Beverly Sills CASTA DIVA

[ericscam2]

Treacherously slow tempo...wow. How did she pull that off?

[lovingee1]

Everyone thinks it must be ELITE to compare singers with Callas! At least SILLS and today's singers don't screach like chalk on a blackboard as Callas did ALL THE TIME.

For those who loved the VOICE of Callas and constantly want to demise other Sopranos, here's something for you: BEVERLY SILLS was FAR SUPERIOR to Callas in EVERY WAY. Hands down.

Barb T/NY

[dctom47]

I heard Sills, Sutherland and Caballe sing Norma on stage and I heard Callas sing Casta Diva in concert - thank God for all of them!! Sills has a VERY warm place in my heart because I heard EVERY performance she did in NYC and in other cities as well - just listen to that sound and that amazing legato....legato....legato!!

[ininacsot]

que c'est beau,merci Madame

[withchalie1]

Sills was Sills and Callas was Callas.....why do people always compair......

I bet Callas would be less terrific as QE in Roberto Devereux.....small voice...eh.............chacun a sa facon.

What about Sills' Cleopatra....? different from Callas' Carmen...........? one should never compare........Take people for their worth and for what they are worth.

Chalie from Bangkok...................

[withchalie1]

Sills was Sills and Callas was Callas.....why do people always compair......

I bet Callas would be less terrific as QE in Roberto Devereux.....chacun a sa facon

[abracadabranque]

Lent,mais belle ligne et beaux aigus.Un peu bas parfois,la note finale surtout....

[dougpnyc]

What year is this performance?

[FRANKHODGES39]

Wow! is quite right. Bel Canto is opera and together with Callas and Sutherland they kept it alive. This is a perfect and "bravo!" effort but not one in the best historical renditions. Again, bravo!

[Deathtoautotune2010]

Just Wow !

[musikenergy]

Amaaaazing....If only I were old enough to enjoy this beauty in person. I have goosebumps....

[lastofthedogmen]

Wow...I knew she was good but I had no idea I would be crying hearing her sing this - that's a first for me. Thanks so much for posting.

[OperaMystery80]

Sills was a gifted bel canto soprano. Although Norma requires a bigger, heavier voice, Sills' studio Norma under James Levine is terrific. She understood how to emphasize the meaning of the words supported by the music. She always got into character. She sings without any difficulties (everyone's only issue with her is the smaller size of her voice). Her on-stage Normas were performed only in the US (Boston most notably) with Sarah Caldwell conducting. They were said to be outstanding .

[pheelme]

I wish the tempo was a little faster, but Ms. Sills was flawless in her delivery. I enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing!

[basenjidiva]

Such a clear, unforced flow of vocal gold! This is magnificent!

[yunshanwanli]

Brava！

[ericscam2]

Far more beautiful than Sutherland, and heartbreakingly sungl--it literally brings tears to your eyes. Sutherland's voice is more suited to "Norma" (it is "bigger") but no one can move your heart like Sills. And Sutherland was often "flutey" and mannered. And, Sills sings it treacherously slow, which makes it staggeringly difficult, but without a trace of stress. Probably the most beautiful soprano voice of all time.

[tebaldicallas]

I prefer her voice to Joan Sutherland, she is more touching and her diction is better.

Also like Caballe and Callas in this aria.

[DavidoffGustav]

We have only to give thanks for such a great gift. should write!!!!!!!!!!!!

[pappymo]

A wonderful singer, a great lady, and an unequaled ambassador for her art. She was truly one of our national treasures in the performing arts. It is unfortunate more people do not appreciate classical performances like these. I understand the mass appeal of pop music; still to see justin bieber or lady gaga receiving hundreds of millions of hits on their videos while the likes of Beverly Sills has a small fraction of that…

[Lederius18]

Brava

[Lederius18]

wow this is an amazing recording. She sounds amazing! utterly amazing. Her voice sounds bigger than I can remember it.

[musikenergy]

Wow. This is the first time I've heard this in the original key. I love Sills. Goosebumps.

[norisv]

Callas. Callas. The world will always have just one Callas, and hope it'll stay this way. I hate it when a singer tries to be the next Callas since she usually ends up ruining her pretty voice. I think there's a good reason why God gave us only one Mozart, but not two Mozarts in history.

If you dislike any other singers' casta diva, listen to the Callas version only. I'm personally glad that Sills had done this aria since she has showed us how another singer could sing this differently.

[cantorandopera]

If posters would just stop comparing this singer to that singer, and enjoy ONE while they are listening. This is just drop dead gorgeous singing, coming from the voice of an angel, done in her particular style, and with her unique timbre. She had a light, silvery sound, but was convincing in everything she attempted. The tempo here is a little slower than most, but Ms Sills carries it through with wonderful legato singing, always pushing the line forward. Brava :))

[MrAndredekock]

@cantorandopera Here you are listening to the Mistress or the Queen of impeccable legato lines. Sills sang this aria at a tempo slower than I have heard any others singing it and because of her amazing breath control and that impeccable legato line I spoke of, she carries it off triumphantly as ONLY she could! The versatility of her voice and technique is what you SHOULD be taking note of here. From the runs, roulades and trills of Giulio Cesare to this impeccably sustained legato line ... BRAVA

[ian1856]

@MrAndredekock AMEN! She was magnificent.

[BEVER29]

La voix de "Bubbles" déja est menacé d'instabilité mais le souffle et la ligne demeurent impréssionnant. Ou comment par l'intelligence musicale une Artiste trenscende des moyens "limités" pour offrir une trés juste incantation.On comprend là qu'il est un peu grotesque d'éxiger un type de voix pour Norma et je donnerais volontier toutes les Ross pour une Sills!

[Gydinglight12]

Could anyone who has heard the complete recording of Sills' Norma comment on how she handled the In Mio Man duet with the tenor? It's one of my alltime favorite opera duets

[ahimsainternational]

@Gydinglight12

Well, you can listen to the recording here and draw your own conclusions.

[abracadabranque]

Un tempo uniquement suspendu au souffle de la cantatrice:Sans doute la clé de l'attention!

[avalokiteshivara]

Sem duvidas, esta é a melhor interpretação de Casta Diva que eu ja ouví na minha vida. Nem Callas, nem Sutherland, nem Tebaldi, nem Caballe, Sublime interpretação.

[0137890]

madonna che lenta! ma è stupenda!

[meinfb]

Whether or not this aria is too "heavy" for her voice, she nevertheless makes some very beautiful sounds... considering the size and type voice she had, it's amazing how far she went with it... and she always did it with style and class.

[acitipo]

Esta soprano es de las pocas cantantes que han respetado hasta el final interpretar en los tonos originales, sino vean y comprueben solo al oido, si tienen buen oido por supuesto, a Renee Fleming, Netrebko, etc

[Vendimi3]

Beverly's success is always been a mistery to me. Given for excellent her tecnique it must be a matter of timbro disliking. To me it sounds a very tiny, totally apathetic common voice, not way better than Dessay. Sutherland, Callas, the same Gruberova are another league.

[petelovesbevsills]

@Vendimi3 Can I solve the mystery for you? She was Americas queen of opera. Adored by millions worldwide, had top selling recordings. Many received awards. She always said that with two handicapped children she didn't care about who didn't like her voice. In one of her letters to me she said she "cried all the way to the bank" when she heard that somebody didn't like her voice. Does that help?

[Vendimi3]

@petelovesbevsills

Than her humor was not better than her voice. 'Though very very american. On the other side, I guess that disliking somebody's voice is a listener's guaranteed right, as hers of not caring.

[petelovesbevsills]

@Vendimi3 Actually her humour (humor) was on a par with her voice, stunning. She sadly didn't suffer stupid people. YES, you really are very clever, she WAS American, very very very very American. The only people she didn't care for were always fools and inevitably of course, stupid stupid people WHICH t idiot thought that she would change her voice just to please THEM????

[ioSonoCallas]

Magnificent! Very moving!

[tonyhan0903]

Refreshing.

[11777766]

Timeless, eternally beautiful singer and musical artist. Thanks fo posting this gorgeous piece.

[madhats5]

God preserve Ms. Sills' soul. God save her music!

[ericscam2]

The most beautiful soprano voice ever.

[htshoward]

@ericscam2 Agreed, but Price stands alongside her.

[bassfanne45]

@htshoward Sills and Price were two very different types of sopranos.

[luisjose1962]

"She did not have the voice of Callas, the technique of Sutherland or Caballe" quizá esto sea cierto, PERO ERA LA MEJOR. Ninguna cantante actual, ni Bártoli, ni Damrau, ni Fleming puede cantar esta aria con tanta intensidad y belleza.

[galehout]

@luisjose1962

no, scusi, occorre fare una precisazione importante: "aveva la stessa tecnica della Callas, ma non aveva la voce di Sutherland e Caballé" per questo è stata la migliore!

[petelovesbevsills]

luisjose1962,you are 100% correct. Beverly Sills was smart enough to sound just like herself. it would have been very confusing buying recordings of "Beverly Sills sounding like Callas singing Norma". Her technique was definitely not Joan's...she could never be accused of putting her audiences nor herself to sleep while she sang.Just as a bonus, she also had more talent and intelligence than 100 of todays talentless singers.

[flowersings]

@petelovesbevsills I'm an opera singer in training, but I have no formal music education. I'm wondering if this aria was a little heavy for her voice?

[htshoward]

@flowersings Perhaps, but she handles it well. I think what is suffering here is the tempo....painfully slow.

[petelovesbevsills]

@flowersings It was perfect for her voice and she showed the stamina rarely evident today.

[RoOodOoOloOmeg]

@luisjose1962 de hecho la técnica y la inteligencia es mejor que la de sutherland, digo, como se le ocurre cantar a Marie a los 60 años? alta, arrugada y con un vibratto penoso. Sills se retiró en el momento justo. por su técnica, la respiración de Sills no tiene comparación con la de todas las de hoy en día, además de que a Sutherland, le ganaba en aliento.

[finisquo]

Maravillosamente extraordinario.

[ezequielabuin]

Una de las mejores cantantes de todos los tiempos. Voz hermosa y brillante. Artista que se arriesgaba dando el maximo en cada presentacion (one of the best opera singers. Beautiful and brilliant voice. An artist that took risks in each performance, always giving her best)

[Ahdren]

This performance has heart, presence, and most importantly style. It is agile and beautifully phrased. The pace is a killer and she manages it without a hitch. Much MUCH better than Joan's garbled and emotionless warbling. This woman had a sexuality in her voice that her frequently compared colleague did not. A thousand times more interesting to listen to

[petelovesbevsills]

Ahdren, you have worded this perfectly! Brava to you!

[spqrmor]

Brilliant voice but the tempo's too slow and it spoils the whole impression of the aria.

Is that for the actress's sake?!

[jimmyl324]

one of the greatest ever!!!!!!!!

[Monsterkiwisour]

Her voice is much lighter, and softer than callas yet still has strength much more beautiful than calla im afraid i know the hype for calls is very high. but overrate^-^

[MastersoftheOpera]

All the comments speak for themselves: the late Beverly Sills was a GREAT NORMA. She did not have the voice of Callas, the technique of Sutherland or Caballe, but she was in touch with the character. Sills had heart, and a warm magic that no soprano today can match. Her Norma is not a goddess - she is a human being caught up in a human drama....and that's what the opera is all about. Sills understood the role of Norma

[carnaksus]

Maria Callas she is not. However, you have to give her credit...she's damn good!

[KatherineXIX]

Damn right she is not Callas - she doesn't sound like she's pinching her nose while she sings.

[carnaksus]

True Katy,

Callas has more range and the rests 'think breathing' aren't noticeable. Sills admitted on NPR that Callas was more talented. She said Callas was the standard by which other Bel Canto singers was measured...her words.

[TheWisemonkey8]

Beverly Sills I am starting to convert to this artist. I assumed [she] was something of a mere song bird. There is a kind of humanity in her voice. Also, a great deal of honesty. About her singing, a good deal of pain also... if that makes any sense. I like this recording very much. Kind regards,

[TheWisemonkey8]

I dont' know much about her life... i shall have to read into this. This may sound strange but great singers and their life experience are always Inextricably bound. The conducting is terrible but thats Levine; he can make everything sound like Gershwin :s. The chorus is also very average.

[TheWisemonkey8]

I wonder what would have happened if someone like Serafin fin got their hands on Sills. The same often occurs to me when I think of Sutherland. Been listening to this recording a few times today. Sills is VERY good here! Thanks for this post!

[ejrouge]

Yes I think this was slow, but it is kind of the trick that Caballe uses too to show her greatness, ha ha. I loved it anyway!

[trendyyy]

too slow for this aria

maybe the conductor mess up

[sexybcl21]

James Levine, mess up? No such thing. And Ms. Sills wanted to show off her great breathing technique and beautiful vocal lines... :) Which she does very well here, and in anything she does

[cmhmuscle]

jeez move it will ya?

[f3xphilippru]

operetta...

[TheWisemonkey8]

I 'used' to think this also. However the singing here is clearly not operetta. Kind and warm regards,

[VivaRenata]

This has got to be one of the worst renditions of "Casta Diva" that I have ever heard. But I blame the conductor! Sills has great beauty of voice and her pronunciation of Italian is better than one would expect. But the turgid tempo, the lack of musical drama - what a shame that Levine was allowed to dominate the performance of opera at the Met for so many years. How did that loser ever achieve such a position?

[edgarbiervliet]

Guess its just a matter of taste. You know, musical taste changes over the years. During cetrain periods faster tempi are preferred and then come periods where slower tempi are the thing. Anyhow, slower tempi are much more difficult. I think she managed very well in preserving the musical line and giving the rendition a dreamy atmosphere. Remember it is a prayer and not a march.

[kaleonani77]

I don't necessarily agree or disagree with your statement. The worst rendition no...not even close to the worst!! A bit slow; yes! But the fact that Sills can achieve these long lines with the conductor's choice of tempo demostrates her greatness!!!!! I still think it's one of the prettiest melodies written slow or not!

[tuadolcefanciulla]

I have to agree with VivaRenata, that Sills is

amazing. This is lovely to listen too once - but due to Levine's horribly slow tempo, [although I think this is an aberration, not the norm for Levine's musicality,] I certainly would not have

the patience to hear this sung at this tempo over and over again.

[gangoffour1]

Lovely beyond words!

[vdarte]

A true lesson in beautiful singing. And what a lovely

poetic accompaniment from Levine and the orchestra.

[spintotenor83]

Beverly Sills voice was certainly not a dime a dozen pretty voice. Her voice had a beauty that was extremely rare and poetic even. Especially with high lighter voices like hers, that hardly ever happens. And then she truly knew the language of music. How to make people respond emotionally to her sining as the understood her expressions without realizing it.

[AJMD08]

AMAZING!!

[novice1959]

This is really very pretty! Thanks for sharing!

[yodavidnavarro]

You sang like an angel my dear Bubbles. And now you belong to a celestial range...

[godivapaw]

This makes me cry! She was so talented in life and still continues to move me to tears with her gentle, sweet, multicoloured tones and high notes. I WISH YOU DID NOT HAVE TO LEAVE US SO SOON!!!

[ecomundus]

sarò ignoante ma tra tutte quelle sentite qui su you tube lei è quella che mi ha emozionato di più. Ho scoperto una voce.

[CGib36]

Thank you for posting. It makes me cry to think of some of the non-musical genre that is publicized and we (real music lovers) have to climb mountains, swim through oceans, and hike across the world to find good sound music. Again, thanks.

[AmericanEvita]

Beverly Sills fans rejoice! I've been waiting such a long time for her Norma full length opera album to be released for so long and now my dream has come true! I know she's not the greatest interpretor of the role but she brings a magic to it that is uniquely her own and I love anything she did anywys! Cant wait to buy it

[datidy22]

Sill's Norma is due to be released on Deutche on July 1, 2009. While I personally believe Sills is utterly remarkable in a multiplicity of ways, may I suggest that all the arguing stop for awhile. Many great singers brought a good deal to this role. Relax and enjoy!

The arguing has gone past the point of ridiculous, and I don't know anyone who loves Sills more than I. Enough is enough! Stop arguing and enjoy who you love! Beverly doesn't need to be defended by anyone.

Peace,

datidy

[superdooperstupor]

Amen. Thank you.

Kestal

[ceb2633]

Incredible, incredible, incredible, unbelievable. Oh, Beverly, there is no one like you!

[RunningTopMale]

@datidy22 Thanks goodness I bought this rather expensive CD set last Christmas at the last minute and NO REGRET. Don't want to say any more all I want to say is she sang as a woman, not a priestess with authority et cetera. And I admire that.

[petelovesbevsills]

Beverly would have been 80 today. 25/5/2009. Brava diva who gave so much more to the world besides stunning singing.

[redcliffe1968]

i don't understand why this isn't available on cd

[benderpm]

This rendition and the Verrett are my favorites

[gdonizettifan]

Could you post the cabaletta? I'd really like to hear the ornamentation she used

[phoranea]

Very beautiful... a bit softer, not as dramatic as Sutherland's and Callas' but very exquisite, airy... just lovely... In my honest opinion.

Cheers!

[JessyeNormanFan]

Come on guys, Norma has never been sung by a voice more beautiful than Caballe's. Yet, for me, Maria Callas was Norma!

[ericscam]

More than any other singer, she, simply, just breaks your heart.

[kgarmaker123]

And for the record,, the "beautiful" voices.. are a dime a dozen.. they abound.. there are millions.. When have you heard another singer ... like Callas? You dont.. she was unique.

[mwalsh2008]

Yes, Callas DID sound unique. She sounded uniquely like she had cotton wads stuffed in cheeks.

[kgarmaker123]

whatever... you protest too much.

[mwalsh2008]

I make ONE comment . . . and I protest too much? Actually, I did protest incorrectly; what I meant to say was marbles. Callas always sounded to me like she had marbles in her mouth, not cotton. Marbles.

[PecsMstr]

Critic!

[Sadiesexy]

Beverly does great here. enjoy it or leave for another interpreter.

[stingabe]

Say what you like but Bellini wrote Norma especially for La Callas. He somehow knew a voice like hers would grace our planet if only once in a life time.

[Andante735]

Have you spoken to him lately? I don't subscribe to those types of emotionally loaded conjectures, but I understand what you'd like to think. I'd like to think that Verdi somehow knew that Tebaldi would some day come along and sing Desdemona just for him, or Puccini knew that Nilsson would come along one day and put his signature on Turandot, but reality is that all these singers found their special way with the music, and matched their vocal prowess to it, and became supreme intepreters.

[PecsMstr]

You're a NUT!

[thekaliko]

Independent of weary, self serving comparisons, this is absolutely brilliant.

[ericscam]

The beauty of the voice is just imcomparable. She did not really have the instrument for this opera, but she sings it more beautifully...and utterly heartbreakingly...than any other singer. Sutherland had far greater power, and Callas was a great actress with an ugly but devastating voice...but no one has the beauty of voice...and the musicianship..of Sills.

[ericscam2]

Sills does not have the astonishing power of Sutherland (in later versions, after her surgery, when her voice was darker) but she has the most beautiful voice of all of them...and sings with the greatest musicianship, understand and emotion. Callas version is a mess, really ugly, but she may have been amazing to see live. Sills was really incomparable as a musician, actress and for the sheer beauty of the voice.

[kgarmaker123]

You do not know anything.. Her version was no mess.. It was nearly perfect.. But you listen with conventional ears. CAllas was NORMA... the others try to be her.

[filaredo]

She's meowing like the Callas

[Andante735]

I don't think anyone who "meowed" like Callas would find her way to becoming one of the greatest singers in operatic history. Nor do I think that people like maestro Serafin would have spent that much time listening to her. You should spend more time thinking about your opinions, than coming up with silly, immature comments.

[filaredo]

horrendous!!!!!!!!!

[yodavidnavarro]

The most underrated version of Casta Diva. IMHO Sills is far better than Callas and Sutherland in Norma!.

And this slow tempo is her way to demonstrate that she could handle anything with her umparalleled breath control!

[Andante735]

She was the most underrated soprano period. The tempo here is achingly slow, even if it does show what she was capable. Her performance of Seige of Cornith at Scala is one of the most maginificent things I've ever heard. The audience goes mad, and if the Scala audience goes crazy. If they liked it, that's really saying something. I happen to think her Lucia is world class, and also underrated.

[WQ673]

B.S.Stimme ist für mich unvergleichlich besser und schöner als die der Callas. Ihr Ausdruck ist natürlich und schmiegsam. Aber letztlich ist jede Stimme individuell und alle großen Stimmen eigentlich unvergleichlich. Es ist dasselbe, wie wenn man Beethoven-Mozart- Schubert und Haydn auf "Qualtitätsunterschiede! vergleichen würde. Jeder ist einmalig und unerreichbar ! Unser Glück, daß sie gelebt und geschaffen haben !

[hypnotizeed]

Yes. She doesn't have to be a Callas. No Sutherland. And she wasn't. She was BETTER!. Callas voice was always hard and ugly, with very bad high notes. Sutherland was very majestic, but Sills truly amazing. A beautiful voice, with the ability to pic out the best from every piece, and she had the highest, loudest and most powerful high notes of all coloraturas during this time, not to talk about her ornaments. Still today, no one can do ornaments as her. Watch her Je suis titania live 1979. WOW!!!

[Andante735]

Callas had some of the most amazing high notes on earth when she was in top form. If you listen to her Aida, Lucia, and Violetta to name a few, from the early to mid '50's, you hear that. Her voice wasn't ugly nor beautiful, it was just what it was-Callas. She was the most masterful musician and dramatic interpreter of our time. She single handedly revived the bel canot repertoire, and she is to be honored at least for that. Sills is magnificent here, as she was always.

[diuscorvus]

This is a very intelligent rendition. Sills, IMO, sings without the Italianate style, which is very attentive to portamenti. Miraculously and impressively, she still makes it work. (Btw, your evaluation of Callas's voice shows your complete lack of knowledge and musicality. Callas was the Norma of the century -- not even Ponselle could match her.)

[hypnotizeed]

Well, just face it dude, not everyone could think as you. Lack of knowledge? My dear friend i have been working as a Concertpianist for the last 20 years, worldwide. Shut up if you don't have any idea of whom you are being rude to. And so what, that's a wellknown fact that Callas voice aren't so beautiful, it's metallic and, uniqe, just her own voice, but it misses the beauty of for exampel Sutherland

[AmericanEvita]

She doesn't have to be a Callas...she sings with sublime passion and spirituality, with a great voice full of yearning and emotion...she doesn't make this into one of those showpieces that some sopranos make it..she just gets to the true spirit of the song...it's a prayer

[ridingpegasus]

Wonderful wonderful!!! but not Callas....

[Andante735]

No, she's not Callas, she's Sills and she's damn good.

[outofthebag]

First, let me say Beverly Sills is my favorite opera singer, o.k.? But this is the year '73 her voice started to wobble and her high notes get a little harsh. Try her Boston Opera Norma '71 at her prime under Sarah Caldwell. Not a Callas fan. But Sutherland's 66 recording is my favorite version of Casta Diva. Both Beverly and Joan were the greatest coloraturas, while Beverly was moving, emotional, Joan majesterial and jaw-dropping. Sills' Cleopatra (Handel)'67 has no peer for great singing.

[ericscam]

The beauty of the voice is unsurpassed, and she is a better musician than Sutherland...by far...but Sutherland has incredible power in this aria, which is astonishing.

[muschnik1961]

Callas was great without doubt, Sutherland was also one of the few legendary sopranos - but Beverly Sills was more... She combined the gift of natural talents, beautiful voice, great coloratura, tears in the voice. And all that came together with her warm heart. She was a great human being! May she rest in heavently peace! We all miss her!

[castodivo]

Although I could do without all the sliding and the bit of scooping, this slow tempo is really showing off the stunning breath control Sills was capable of. She also possessed a fine, fine sense of legato. Magghot, do you have the third part of the aria for us to hear?

[AmericanEvita]

They need to reissue Beverly Sill's Norma LP into a CD under Deutsche Gramophon; especially now that Sills is deceased. I had always wanted to listen to her "Casta Diva" and now that I have it moves me to tears. She really got this song right. It's pure Heaven. The best version ever, better than Callas, Caballe and anyone else

[callas777]

...better than Callas?...

[DivaDeb1234]

I have to agree..

[yodavidnavarro]

I gotta admit she was better than Callas. The voice quality is way better than Callas. And the high notes are performed easier than Caballé! And those tears in her voice are really touching!

[grobaniteforever]

The Best version of my favorite opera aria Casta Diva ever

[countertenorbuff]

I'm so glad you posted this. One year ago today the world lost one of its greatest singers and advocates for the arts. This recording of Casta Diva is so beautiful it leaves me speechless and in a euphoric daze.

[Ahdren]

she must have had scars on her lungs from this pace!! Brilliant!

[agnellodei]

She was able to spin the longest legatto of anyone I can think of, including Callas!

[agnellodei]

I've never been fond of Sills' timbre, but she does a beautiful job here singing in the original key!

[Klaudhius]

I love her... his voice is perfect

i love her too as Elizabeth in Roberto Devereux (L)!!

Brava!

[petelovesbevsills]

Brava Diva! Perhaps the only Bev recording where one wishes that James Levin has speeded up his conducting! But, who cares, Beverly Rocks!

[countertenorbuff]

Like the finest of wines, Sills would always take her time and had probably the best musical instincts of any soprano before or after to spin beautiful long phrases. She made Levin wait, not the other way around.

[petelovesbevsills]

AMEN! She also had the talents and intelligence of 100 sopranos. We can forget about ever hearing anyone like Beloved Bev again!!!!

[DivaDeb1234]

Oh man..how sad. You made me cry but you are right

[benderpm]

My favorite coloratura.

[grobaniteforever]

Mine too RIP Sweet Diva Beverly Sills

[DivaDeb1234]

Yes, definately...me too. Sills was and is the best. I met her at an autograph signing and she had the most beautiful big brown eyes with a twinkle in them and you could see straight through to her soul...it was amazing