American opera singer and recitalist Jessye Norman delivers a powerful performance of “Amazing Grace” as a tribute to Bahamian-American actor and film director Sidney Poitier at the 1995 Kennedy Center Honors.
Jessye Norman was trained at Howard University, the Peabody Institute, and the University of Michigan. The New York Times music critic Edward Rothstein described her voice as a “grand mansion of sound,” and wrote that “it has enormous dimensions, reaching backward and upward. It opens onto unexpected vistas. It contains sunlit rooms, narrow passageways, cavernous halls.” Her operatic début came as Elisabeth in Wagner’s Tannhäuser. She went on to sing leading roles with many other companies, including the Metropolitan Opera, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Paris Opera, and the Royal Opera, London. She sang at the second inauguration of Ronald Reagan, at Queen Elizabeth II’s 60th birthday celebration in 1986, and performed the La Marseillaise to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the French Revolution on July 14, 1989. She sang at the 1996 Summer Olympics opening ceremony in Atlanta and for the second inauguration of Bill Clinton in 1997. She received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and the National Medal of Arts, and was a member of the British Royal Academy of Music. In 1990, UN Secretary-General Javier Pérez de Cuéllar named her Honorary Ambassador to the United Nations.
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One word: Breathtaking!
God Bless, one of Augusta, Georgia finest ❤❤❤😢😢😢🙏🏽🙏🏽
Mrs. Norman was the opera singer who could sing without an orchestra, a choral. For me, she was the greatest.
She was an incredible singer! Totally awesome!
The ending of this version of "Amazing Grace" made me tremble and cry.
Rip Jessey
I love you forever Madame Jessye Norman!
Jessey Norman, great voice and spirit, may you R.I.P. Good Lord, she reminds me of my mother's voice, the colour of her voice… 😔😔😔 It's so touchy.
Just divine!!! 👏🙏🙏🙏👏
I try and try to like her singing but I just can t. sorry. nope!
That smile of hers, omg…Such a big and honest smile.
A truly exceptional voice and woman. A once in a lifetime blessing to the gift of opera and music as a whole. <3
Absolut amazing,.
Oh my God what a beautiful voice directed to a beautiful Man
The power and smoothness of her voice in this song is pure heaven.
RIP ❤
Glory be to God. Amazing Grace of God sang by a true worshipper. Jesus is Lord.
Befitting for Late Sir Sidney Poiter. Rip Woman of substance, Jessye.
wow
A tribute to ALL those, whom have left this world way too soon. Chris Kaba, Jalen Hill, Deji Omishore, Molly Russell, all other young, mature victims, hero's past and present. We love you, we miss you. Let truth and justice be done on your behalf. Rest In Eternal Peace 💗💗💗🌼🌼🌼❤️❤️❤️🌺🌺🌺💙💙💙
What an amazing singer! You can see how moved Mr. Poitier was by her beautiful voice, too.
Brava Jessye 👏👏👏👍🧡
Não tem como não se emocionar e ovacionar uma voz abençoada por Deus! Que voz linda, que mulher linda e elegante! Hoje ela canta ao lado dos anjos de Deus… 😢❤😚
She's marvelous. My only regret is that I've only come to learn and love her after her passing. Ms Norman, wherever you are, know that your music and artistry are still touching souls to this day. Thank you for your most priceless gift.
Absolutely beautiful!! Her voice and presentation- magnificent!! Thank you 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🌹
Beau à pleurer 👍💓
It’s not the singer ,it’s the fact that Jesus suffered and died for us that’s his amazing grace,grace that we don’t deserve and that we can’t earn but out of his pure love for us that is truly AMAZING GRACE!
DIVA
Thank god for YouTube, otherwise I'd never have found this Angel
Magnifique !!!
Thank you so much for sharing.
The most beutiful voice singing that song And her personality is just so warm and giving .
sidney….emozionato….
Powerful…
Love it!!! What a voice!
How Sidney Poitier held it together I will never know because I would have lost it.
My daughter has been called "A Baby Jessye Norman". She just agreed to let me set up a Jessye Norman tribute around Ms. Norman's birthday in September '22. I'm soooo happy. 🥰🥰🥰🥰.
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found
Was blind, but now I see
’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed
Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come
’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far
And grace will lead me home
The Lord has promised good to me
His Word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures
Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail
And mortal life shall cease
I shall possess, within the veil
A life of joy and peace
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow
The sun forbear to shine
But God, who called me here below
Will be forever mine
When we’ve been there ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’d first begun
💙💖💙Soul ; voice and woman , So Beautiful.💙💖💙
At least somebody honors Dr. Coretta Scott King our opera singer and the district Poitier!
Wasn't it just yesteryear, Beloved! Peace n love IJN-
Very moving. RIP Ms Norman & Mr Poitier.
A true Goddess, given to us for a short amount of time, here on Earth.