Don Pasquale Contest - Beverly Sills

I am hoping that this is a fun way to enjoy some new artists and new videos. The most important aspect of these "contests" is not the outcome, rather, it is exploring new artists and differnt styles. At least that is what I hope my videos represent. This is a fun aria so enjoy.
Again a score of 1-5 for singing/characterization:
Kathleen Battle - 1988
Ileana Cotrubas - 1986
Beverly Sills - 1979
Luciana Serra - 1996
Inva Mula - 2005
Lillian Watson - 1980
Ying Huang - 1997
Edita Gruberova - 1977
Nancy Hermiston - 1993
Susanna Rigacci - 1993
Patrizia Ciofi - 2007
Isable Rey - 2006
Mariella Devia - 1982
Ruth Ann Swenson - 1987 (sorry for the poor quality of this one)

Category:

Music

Tags:

• sills
• opera
• donizetti

[Ronizetti]

Contest, my dear there is no contest! SILLS hands down ... the first opera/aria I ever heard, sung, here by Beverly - the love affair has never ended. Thank you BEVERLY! BRAVA .. She was Norina.

[dutchtallguy]

America's Queen of Opera. I am a fan. Though I prefer her more dramatic role's (Stuarda/Bolena). A pitty she died not that long ago. A voice that you can recognise out of a thousand. Even at the end of her career she makes this aria her own. 5/5

[pedrofribeiro]

Battle wins the contest. For sure.

[Tenorbravo]

Beautiful voice, charming stage presence and very secure technique.

Brava ! wonderful indeed! Brava cualidad unica . Ms. Sills always shows how well she understands the caracter she is interpreting. Take a close look to her face. BRAVISIMA.

A force of nature! Magnificent! ORIGINAL AND uNIQUE.

[numberonefilmfan]

I was at this performance!!!! :) It was the first opera I saw at the Met.

[castodivo]

I feel like too many singers are out there trying to impress us. If they're young, they're trying to gain attention. If they're old, they're trying to prove they still got it. But Sills... you can just tell that she wasn't out there trying to impress anyone but herself. She did this because it was fun. She had the technique, she had the acting chops -- so when she went on stage, all she had to do was relax. Watching her effortlessly sing at that stage in her career is such a joy.

[gwright199]

Ugh....everything is wrong with this video....why the f--ck is Mrs Garret from "the facts of life" smoking a More? And the ugly vibrato you could drive a truck through? she sounds like a slutty grandmother who waddled on to the wrong set....just bad, bad, bad.....listen to Battle for a superior interpretation.

[dialectgirl]

You didn't include Lucia Popp on the list? Aww!

[nclysander]

First of all, let me say that Beverly is my very favorite soprano and has been since I discovered her at age 15. But this was one year before her retirement and she wasn't really in the best of voice - lots of wobbling. And the soubrette act isn't working for her as much anymore. I would love to give it full points, but in fairness to the other singers in the competition, 2.5/4 is more like it.

[dominonermandi]

Actually, according to interviews with the lady herself she indicated that her voice was more suited to the lighter, higher coloratura roles, but shifted into lower, heavier coloratura things knowing that they'd shorten her career. Though it can also be argued that once she got famous, she was already nearing the end of her career and it was really just a decision just to do the things that really inspired her because longevity wasn't a concern. :)