from the early 1990s norman lived in croton-on-hudson, new york, in a secluded estate known as "the white gates" previously owned by television personality allen funt. in 1990 she performed at tchaikovsky's 150th birthday gala in leningrad and made her lyric opera of chicago début in the title role of gluck's "alceste". in 1991 she sang for the 700th celebration party of swiss national day. that same year, she performed in a concert recorded live with lawrence foster and the lyon opera orchestra at paris's notre-dame de paris. in 1992 norman sang jocasta in stravinsky's "oedipus rex" at the opening operatic production at the new saito kinen festival in the japanese alps near matsumoto. in 1993, she sang the title role in the metropolitan opera's production of "ariadne auf naxos". in 1994, norman sang at the funeral of former first lady jacqueline kennedy onassis. in september 1995, she was again the featured soloist with the new york philharmonic, this time with kurt masur, in a gala concert telecast live on pbs marking the opening of the orchestra's 153rd season. in 1996 norman gave a highly lauded performance as the title character in the metropolitan opera's premiere production of janáček's "the makropulos affair".