The "Son vergin vezzosa" Contest - Beverly Sills

[1717PRO]

Sutherlands version is warmer and I like the last note with sutherland, but sills brings more character to the role

[cantorandopera]

Perfection!!!!! What more can you ask for?????

[caltrask51]

Does anyone know where I can download this? None of the itunes collections has this song with Beverly.

[7441338norman]

{5/5} just the right sound for the part as well as perfect trills on the upper and lower tones my bid for the contest.

[Smile6784]

the best - Sills has fun with music, she plays with he song

[abracadabranque]

Très bien!

[Candlel1ghtChaos]

This is the first one I've heard of the actual aria, not a cut version of it! Brava!

[jmuslvr]

The one time I saw Beverly Sills perform live was in" I Puritani". And, when she came on stage, it was like all the lights shone brighter. She was a superb singer, a great actress, and she had enormous stage presence. It was one of the finest opera performances that I have ever seen or heard. And I have seen and heard plenty of them.

[jmuslvr]

Beverly Sills will always be my favorite operatic soprano. Her performance here shows what a tremendous talent she had. And her voice-ravishingly beautiful.

Brava Beverly! And thank you.

[AmericanEvita]

I love her technique here. Beverly Sills' bel canto was terrific; she was at the same level as Callas, Sutherland and Caballe. Sills had a smaller voice which meant she worked twice as hard in sound beautiful. the advantage of her lighter voice was the ease in the coloratura. Her decorative trills and embellishments were the best in the business; as was her high notes, legato and she had a magical, airy touch that was so beautiful. RIP Beverly Sills

[avalokiteshivara]

Perfeito!!!

[raigekimaru]

the best by far. as a die hard sutherland fan, this is hard for me to say =)

[yesblanche]

Brava Sills!!!! One of the best...such a fabulous American artist. Just listen to the warmth of that voice...it's like a velevet blanket! God I wish I was old enough to have seen her live.

[maestromuffin1]

well - it's a typically amazing sills recording...and great to hear all the other parts! but for all the youngins out - seeing Beverly perform in person was truly like no other...from the moment she came on stage - you couldn't help but smile and fall in everlasting LOVE!

[beggo321]

Could someone please translate this?

[skitzo429]

@beggo321 watch the video of netrebko singning this at the met, there are subtitles

[vully70]

The girl does have fun! A little too ostentatiously perhaps?

But Gedda as Arturo is a nice surprise.

Still, Sutherland's variations in the 2nd verse are better, and where does this sharp edge in her voice come from? I don't think it's her but the recording. Live?

In this form: 4/4

[Drelnis]

Has Sills ever recorded Elvira?

[1717PRO]

@Drelnis yes she has, with gedda as arturo and plishka as giorgio...I've heard that gedda is in very poor form...

[Drelnis]

Yes, I do believe a large part of the charm of this aria is because of the chorus.

[MysticBlueIceBlast]

Does anybody know what the words are to this beautiful aria?

[LobsngDmchoi]

Loosely: "I am a charming virgin in bridal dress, I'm humble and white as an April lily..."

[marcoStene]

l love the background voices and the soprano amazing

[applejelly87]

Love the background voices. I had not heard them before because Joan Sutherland sings without them in the Art of the Prima Donna. Big mistake!

[jocmuc]

she is absolutely the best

and not only in this aria

[yodavidnavarro]

You're right she's awesome! In my top 10

[brightboy86]

I love Sills in this one

[StevenLivesay]

I love it. This is not a 'pathos' moment in the opera, it's a polonaise. I think it should sound like fun confection, and Sills (who obviously is a composer in her right) has fun with it. I love hearing ornamentation. I'm a Callas queen for sure, but I do think she sang other things much better-- hearing Callas sing this is kind of like hearing Jessye sing it.

[babydrane]

Found myself tapping my feet. I really loved this and while there was a great deal of over-ornamentation, she seemed to be having fun and I had fun. It was amazing.

[marcoStene]

well bellini had a good day

[paulprocopolis]

Sung with machine-lke efficiency.

[datidy22]

Brava to Sills! Do you think for once we could stop these endless comparisons? How much more obvious does it need to be that Sills was a virtuoso not only of technic, but style, interpretation and characterization? How could anyone refer to the voice as tired? When you are tired, you should move with such exuberance and rythmic drive! Let the others be who they are while Beverly is singularly Beverly Sills!

[kngiht84]

I still can't believe how the BBC did NOT put her but Emma Kirby in the list of 20 most influential sopranos ????

[maryjivinjane]

What!!! That's crazy!

[kaleidoxkopio]

Very interesting contest. And a very difficult challenge to choose the best performance. Thanks for posting.

[elsawagner]

Vocally perhaps not perfect, but it's so genuinely joyful ... I think she really captures the spirit of the music. Very innocent and delighted.

[LeonConrad]

Singing 4.5 / Characterisation 4

Trills and high notes fantastic - unfortunately marked down because of the beat-bound mood set by the insensitive conductor. How she could soar above the band at all particularly at the end is a miracle.

[MadonnaImperia]

BRilliant technique, but mannered singing and tired voice, especially on the high notes.

[ceb2633]

Ooooh, that voice! My whole being smiles. Bless the dear lady. Thanks for posting.

[lumosmaxima]

i LOVE her trills!!!!!

[FrankJared]

5/5

[Tenorboy29307]

Sills is my favorite singer, but I can't say that this is technically among her most solid performances. That being said, it is still QUITE impressive. I don't think anyone here touches her dramatically. She and Joan are about even for me for differing reasons. 4/5

[zurriuss]

Elvira's voice should sound like xylophone, like Sutherland's and Callas'. It seems a bit rusty, unfortunately. She is good but Beverly is not Callas. And Callas is the Best Elvira!

[Mooorhe]

Callas wasn't the best Elvira at all.

[zurriuss]

Callas was ONE OF THE BEST Elviras in the Opera World. Sometimes Sills' voice seems to be roaring, doesnt it? Her fiorituras are weak. So Sills will never even approach Callas... and it's true.

[Mooorhe]

Callas couldn't touch Sills's Elvira. Sills had more secure higher notes, better coloratura and a trill that was to die for.

She also captures the innocence and naivety of Elvira far better than Callas does.

As I said, Callas was nothing as an Elvira in comparison to the likes of Sutherland and Sills.

[yodavidnavarro]

I agree with you. Callas is not even close to Sills and Sutherland. In other roles Callas kill them. But here Sills is the total winner!

[AOG93]

I think to compare them is to totaly miss the point... I think they are ALL wonderful and each have something very INDIVIDUAL THAT NOBAODY ELSE HAS. But I don't think is A BEST Elvira, but am grateful that at least there are a lot of great interpretations that are unique and different.

[yodavidnavarro]

Maybe you're right but is my opinion!

[Vendimi3]

@Mooorhe

Mah. Indeed if operas like "Puritani" and "Lucia di Lammermoor" are still staged is thanks to Maria Callas. Beverly Sills's daydream was to ever sing like that.

[RoOodOoOloOmeg]

@Vendimi3 Not exactly. Beverly's dream was to make opera fun or tragic. She's highly remembered for bringing back some Bel canto's costumes like making plenty of coloratura and all that hullabaloo tastefully. She certainly owed a lot to Callas as Sutherland and Caballe did. No soprano that sing bel canto can deny that. And I would say Sills get close to Callas when about acting in comedies.

[lungdoc]

Brava Bubbles. The angels choir must be sounding so much better since you joined their ranks. RIP.

[operabuff1]

Fabulous ornamentation. Brava!

[mijst4]

I seriously can't pick among Beverly Sills, Joan Sutherland and Maria Callas.  They are the best ever! I give them all 5/5.

[liou97490]

She wons heads down for me as well and I heard all the vids. Her coloratora sounds natural and easy!!!

[CMOSjockey]

OK, Bevs was one of my top picks until she hit that ending high note. It was just, weirdly wobbly. Uncomfortable. Love her, but she's a bit foxed on this one. 3/5

[hisimperialmajesty]

Well, It's almost a toss-up between her and Dame Joan. As I've said, I personally feel that Sutherland has an edge over Sills. But that's certainly not to say that Sills sings poorly. Dear Beverly sings with so much passion and energy. I'd def. give her 5 out of 5 on both counts. A strong second place. Brava!

And condolences to her family on her passing, also.

[godivapaw]

BEVERLY SILLS WINS THIS CONTEST HANDS DOWN!!!! 10/6!!! Sutherland a close second 6/6.

[timsuffolk]

Sills was obviously much more popular in America than the UK, where Sutherland ruled the roost and Sills was virtually unheard of. However she comes second to La Stupenda here

[petelovesbevsills]

6/5 without doubt! Brava Beverly, I remember hving to wait 4 months from the release date of this recording and each day took a year to pass but , oh the reward was the best!!!!! Brava Diva!!!!!

[mdancer01]

suttherland is better

[jondavwal]

One continuous shriek.  3/3

[beefnotfish]

what a complete rendtion - I've never heard this one...oh..by the way - sills rocks my world! where did you find this version????some people don't like her big vibrato - but notice how different from her amazing trills it is...never sort of a trill. ooh, that's Nicky Gedda singing - this must be from the full opera! thanks.

[garconfrancais01]

loving her trills

4.5/5

[Laeliapurpurata]

Charming and saucy! 5/5 5/5

[gvjps123]

I think Sill's voice had lost alot of its sheen and freshness when this recording was made. Still, she is very musical , clearly understands the style, and has brillant coloratura/ strong trills.

Singing: 4

Interpretation : 4.5

[meltzerboy]

Although Sills does not alter the vocal line as much as Devia does in this aria, I find her ornamentation more distracting and less tasteful. And, as usual, her vocal quality is not perfect. Still, both interpretation and voice are on a high level. 4/4

[artdanks]

YEP! This is my favorite for this contest! Sills gets the top score of 5/5!

[sevoflurane]

I adore Sills but i find her rendition vocally "tired" here. 3/4

[SirGeorg]

I never liked Sills's voice but this is quite impressive. Her characterization is smart, I didn't expect less from the greatest Elisabetta of all time 3/5

[drdre333]

Since this is a cabaletta, ornamentation is to be expected - though sometimes Sills goes a little over the top for my personal taste. I personally would prefer if she held back more on that until the repeat, but it's not bad.

There's a little sloppiness in her tone, but what a beautiful ending high D.

Overall rating 4/4.

[Hako2004]

Pretty good, expressive, lacks the firmness of line of Sutherland though and bell-like high notes. 5/4

[operadm]

perhaps over ornamented, but this is bel canto free style. 4/4

[xema2005]

I do think there's an over ornamentation, which I dont like much, but she's amazing as usual, but I cant help thinking that is the music who should lead not the singer. 4/5

[Orfeus80]

The tone is quite loose and makes her sound rather weak but she puts enough meaning in the words. I don't think she over ornaments here. 3/4

[OperaBR]

Amazing vocal performance! However impressive, I don't like over-ornamentation a lot, I think it alters the natural flow of the melody, which is amazing by itself. ;-)

Marks: 5/4.

[Jabe88]

Sills is amazing! 5/5