Stand Up Straight and Sing!

by Jessye Norman

One of America's most admired and decorated artists tells her amazing story, from her childhood in the South to the world's greatest stages.

Jessye Norman is not only one of the world's most admired and beloved singers, she is an American icon whose life story is as moving and dramatic as the great operatic roles she has performed on stage.

Born and raised in Augusta, Georgia, nurtured in a close family and tight-knit community centered around the church, she studied the piano and sang the songs of her childhood, not dreaming that this passion for music might lead to her life's profession.

In Stand Up Straight and Sing! , Jessye Norman recalls in rich detail the strong women who were her role models, from her ancestors to family friends, relatives, and teachers. She hails the importance of her parents in her early learning and experiences in the arts. And she describes coming face-to-face with racism, not just as a child living in the segregated South, but also as an adult out and about in the world.
She speaks of the many who have inspired her and taught her essential life lessons. A special interlude on her key relationship with the pioneering African American singer Marian Anderson reveals the lifelong support that this great predecessor provided through her example of dignity and grace at all times.

The story of one woman’s astonishing life, Stand Up Straight And Sing! is not just for lovers of music, but for everyone.

Genres: Music, Biography, Memoir, Nonfiction, Biography Memoir, Autobiography, American

316 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Jessye Norman was an American opera singer and recitalist. She was able to perform dramatic soprano roles, but refused to be limited to that voice type. She was a commanding presence on operatic, concert and recital stages, associated with roles including Beethoven's Leonore, Wagner's Sieglinde and Kundry, Cassandre and Didon by Berlioz and Bartók's Judith. 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.".

Norman trained at Howard University, the Peabody Institute, and the University of Michigan. Her career began in Europe, where she won the ARD International Music Competition in Munich in 1968, which led to a contract with the Deutsche Oper Berlin. Her operatic début came as Elisabeth in Wagner's Tannhäuser, after which she sang as Verdi's Aida at La Scala in Milan. She made her first operatic appearance in the U.S. in 1982 with the Opera Company of Philadelphia, when cast as Jocasta in Stravinsky's Oedipus rex, and as Dido in Purcell's Dido and Aeneas. 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.

Norman sang and recorded recitals of music by Franz Schubert, Johannes Brahms, Richard Strauss, Gustav Mahler, Ernest Chausson and Francis Poulenc, among others. In 1984, she won the Grammy Award for Best Classical Vocal Solo, the first of five Grammy Awards that she would collect during her career. Apart from several honorary doctorates and other awards, she received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, the National Medal of Arts, the Légion d'honneur, and was named 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.

Reviews

[Rosa · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you imagine a book by Jessye Norman to be smooth, classy and elegant, this book does not disappoint. It starts out telling of her humble beginnings in Augusta Georgia. She covers the values and lessons instilled in her by her parents and community. It exemplifies the advantages of growing up in a close knit all black neighborhood. For those of us of a certain age and who grew up in rural or southern areas, these lessons and situations were wonderfully familiar and brought up pleasant memories. I especially liked how Ms. Norman did not shy away from racism or her many experiences with it and how she used superior knowledge of the subject, poise, and control to win battles. When she didn’t win, she eleminated the subjects from her life. An example would be the Opera house that paid her less than the male singer. Once she fould out, she never performed for said group again. Ms. Norman was not shy to speak up. One of my favorite instances was on page 257
“I was working with a conductor who was new to me and who stated that singers more experienced than I would take breaths in various places within the phrases. I replied that given how Mozart had written the score, and how the text was constructed, I thought breaths in the middle of the phrase to be inappropriate. Moreover, I had the breath control to sing the aria as it was written. I think he thought I was being a silly up-start, but I was not bothered by his attitude or suggestions, and performed the phrases as Mozart wrote them.
I still do!”

It may seem oxymoronic to say someone is feisty, confident and also gracious and humble, but all these adjectives are appropriate. For a glance at a different world, the life of a black opera star, and a life lived with poise and grace, pick up this book!

Favorite Quotes
p. 221
“Growth in one’s craft is essential. Life can be a marvelous teacher—it can tell you so much more about what it is that you, as a singer are charged with truly offring to your audirnce. While we can lose the youthful energy and the natural ability to make those twenty turns as a ballerina or sing a very long phrase in one breath, if we are lucky, we gaib more courage to take a little bit more time or try a diffirent interpretation of something familiar. These are new ideas that come from living.

“I have said that I want to keep getting better, and this is certainly my aim. I want to be as good as I can be, always."

[Coenraad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jessye Norman has long been a favourite singer of mine. Her warm, enveloping voice carries music to my ears that resonates deep within me: Wagner, Strauss, and much more. Her memoir proves that her heart is as warm and enveloping as her voice. She speaks of important moments in her career, of inspirational people in her life, of the importance of family and culture and heritage. Her kind heart allows her to share some negative stories, but she mentions no names in these instances! She writes movingly of her experiences of racism, but remains positive. Her approach to life will be of value to her many admirers, but also to all who approach life positively, and those who want to know from others how to overcome adversity. She has become a treasure of humanity through her musicality, and her book underwrites this evaluation of her importance.

Jessye Norman se warm, ryk stem het my al veel plesier verskaf. Haar memoire bevestig haar grootsheid as persoon. Haar vertellings oor haar loopbaan is ontroerend omdat sy so sterk haar dankbaarheid uitspreek omtrent haar geluk. Haar familie en sosiale kultuur is vir haar uiters belangrik. Sy skryf ontstellend oor haar ervarings van rassisme, maar haar positiewe benadering tot die lewe sublimeer die potensiële negatiwiteit. Hierdie boek demonstreer haar status as lewende skat van die mensdom.

[Cris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh how I loved this book! The writing flows, the chapters are well separated into topics and we get a glimpse into the life of one of the best sopranos that ever graced us with her voice and presence.
I really liked the length at which the author speaks about her childhood, her stage performances, her repertoire, the people in her life and her inspiration. I admire the fact that the author accepts that she is in a sense the product of a series of very fortunate events: had she had other parents, other teachers, other neighbors etc, her life would have been so different - this is not stated overtly, but rather a conclusion one can draw from the book. All too often people say that all that matters is sheer work and determination, but history tells us another story: most artists had either a patron or a family who supported them in reaching their potential and mastering their craft, but I digress.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning more about the great Jessye Norman as a person and as an artist.

[Correen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was delighted to discover that Jessye Norman had written a memoir, and was not disappointed by what she had to say. She uses language well so the book has a pleasant sound to it. She is a perfectionist and a strong achiever causing me to expect perfection in her book. She might have achieved that with a tough editor who would have corrected her punctuation.

For anyone who appreciates opera, this book tells a wonderful story of not just Jessye but of the people and culture of that art. I consider Jessye Norman to be one of if not the most interesting performer and personality that I have seen.

[Damon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I cannot tell a lie. I was extremely disappointed with this memoir. I was looking forward to so much more. I do commend her for her honesty about the racism she endured and that exists in the classical music field. But surely she could have given the reader greater insight into her craft and the epic journey upon which she embarked to become one of the finest musical artists of our time. Perhaps someone else will tell her story more convincingly in the future.

[Martijn van Duivenboden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Met veel plezier luister ik naar Jessye Norman en ik vond haar zo intrigerend dat ik dit boek al een tijd wilde lezen. Wat toont zij een klasse, waardigheid en wijsheid. Ook wanneer je niet van haar muziek houdt kan je wat leren van haar deugdethiek, feministisch existentialisme en praktisch stoïcijns. Ze vraagt zich niet af wat een goed mens moet doen, ze was er gewoon een.

[Sirkkis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listening to the CD called Les chemins d´amour by Jessye Norman made me study French as the lyrics of the songs were printed in French only. It was the texts, yes, BUT it was the voice of the singer, the interpretation of the lyrics that made me listen to all available music sung by her. Ms Norman has given concerts in Finland, too, but it was prior to my knowledge of her. What a pity!
I was happy to find one Finn, Martti Talvela, mentioned in the book.
Along with music and her work Ms Norman writes about many important social subjects in the world. Still, I prefer listening to her singing to reading a memoir.

[Karin · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

Jessye Norman--what a voice, what a talent, what intelligence! I'll be honest--I expected to love her memoir since I have admired her musical talent for many years now as one of the great voices and opera talents to come out of the 20th century. Make no mistake, not everyone with a great voice has the acting talent to do opera, and she had both, plus a fabulous natural instrument. It was also interesting, on the heels of reading A Raisin in the Sun, that Norman originally planned to become a doctor, but it was after she was offered a full tuition scholarship at Howard to study music that her mother nudged her slightly that way--and as wonderful as she may have been as a doctor, she gave so much to so many through her voice--sung and spoken.

While there were things I really was happy to read about, I think I was looking for more of a biography and more time spent on her voice training and musical career, and less on her spiritualist religious views, her philosophy of life and a few other things. I expected to read about racism, especially in the US since she grew up during Jim Crow in the south, for one thing, and I thought she handled this with dignity. I like that she didn't drop names when she brought up negative experiences with individuals (not into gossip). However, I thought it very telling that in her photo of her singing spiritual with soprano Kathleen Battle that she calls her her colleague, and not her friend; I wonder if they weren't friends or if this was due to the reputation Battle garnered for herself (and I have no idea if Battle's reputation was warranted, since I have never met her).

Of course, I will still enjoy hearing recordings of her singing.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had the pleasure to meet Ms. Norman at a Q&A and book signing in my town when this book first came out. She was wonderful to chat with and I was really looking forward to reading her book. It was a pretty quick read for me but I have mixed feelings. Although I do feel like I got to know her on a more personal level, I felt like she took many opportunities to convince the reader that she wasn't a typical diva. And while that may be true based on her very detailed descriptions of her very simple and unassuming travel routines, she does take every opportunity to tell us about many artistic conflicts she's had with colleagues and conductors. Although she never names names in the negative accounts, I got the impression of someone who likes to nurse a grudge and can be unyielding in these conflicts and actually does come off rather diva-like after all. Ultimately, she did things the way she wanted and rarely saw much merit in the other party's opinion, often describing them as either unfamiliar with the work or not as experienced as she. This was a bit off-putting and I was expecting more from the lady.

[Thomas · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Ms Norman and it is by no means a bad book, but I wanted gossip. There wasn't much of it.

[Joley · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 — I’ve always admired Jessye’s singing and I love reading about her life and journey through the operatic world. This was quite the motivational read especially during summer where my drive for practicing varies, I highly suggest this to singers of every age and voice (but very useful for dramatic sopranos!) :)

[Beryl Moody · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charming memoir written by one of the world's greatest opera divas. This book is probably of more interest to those who have enjoyed Jessye Norman's performances and recordings than it is to someone without that interest. However her life as a black woman who was born and raised in Georgia, gives many insights into how some black communities coped and managed to thrive in spite of segregation and racism.

[Craig Rowland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stand Up Straight and Sing! is by one of my favourite opera singers, Jessye Norman. I decided to seek out her memoir after I listened to one of her Christmas albums. I own three of them, and always play her music over the holidays. My thanks to the Ajax Public Library for lending it to me. Norman, who died in 2019, published this book in 2014. It was written in an oral style which read like a transcription. The editing made the text seem relaxed, as if Norman was talking to me from across the table. Since I am familiar with Norman’s speaking voice, I often read it to myself with her voice in mind.

Norman did not produce a chronological memoir after the initial chapters about her childhood and early singing education. Instead, she wrote about themes such as racism, living in Germany, and singing as an art form. I was most touched by the chapter entitled Racism as It Lives and Breathes. Norman could very well have been the richest and most famous person to be staying in any particular hotel yet there were times when she was asked to explain her business in being there, especially as she enjoyed the hotel’s luxurious amenities like spas and pools. After being questioned like that, she had plenty to say to hotel management and refused to stay at one particular chain for their biased treatment.

Norman was an avid linguist who tried to learn the languages of the operas she sang. She took language lessons and was fluent in German, as I have seen all-German interviews with her. There were however many language errors in both German and French within the text. She also erred in referring to an English part of speech:

“Miss [Marian] Anderson was famous for speaking of herself and her performances in the third person plural. She would say something like, ‘We sang for the king of Sweden,’ not in reference to herself and her accompanist, Franz Rupp, but herself and her God.”

The third person plural is they; the first person plural is we.

Norman used her memoir to share advice on singing and how to live life in general. Aside from the breathing exercises, singers need proper sleep and to keep themselves warm and hydrated. One can learn a master’s class of helpful advice from this book alone. By using the formal title in her reference to Marian Anderson, one can see how respectfully Norman regarded others. Her memoir was full of such titles, when other authors might have used only surnames.

As a spiritual person Norman always had a loftier perspective and did not obsess with what often irked others (blatant racism notwithstanding). Her mental attitude benefited from this water-off-a-duck’s-back philosophy as life with less stress is better for a singer, as for all of us. She addressed some of her “diva” moments that had made the press and I am sure the truth lies somewhere in between the prima donna of the press and the saintly spiritual Zen master she is painting herself as.

[LAPL Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

A true diva is a distinguished female opera singer who strives for the best in her own work and expects the same from everyone with whom she works in order to create a marvelous experience for an audience. Jessye Norman is the full embodiment of a diva on stage and off, always striving for the best in life and art. In the introduction James Levine, operatic and symphonic conductor, verifies that this is not a ghost written autobiography, but is definitely in the author’s own words because no one else could do it better than Jessye Norman.

Jessye Norman grew up in a loving, cohesive African-American community in Georgia. Her early life was rich in family, loving support, discipline, high expectations, the church, and a home where music and song were part of everyday life. Her goal was to be a doctor, but fate and Mrs. Rosa Sanders, music teacher, unintentionally changed that when she strongly urged her fifteen-year-old student to enter the Marian Anderson Vocal Competition in Philadelphia.

In this joyous and illuminating autobiography, Ms. Norman invites us into her life of family, friends, the world of international professional musicianship, and challenges facing the world in the arts and social justice. Each chapter is prefaced with words from a spiritual or a prayer and ends with words from an opera, which have spiritual references. A world renowned singer she has received awards, honors, accolades from dignitaries, politicians, religious leaders and other musicians. From a strong base of common sense, decency, humor and spirituality, Jessye Norman looks back on her life. Two chapters are of significance, "Church, Spirituals and Spirit" and "Racism as It Lives and Breathes." Norman says, "My faith informs my life," which has and does give her the strength to confront racism which still exists throughout the world. The large part of this book is the story of her life in music which has been an adventure, a delight, and continues as she performs and teaches. This autobiography will be of interest to Jessye Norman's fans, opera lovers and others.

On May 15, 2014, Jessye Norman was a guest at Aloud, and you can hear the podcast:
http://www.lapl.org/collections-resou...

Reviewed by Sheryn Morris, Librarian, Central Library

[Lois · Rating 2 out of 5]

Couldn't be more disheartened at this book. The intention is noble and worthy, but the execution was so poor, it's almost abysmal. I'm upset because of all the 20th century singers, she is by far one of the most important singers to recount of her life in terms of music history, performance life, current events, etc, but so much of the book was so fixated in her own point of view and opinion. Of course it's her autobiography, but I think she legitimately lost her train of thoughts here and there, and it never really got back on the track until the end of the chapter.

If by any chance somebody reads this and wonders what could have been so bad, there have been on a number of occasions where Ms. Norman takes more than a sentence or two to get from one step to the next in an anecdote. It would be something like this: 'I received a phone call when I was cooking in my kitchen. Now, this was a beautiful sunny Saturday afternoon, the time I adore to spend time cooking for my friends and family whom I do not get to see much during the week. The phone call surprised me because I make sure that only my private line is available on the weekends. This is why I was pleasantly surprised by....'

Do you see this? That could have been edited to 'I was pleasantly surprised to receive a phone call by ____ while I was cooking in my kitchen on one beautiful Saturday afternoon.' No. Simply no.

By the time I realized this I also started looking for the editing information, which I couldn't find at all. I don't know if it's customary to put that in biographies or what not, but if - and a big IF - there were an editor, the reevaluation of his/her life and career may be necessary. Personally, I believe Ms. Norman did not work with an editor and she supervised the entire process herself, at least that's what I'd like to believe with what I've been impressed in my reading of this book.

So, so sad for this unsuccessful opportunity. So much could have been done. It could be a start of yet another spotlight to female singers in the 20th century that would focus past their diva or prima donna status. It could have been about the rise of African American artists, no matter how scarce there may be. It could have been about the uniting of humanity through music during the cold war. The possibility was endless. So disappointed.

[Lafilleseule · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great summer read about one of the greatest divas of our time. If you are learning how to sing in any genre , the late great Miss Norman imparts valuable advice. Feel like jetsetting? She went all the way from Augusta to Europe, Buckingham Palace and of course New York City. The prose is as regal as the woman was herself. She was a class act her entire life. I had the best time listening to the pieces she discussed in the book as I am more punk rock than a night at the Met but it was even more delightful to hear her voice and to read about her career. If you want to feel pretty good (racism trigger warnings) , and you think you want to sing or learn about opera, this is truly worthy of your time.

[Sherri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Going into this book all I knew about Jessye Norman was she has a beautiful powerful voice, that she sung the Marseillaise for the French bicentennial and that she was from Georgia.

Jessye Norman was and still is a civil rights activist, from a family of activists in a place and time that made this dangerous. She recounts incidents when she faced racism head-on and refused to give in to hate and even managed non-violent resistance Though I've never stayed at the Ritz Carlton I'm not going to start now, after reading her story of being harassed at the pool, of all places.

The best parts are about music. Her singing techniques, practices and of course the stories of her performances starting with her butt-kicking win in international competition in Munich. I was thrilled to read that she also practices hatha yoga.

And the pictures, a great collection of personal and performance photos I looked at almost as much I read the text. She includes songs in their original language with handy English translations on the right at the end of every chapter. Every chapter begins with a few lines from a song. Music is life. Although she inludes American music in her repertoire I'd love to know what she makes of rap but she does not go there though she writes about her great love and reverence for spirituals and jazz.

She does not offer a lot of juicy personal info. There's no mention of torrid affairs, feuds or names named. She mentions some difficult personalities she's worked with but refers only to "a conductor" or " a director. " She does share a great deal of her personal philosophy which can summed up as always give your best, show respect to others, be professional and be grateful. I watched some of her performances in German, a language I admit l've not found appealing and found she made this difficult language lovely. She even reconciles Wagner and Strauss as men with them as composers and manages to interpret them with extraordinary beauty and skill. I also watched her sing La Marseillaise, at the French bicentennial, on YouTube and it gave me chills. I totally recommend doing this and I recommend her book. Musicians will no doubt get more from it than ordinary people but it's worth your time.

[Melinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

"If you send up a weather vane or put your thumb up in the air every time you want to do something different, to find out what people are going to think about it, you're going to limit yourself. That's a very strange way to live."

JESSYE NORMAN is quite a woman with an imposing life, attitude and career. Reading her memoir and journey you feel as if your sitting alongside her sipping tea with your newfound bestie. Not a surprise this uber talented woman possesses a gift of writing. Norman discusses her life from childhood to adulthood including her experiences with racism, pre/post civil rights movement. After reading her story there is no doubt there isn't a thing Jessye Norman or any person can't do. Norman is proof one should not limit themselves, and any thing is possible. Fabulous account of an amazing woman, her halting vocals and never ending drive.

"Problems arise in that one has to find a balance between what people need from you and what you need for yourself."

[Mike · Rating 2 out of 5]

The great opera singer's autobiography is really just a series of anecdotes, told in no real order. This is probably par for the course for a celebrity memoir, though. Most of the anecdotes are quite good, but only rarely did I get a sense of the person behind the persona.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful! Ms. Norman is transcendent. Her stories are filled with kindness and compassion. She was a gem — a true artist in every sense of the word.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do not particularly care for opera and knew absolutely nothing about Jessye Norman until I was watching an interview with her on PBS while we were on vacation. She seemed like a fascinating woman full of wisdom and experience so I downloaded her book. This book doesn't talk so much about opera, per se, as it does the life experiences she has had growing up and moving out in to the world of music. She shares much about the things she learned at the knee of her parents and grandparents, etc. She has an extremely insightful and spiritual attitude about life and shares a lot about the discrimination she has faced over the years. She is a woman we would all do well to emulate.

[Patreesha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Granted, Jessye Norman was an excellent dedicated performer, but this book is only a portrayal of Jessye Norman's life as she wished the public to see it -- much success and many accolades, along with some tolerated transgressions against herself by the world, all told with her (often understandable) self-righteous condescension or her excessive adulation. One finishes this book with a clear impression of Ms. Norman's superficial public persona but only a slight sense of her true self -- mainly due to her strict devotion to maintaining privacy and keeping work and personal-life separate. Was hoping for something more heart-felt.

[Jordan Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my life dreams was to meet this amazing human. Her storytelling is sublime and makes me feel like I’m sitting at the feet of wisdom herself. Ms. Norman’s insight on, not only music, but the world and reality at large plays right into the world’s dilemma of sexism and racism. Her elegance in writing is as graceful as her poise on stage. Her musical insight piqued my interest to investigate and listen to many of the pieces she listed in her vast repertoire. Even if you are not a musician, I would highly recommend this memoir nonetheless. Sit back and absorb the wisdom.

[Elyse · Rating 4 out of 5]

An inspiring memoir from this exceptionally talented individual!

Written in comfortable prose - one doesn't need to be an expert in opera or classical music to enjoy and appreciate her insights.

Fascinating exploration of the family and community dynamics that shaped her as a child and as an adult. And then she has made those dynamics her own in ways that exude gratitude and empowerment for others.

Wonderful!

[George · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting book and not the typical singer memoir where they list every performance and colleague. Rather, Norman talks about her childhood growing up in the Jim Crow south, racism, civil rights and multitudes of other subjects. My only caveat is that sometimes the stories seemed to ramble in a stream of consciousness manner and I wasn’t sure what point she was driving at. But all in all, an interesting work from a much admired artist.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought the book was a good introduction to the life of Jessye Norman, a famous opera singer. We learn about her upbringing, education, ways to deal with unequal treatment, vocal techniques and her career. Having no knowledge of opera it was a good introduction to a star and opera in general.

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inspiring, lovely and gracious. Norman’s insights and gratitude more than make up for the unpolished writing. I love that the editors let her write the way she spoke. A life well lived and over much too soon.

[Lynnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a glorious soul. Her life is an arch of triumph.

[Susanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Recommended for performers, of any kind.

[Talyah · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can feel the vibrance in her writing and her love of life and music is contagious!