Beverly Sills
July 2, 2007 6:58 PM Subscribe
Lisa Simpson and Kermit weep tonight. Opera star Beverly Sills has slipped this mortal coil. Her final performance in which she sang the portuguese folk song: "Tell Me Why" that Estelle Liebling her only voice teacher, gave her when she was ten.
"As National Chair of the March of Dimes' Mothers' March on Birth Defects, Sills has helped to raise over $70 million in ten years. Often meeting with parents of birth-defected children and visiting the children in hospitals, Sills has chosen to use her position to raise funds for this organization.
Sills' reasons for devoting herself to the cause of eradicating birth defects stem from her children, Muffy and Peter. At age two, Muffy was diagnosed as suffering from severe hearing loss. Several months later, Peter was diagnosed as mentally retarded. After learning these agonizing facts, Sills left the stage to care for her children."*
posted by ericb at 7:06 PM on July 2, 2007
Sills' reasons for devoting herself to the cause of eradicating birth defects stem from her children, Muffy and Peter. At age two, Muffy was diagnosed as suffering from severe hearing loss. Several months later, Peter was diagnosed as mentally retarded. After learning these agonizing facts, Sills left the stage to care for her children."*
posted by ericb at 7:06 PM on July 2, 2007
Google videos of Beverly Sills. On Wikipedia. Coloratura soprano. A tribute site about her.
Such joy at age 7, before her voice developed. And later such joy when she had finessed her art.
May she rest in peace.
posted by nickyskye at 7:28 PM on July 2, 2007
Such joy at age 7, before her voice developed. And later such joy when she had finessed her art.
May she rest in peace.
posted by nickyskye at 7:28 PM on July 2, 2007
Sounds like she had a busy and full life. RIP Bubbles.
When did 'shuffled off' become 'slipped'?
posted by tellurian at 7:29 PM on July 2, 2007
When did 'shuffled off' become 'slipped'?
posted by tellurian at 7:29 PM on July 2, 2007
.
posted by LittleMissCranky at 7:38 PM on July 2, 2007
posted by LittleMissCranky at 7:38 PM on July 2, 2007
Cripes, I only read this a.m. that she'd been diagnosed with lung cancer.
Aside from my general interest in her because I was a classical musician, two specific associations spring to my mind:
1) Her appearances on the Johnny Carson show, where she was a great ambassador for opera. (And yes children, mainstream TV used to feature classical music once in awhile.)
2) Her autobiography, which I gave to my mother because both my mom and Beverly were cancer survivors in the 70s.
I second the RIP Bubbles.
posted by NorthernLite at 7:40 PM on July 2, 2007
Aside from my general interest in her because I was a classical musician, two specific associations spring to my mind:
1) Her appearances on the Johnny Carson show, where she was a great ambassador for opera. (And yes children, mainstream TV used to feature classical music once in awhile.)
2) Her autobiography, which I gave to my mother because both my mom and Beverly were cancer survivors in the 70s.
I second the RIP Bubbles.
posted by NorthernLite at 7:40 PM on July 2, 2007
.
My guitarist Barry has always told me that his best career memory was doing a duet with Beverly Sills on the Dinah Shore Show without any rehearsal. He practically cries with pride when he talks about it.
Oddly, the only reason I knew she was sick was because the subject header of some spam I got the other day said "Beverly Sills near death from cancer." And then when I opened it, it tried to sell me Cialis.
posted by miss lynnster at 7:44 PM on July 2, 2007
My guitarist Barry has always told me that his best career memory was doing a duet with Beverly Sills on the Dinah Shore Show without any rehearsal. He practically cries with pride when he talks about it.
Oddly, the only reason I knew she was sick was because the subject header of some spam I got the other day said "Beverly Sills near death from cancer." And then when I opened it, it tried to sell me Cialis.
posted by miss lynnster at 7:44 PM on July 2, 2007
Interviewed by Mike Wallace
Goofing around with Danny Kaye
posted by miss lynnster at 7:53 PM on July 2, 2007
Goofing around with Danny Kaye
posted by miss lynnster at 7:53 PM on July 2, 2007
.
She was on the View earlier this year and was amazing. V. sad.
posted by k8t at 7:54 PM on July 2, 2007
She was on the View earlier this year and was amazing. V. sad.
posted by k8t at 7:54 PM on July 2, 2007
Oh how sad. How I love her (memory).
posted by trip and a half at 8:47 PM on July 2, 2007
posted by trip and a half at 8:47 PM on July 2, 2007
Bubbles. G'night.
posted by longsleeves at 9:01 PM on July 2, 2007
posted by longsleeves at 9:01 PM on July 2, 2007
. isn't enough. Wonderful lady, great pipes, truly one of the class acts of the 20th century. I'll miss you, gal.
posted by pjern at 9:33 PM on July 2, 2007
posted by pjern at 9:33 PM on July 2, 2007
She had an incredible amount of energy and character. Her daughter is the same way. An authentic homegrown American talent.
Cripes, I only read this a.m. that she'd been diagnosed with lung cancer.
The AP is wrong: it wasn't lung cancer. The Washington Post report implies that it was a recurrence of the colon cancer she had back in the 70s. Cancer is named after where it starts, not where it spreads.
Apparently she didn't know the cancer had recurred until a few weeks ago, when she went in for a complete checkup after suffering a number of falls. According to the Post, they found that she had cancer everywhere, not just in the lungs.
There seem to be a lot of people these days who survive cancer at an early age only to have it return 30 or 40 years later when they've become infirm.
posted by watsondog at 11:27 PM on July 2, 2007
Cripes, I only read this a.m. that she'd been diagnosed with lung cancer.
The AP is wrong: it wasn't lung cancer. The Washington Post report implies that it was a recurrence of the colon cancer she had back in the 70s. Cancer is named after where it starts, not where it spreads.
Apparently she didn't know the cancer had recurred until a few weeks ago, when she went in for a complete checkup after suffering a number of falls. According to the Post, they found that she had cancer everywhere, not just in the lungs.
There seem to be a lot of people these days who survive cancer at an early age only to have it return 30 or 40 years later when they've become infirm.
posted by watsondog at 11:27 PM on July 2, 2007
Beverly Sills was a staple of my dad's record collection. I grew up listening to her sing.
Diva gets bandied about these days, applied to singers from Madonna to whoever's Miss This Week, but Beverly Sills was the real deal.
Very sad that she's gone, time to hunt up some cd's and bring back some memories.
.
posted by davelog at 11:27 PM on July 2, 2007
Diva gets bandied about these days, applied to singers from Madonna to whoever's Miss This Week, but Beverly Sills was the real deal.
Very sad that she's gone, time to hunt up some cd's and bring back some memories.
.
posted by davelog at 11:27 PM on July 2, 2007
.
posted by Joey Michaels at 1:44 AM on July 3, 2007
posted by Joey Michaels at 1:44 AM on July 3, 2007
She always reminded me of one of my mother's friends--someone she played Mah-Jong, did charity work with, gossiped about the kids. Beverly Sills never seemed like the diva. I still remember seeing her on Johnny Carson laughing and making jokes, getting up and singing something from some opera, holding the audience in breathless attention. Then going back to the couch to chat with Johnny again, showing a great enjoyment and zest. She really was a uniquely American talent, something we don't seem to have any more.
posted by paddbear at 3:16 AM on July 3, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by paddbear at 3:16 AM on July 3, 2007 [1 favorite]
To be called a "diva" used to be negative, it meant acting like this. What I loved about Beverly Sills was that she seemed to be such a nice, fun, and in her own words "unambitious" person who just had an amazing talent. I was actually introduced to her work by seeing her on the Carol Burnett show as a kid. I can't imagine Kathleen Battle hanging out with comedians, that's for sure.
From the article I linked:
Even Miss Battle's supporters - who argue that her artistry makes her worth the trouble - concede they wish she would heed the advice of another former diva, Beverly Sills.
'It's wiser to concentrate on singing like a prima donna,' Miss Sills said, 'than on acting like one.'
posted by miss lynnster at 6:02 AM on July 3, 2007
From the article I linked:
Even Miss Battle's supporters - who argue that her artistry makes her worth the trouble - concede they wish she would heed the advice of another former diva, Beverly Sills.
'It's wiser to concentrate on singing like a prima donna,' Miss Sills said, 'than on acting like one.'
posted by miss lynnster at 6:02 AM on July 3, 2007
To be called a "diva" used to be negative
It still is, especially in the US, and it's a shame because it's a less loaded (no, differently loaded) word that literally means "goddess" ("Casta Diva", etc). "Divina" has become less loaded a word to describe awesome female singers (and it's a paradox).
But Battle self-destructed because her superhuman voice eventually couldn't keep up with her level of insanity; as long as her voice remained the miracle it once was, Karajan and Muti and Giulini and all the greats kept working with her -- she was worth the pain in the butt. "Concentrate on singing like a prima donna than on acting like one" is great advice, but the real trick is, "don't allow your tantrums to get bigger than your voice". Angela Gheorghiu (who'll be Violetta tonight at la Scala, if she deigns to show up) and Roberto Alagna (who left la Scala in a huff last year after the loggionisti booed him) are getting more difficult as the years go by; but their voices aren't getting any better. That's the real danger.
posted by Opera Chic at 6:26 AM on July 3, 2007
It still is, especially in the US, and it's a shame because it's a less loaded (no, differently loaded) word that literally means "goddess" ("Casta Diva", etc). "Divina" has become less loaded a word to describe awesome female singers (and it's a paradox).
But Battle self-destructed because her superhuman voice eventually couldn't keep up with her level of insanity; as long as her voice remained the miracle it once was, Karajan and Muti and Giulini and all the greats kept working with her -- she was worth the pain in the butt. "Concentrate on singing like a prima donna than on acting like one" is great advice, but the real trick is, "don't allow your tantrums to get bigger than your voice". Angela Gheorghiu (who'll be Violetta tonight at la Scala, if she deigns to show up) and Roberto Alagna (who left la Scala in a huff last year after the loggionisti booed him) are getting more difficult as the years go by; but their voices aren't getting any better. That's the real danger.
posted by Opera Chic at 6:26 AM on July 3, 2007
On topic: if you want to hear Sills's best performance: L'Assedio di Corinto at la Scala. Best Pamira ever.
The angelic choir just got a soprano.
Belle Silverman was Jewish, one hopes they're not Catholic angels.
posted by Opera Chic at 6:31 AM on July 3, 2007
The angelic choir just got a soprano.
Belle Silverman was Jewish, one hopes they're not Catholic angels.
posted by Opera Chic at 6:31 AM on July 3, 2007
.
Miss Bubbles was the first opera star i "got". She just seemed like a regular person, and what a great laugh!!
posted by djrock3k at 6:33 AM on July 3, 2007
Miss Bubbles was the first opera star i "got". She just seemed like a regular person, and what a great laugh!!
posted by djrock3k at 6:33 AM on July 3, 2007
Well, when I say it "used" to be negative, I'm saying that because for quite a few recent years its meaning changed to imply that someone is so freaking hot and full of talent that arrogance is probably justified. Thanks VH1!
When I was a singer in LA, I had quite a few people try to compliment me by calling me a diva. Always made me cringe because I still feel it's a negative word.
posted by miss lynnster at 7:04 AM on July 3, 2007
When I was a singer in LA, I had quite a few people try to compliment me by calling me a diva. Always made me cringe because I still feel it's a negative word.
posted by miss lynnster at 7:04 AM on July 3, 2007
She always reminded me of one of my mother's friends--someone she played Mah-Jong, did charity work with, gossiped about the kids. Beverly Sills never seemed like the diva.
I feel exactly the same way...she really was an anti-diva.
She did great things for the city too--helped with funding for the arts, and arts in schools, and a ton of other things.
posted by amberglow at 10:34 AM on July 3, 2007
I feel exactly the same way...she really was an anti-diva.
She did great things for the city too--helped with funding for the arts, and arts in schools, and a ton of other things.
posted by amberglow at 10:34 AM on July 3, 2007
... The force of Ms. Sills’s personality, the extraordinary quality of her voice, the powerful dramatic presence she created on a stage and the ease with which she occupied her many public roles made her seem somehow inevitable. But there is nothing inevitable about someone who excelled at the highest level of her art and was able, at the same time, to make audiences unfamiliar with opera feel as though they had access to it through her. She represented her art as though she had been elected to the task, and she took the job of representing it seriously. ...
posted by amberglow at 10:45 AM on July 4, 2007
posted by amberglow at 10:45 AM on July 4, 2007
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