Jessye Norman: A Portrait

Jessye Norman: A Portrait

An intimate and in-depth portrait of one of the world s<br>greatest sopranos, a true primadonna assoluta!<br>Yves Saint Laurent s garden paradise in Marrakech provides<br>the lush, tropical background for this deep insight into<br>Jessye Norman s professional and private life. Filmed by<br>German film maker Andre Heller this DVD gives a deeply<br>personal and emotional portrait of one of opera and lieder s<br>most respected exponents.<br>The film also includes 13 specially staged performances<br>in fantastical settings of her repertoire, of pieces by Mozart,<br>Richard Strauss, Schoenberg, Ravel, Schumann, Mahler,<br>Wagner, Purcell and Schubert and Berg. The performances<br>give a beautiful and unique look at the artistic world of this<br>very special diva.<br>Filmed in wide-screen, this DVD is significant for being<br>the only program-length, in-depth interview film of both the<br>public and personal sides of someone with a reputation for<br>being fiercely protective of her privacy.<br>Amongst many other subjects, Norman discusses her<br>childhood, family, her idols, working relationships with<br>different conductors and directors, how she chooses<br>repertoire, her career path, her political views, relationships,<br>attitudes towards religion, and her aspirations and dreams.<br>The wide range of interview matter, coupled with the striking<br>performances, make this DVD a fascinating, unusual and<br>essential product for all vocal aficionados and certainly for<br>the many fans of Jessye Norman.