Happy 90’s, Jackie Horne
OperaAmerica’s greatest mezzo-soprano turns 90 today.
Marilyn Horne – Jackie to her friends – has sung it all. She faced down American racism while married to the conductor Henry Lewis and stood up to the men who ran the major institutions with a principled rectitude that made them quail.
Here’s a Lebrecht Interview we conducted together in 2010.
Happy birthday, Jackie. Shame Steve is not here to pile on the good wishes.
Terrible person.
Why?
Hmmm….she’s earned her stripes. Have you?
There are many abusive zebras in the classical music world.
My name is Peter Simmons, and I worked for Henry Lewis, as conductor of the New Jersey Symphony, from 1971 – 1979! During that time, Henry invited MANY OPERA stars to sing with us and Marilyn sang many times. I had the pleasure of her conversations, many times over the years, since we would “bump” into each other backstage. She was a formidable presence but always knew when she was beloved….. as I was! She gave me many moments of great conversation and especially about her daughter. I have so many stories to tell, but they are my private memories! Both Henry and Jackie + daughter, were so special, Peter
The very best thing about this site, and the only real good reason for following it, are the testimonials of people who have such knowledge and experience in the industry, and it never fails to surprise me how many such readers there are when they all come out of the woodwork, so to speak, and post about matters exoteric and common, on issues big and small, and it never fails to amaze me either, that these readers continue to follow and contribute to this site despite that, seemingly, trolls (ha ha, like me) have taken over with our irreverent and snarky posts (guilty as charged!)
Kudos Mr. Simmons and posters like you, keep reading and keep posting (and I hope trolls like me at least keep you guys mildly amused ; ))
So true. I particularly miss from these pages the late Robert Fitzpatrick, former Dean of the Curtis Institute.
Jackie is amazing. She could anything and with total love for every style she embraced. In the 1990s, we performed together some songs by Aaron Copland and, believe it or not, “White Christmas”. I had to transpose the latter to a different key, which scared me to death!! She poked me and, ‘It was great!’ Let us wish her the happiest, healthiest and blessed birthday. A living legend and eternal icon of the human voice.
Greatest? Maybe contributors should start the list. Great, yes.
What a voice!! What a star.
She was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2006. It’s a marvel that she’s still with us.
Who the hell lives with pancreatic cancer for eighteen years? Incredible.
I liked her when I was younger but over the years I realized her singing is too throaty to my liking.
In the interview Norman posted she talks about teaching, well I came across this masterclass with this beautiful talent and the amount of stupid things she says is enough to question her teaching skills.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xhrm0oO-fQs&t=303s
I don’t know anything about MH’s life but I do know that I fell in love with Ravel’s Shéhérezade thanks to her recording with Bernstein, and for that I shall remain eternally grateful. Happy Birthday, Marilyn Horne.
on CBS Masterworks, which had those seductive, multicoloured spines which stood out in record shop shelves before music became antiseptidigitalised.