Opera Legend Celebrates The Past

Soprano Jessye Norman Opens Festival With Carnegie Hall Honoring Black Artists

(CBS)  It's a festival of unprecedented scope during which black artists of today honor those who broke barriers and blazed trails in order to make contributions to what world-renowned soprano Jessye Norman calls "the cultural mosaic of the world."

Norman has been honored by the Kennedy Center, the highest U.S. recognition given to artists, and has been designated a New York City "living landmark." Among her other achievements, Norman is a 5-time Grammy Award winner and an ambassador to the United Nations.

Aside from possessing one of the great voices in American music, Norman is also a celebrated philanthropist, activist, and advocate for keeping the arts in public schools. She's also the curator of a Carnegie Hall sponsored tribute to black artists, "Honor! A Celebration of the African American Cultural Legacy."

Norman spoke with CBS News' Sam Litzinger about the festival, which will feature classical, jazz, and hip-hop performances along with panel discussions featuring such luminaries as Toni Morrison, Henry Louis Gates Jr., Arthur Mitchell and Gwen Ifill.

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Listen to Jessye Norman's full interview with Sam Litzinger

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Norman hopes "Honor!" is more than just a one-time event. "It is impossible to talk about everything that concerns African Americans and culture in this one festival." The festival is very close to her heart and it's easy to tell that it means much to her.

"Honor! A Celebration of the African American Cultural Legacy" opens Wednesday, March 4th and concludes March 23rd. The festival will run in a variety of venues throughout New York City including Carnegie Hall, St. John the Divine Cathedral, the Apollo Theatre and the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center.