Associated Press
| Beverly Sills leaves the stage of the Metropolitan Opera, April 7, 1975, at the end of the first act of “The Siege of Corinth.” Ms. Sills was making her debut at the Met in the role of Pamira. Ms. Sills died on July 2, 2007. She was 78. |
There is so much being written in so many places (see below). Tears streamed today as I listened to the lovely podcast by Charles Handelman and Parterre Box has some goodies too
Here are some Tributes – on the web and radio and live at Lincoln Center – tonight and this week.
Night After Night: Lincoln Center honors Beverly Sills.
Further to our post from this morning regarding the passing of beloved opera singer Beverly Sills, we’re posting verbatim a late-breaking press release from Lincoln Center regarding its own plans to remember her:
In response to the news today of the death of opera star and Lincoln Center leader Beverly Sills, a number of the constituents at Lincoln Center will pay tribute tonight, Tuesday, July 3, to her.
At 7:30 PM the thousands of dancers who gather on Josie Robertson Plaza for Midsummer Night Swing will be asked to observe a minute of silence.
At the same time, inside Avery Fisher Hall, the New York Philharmonic will begin its concert with a performance of Bernstein’s Overture to Candide. In a tradition that began with the death of Bernstein, it will be performed without a conductor. Zarin Mehta will speak from the stage. The Philharmonic chose the music because its celebratory nature matched Miss Sills’s zest for life.
At the same time, the house lights at Avery Fisher Hall and at the New York State Theater will be shut off for one minute.
The Metropolitan Opera on Sirius Satellite Radio (Channel 85) will broadcast tribute performances this week, beginning tonight (July 3) at 9 p.m. with a broadcast of The Siege of Corinth by Rossini, from Sills’s debut season (1975). Host Margaret Juntwait will give a special introduction about Sills. The tribute continues on Thursday night (July 5) at 9 p.m. with Sills’s Met broadcast of Massenet’s Thais, and again on Friday night (July 6) at 8 p.m. with a repeat of The Siege of Corinth.
Night After Night: Lincoln Center honors Beverly Sills..
Sirius Remembering Beverly Sills
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
Beverly Sills, one of the great sopranos of the late twentieth century as well as one of the most prominent administrators and fundraisers in the history of opera in America, died Monday of cancer. She was 78. Metropolitan Opera Radio will mark her passing with two memorable Met performances. Hear Ms. Sills perform the role of Pamira in her 1975 broadcast debut of Rossini’s L’Assedio di Corinto on Tuesday at 9:00 pm ET and Friday 8 pm ET. On Thursday at 9 pm ET, we will air her 1978 performance in the title role of Thais.
Tuesday and Friday 9:00 PM ET Rossini: L’Assedio di Corinto
4/19/75-Schippers; Sills, Verrett, Theyard, DiazThursday 9:00 PM ET Massenet: Thais
1/28/78-Pritchard; Sills, Gibbs, Milnes, Morris
From WNYC Remembering Bubbles
Beverly Sills not only demystified classical music and opera for the public; but for many people, she defined it, pure and simple. Tonight (7 pm EDT) we pay tribute to “Bubbles” — as she was affectionately known — with recordings of some of her greatest roles, and clips of her previous appearances on WNYC.
“Beverly was an extraordinary artist, a gifted administrator, and a magnificent human being. In every facet of her career, she had a mission — to bring the joy and love of our great art form to as many people as possible. It was my privilege to work with Beverly frequently, and I will miss her enormously. She is simply irreplaceable.”
— James Levine, Music Director, Metropolitan OperaFor more than 30 years, Beverly Sills was a tireless advocate for the arts through her stage and television appearances; as an administrator, she had a profound influence on the New York musical scene. Share your own memories and tributes below, by clicking on the “Comment” link.
a southern gal in the north 