, mountains, racing horses and Mr. Bean movies." We also love all of the above minus one aberration. Guess which one. No it's not horses.

Norman was recently in Michigan this past Sunday -- a force to be reckoned with @ 62 years old -- at the Detroit Opera House this past October 21, 2007 for an early evening recital.

Ok, that's enough of you Miss Norman. You know I can't think about you without thinking of those damn fine Thin Mints and Tagalongs. I mean, was there even any other kind??!!

//o hay & while we're on the subject of great sopranos, today is Miss Cheryl Studer's b'day. YOURE WELCOME!

Vier Letzte Houndstooth: Jessye Norman Pays Her Respects

La signora Jessye Norman -- in serious need of costume help -- at the funeral service for New York socialite/philanthropist Brooke Astor at St. Thomas Church in New York the other day. Obvious advice: not even a woman as naturally stylish as la signora Jessye can seriously rawk the houndstooth thing.