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People are talking........
Rachael Worby and Opera Legend Jessye Norman:
A Match Made in Heaven----from Pasadena to China to All Over the World
PASADENA--In an extraordinary one-time event, legendary opera star Jessye Norman, acclaimed as one of the world's greatest sopranos, joined maestra
Rachael Worby and The Pasadena POPS Orchestra in a rare West Coast performance exclusively for 1,500 inner city students at Pasadena's Blair IB Magnet High
School on Friday, September 22.
Recognized globally for her vocal successes and humanitarian acts, Norman agreed to the concert on the request of Worby, who crafted a pioneering education
residency program at Blair High three years ago to instill an appreciation for music and a platform for self discipline and hard work among the students.
The 45-minute performance was held in Blair High's gymnasium, a far cry from the world's great concert halls Norman has visited throughout her distinguished
career. She regaled the students with her personal interpretations of opera, gospel and jazz, as well as readings from great black authors and leaders, with
the accompaniment of the POPS Orchestra under Worby's direction.
"Jessye Norman can perform anywhere in the world, but once I described the opportunity to do a concert that introduces great music to economically
disadvantaged, at-risk teenagers, there was no hesitation on her part," said Worby. "It was especially compelling for her since the school is
participating in one of our outreach programs aimed specifically at inner city kids."
Norman, a 2006 Lifetime Achievement Awardee from The Recording Academy and a 1997 Kennedy Center Honoree among her 30 or more decorations and awards, is a
tireless champion of philanthropic activities. She is spokesperson for the LUPUS Foundation and The Partnership for the Homeless and serves on the boards of The New York City Public Library,New York Botanical Garden, Meals-on-Wheels of New York, The Dance Theater of Harlem, National Music Foundation and the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
CHINA---3000 PEOPLE A NIGHT!!!! Maestra Worby and Miss Norman also appeared in two concerts in the People's Republic of China. To open the Shanghai Arts
Festival they performed with the Shanghai Opera Orchestra on Oct. 19 in the Grand Theatre of the Shanghai. Eight days later, the two joined with the
China National Opera House Orchestra in the People's Hall in Beijing.
The program for both concerts opened with operatic selections from Verdi, Mozart and Saint-Saens, plus the "Habanera" from Bizet's "Carmen."
After intermission, Worby and Norman collaborated on music by Gershwin, Bernstein and Ellington.
These ventures were so successful that Miss Norman and Maestra Worby have decided to embark on a series of performances all over the world, including
many in the United States for disenfranchised high school students.
Some
Show! Some Show Woman!
Breaking
Barriers
POP
goes the season
Pops:
from light to lite
Pasadena
Pops marvelous with a capital M
Her
mission is music
Behind
the music
Music
tips from the Maestra
Music
will reply to violence
Image
with Rachael Worby - download for publicity
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