Plaza dedicated to N.O. opera singer

New Orleans — The New Orleans City Council dedicated Norman Treigle Plaza on Friday night in honor of the late internationally acclaimed opera singer and native New Orleanian.

The dedication of the plaza, in front of the Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts, was held on the opening night of opera season in conjunction with a gala concert starring Placido Domingo and celebrating 50 years of his performances with the New Orleans Opera.

City Council Vice President Jackie Clarkson said Treigle always remembered his roots, even after his star rose.

“He never forgot his city, even as he was acclaimed internationally,” Clarkson said.

Treigle was born in the city in 1927 and made his operatic debut 20 years later with the New Orleans Opera Association at the Municipal Auditorium.

Recognized as one of the greatest opera singers of the 1900s, he studied at Loyola University’s College of Music and went on to perform at the New York City Opera.

Treigle also worked with the New Orleans Recreation Department’s Light Opera Group, which included performances with youths across the city.

Comments

1) Comment by ultimateliberal - 14/10/2012

Norman Treigle was also a piano student of my grandmother whose piano teaching career spanned 60 years. She and Norman became lifelong friends after he launched his operatic career, and my grandmother attended every local performance where he was in any role, choral or principal.