Partnership
A Close Relationship
Like many people who are often recognised in public, Jessye Norman is a deeply private individual, though easy access between the two was immediately established through e-mail and telephone on an as-needed basis. To prepare for a performance of Chausson’s Poème de l’Amour et la de Mer in Kuala Lumpur, Platts found herself speaking the French text over the phone to her mentor (who has sung and recorded the work) to monitor enunciation and to discuss interpretation.
Masterclass
Face-to-face meetings often started around four in the afternoon at the mentor’s home with Platts warming up her voice and Jessye Norman making tea before working on vocal technique, specifically how Platts could produce a more cutting sound with less effort. “Working with Jessye, I think we achieved a little bit of sharpening of my blunt little sword,” says Platts. “She’s been teaching me better control, utilising my breath in a better way.”
The Jessye Norman regimen also included Bach: “In order to negotiate those roulades, the voice needs to be supported, and that’s how you sing everything. It’s a good way to keep the voice oiled,” she says. Historic research is another thing she insists upon. While working on Berlioz’ Romeo et Juliette with Platts, she delved deep into the mindset of a teenage girl discovering emotions of huge profundity. “She’s such an intense worker,” says Platts, “that by day three, I’m exhausted. I’m not used to anything like that!”
Strong Impression
The protégée made an equally strong impression on her mentor. “Susan isn’t fixated on doing things in one particular way,” says Jessye Norman. “I can say: ‘That sound needs more space in the back of her throat,’ and she does it right away, which is wonderful. She really is like a sponge, and it’s very enjoyable working with her.”
Conversations bordered on the mystical: both singers talk about finding an elusive but higher zone of communion between the music, their musical collaborators and the audience. “You can sing all night long and it’s not tiring,” says Jessye Norman.