100 Greatest Singers: BEVERLY SILLS

THIS PROJECT IS RESERVED ONLY FOR THE GREATEST! Think so? Please comment!

Beverly Sills, Soprano (1929-2007)

Jacques Offenbach - The Tales of Hoffmann
Doll-Song from Olympia "Les oiseaux dans la charmille"
(Recorded 1972)

My personal opinion: The most amazing coloratura after World War II. Wonderful feminine voice with passion and tears in it. And moreover, she was a great human being.
Her "Manon" will be unrivaled for all times!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Beverly
• Sills
• Jacques
• Offenbach
• Tales
• of
• Hoffmann
• Les
• Contes
• d´Hoffmann
• Coloratura

[maestrojimbo]

I agree that she be on this list - but why use this aria as an example of her singing? I agree with meltzerboy - O Quante volte is one of her greatest accomplishments (the recording was from 1968 with Jalas). That performance was not available for years, until the EMI release of a 2-CD album a few years ago. I also thing the Maria Stuarda and Manon recordings are her greatest artistic achievement in the studio. I followed her career for many years. Thanks for doing this project.

[100Singers]

I choose the Doll-Song while "O quante volte" and her Manon were here on YouTube already.

[pearlmuth3]

I heard her often she DOES BELONG HERE SHE WAS PASSIONATE, HER VOICE CUT THROUGH TO THE BACK OF THE HOUSE AND ANYONE WHO HEARD HER IN THE HOUSE UNLESS THEY WHERE SEATED ON THEIR EARS KNEW SHE WAS GREAT IN HER PRIME -- SHE SANG FOR MANY YEARS I HAVE HER ON RADIO FROM AGE 8 UP AND UNTIL THE 80's SHE WAS IN GREAT VOICE. THIS ROLE I HEARD HER DO WITH MOLESE, THE NYC OPERA- SHE DID ALL THE ROLES AND BROUGHT THE HOUSE DOWN, ALSO SHE HAD GREAT DICTION AND THE VOICE HAD PLENTY OF HEFT BRAVA!

[polemius01]

Ah, Sills. When I was a teenager, she was the "home town" soprano. An inexpensive ticket to the City Opera was a passport to a great night of passionate and technically superb singing. I agree with meltzerboy that her "O quante volte" is a great. But, who can resist her Olympia? Certainly not I!

Was Sills a "great voice?" Open to debate (I think so), but, what she could do with that voice, her generosity of spirit, and her adventurous role choices make her a "great singer."

[MingnonDunn]

Miss Sills is in my top 5 of all time. A remarkable person/singer/ actor. One for the ages.

[gladismq1]

que voz tan increible...una verdadera soprano de coloratura...alguna vez interpretó en la flauta magica?

[caltrask51]

Beverly is the true coloratura soprano. But this video doesn't really show those extreme top notes.

[ian1856]

My first professional job was at City Opera, so I had the pleasure of working with Beverly for many years. She was not only a great singer and a great actress, but a wonderful colleague and a delightful human being. When I was frozen with terror my first night onstage, she was the first member of the company to come over and welcome me to the NYCO family. Happy memories (and, yeah, the Manon is my all-time fave.)

[spintotenor83]

I think Sills being a great voice is NOT arguable. Show me a soprano who can match her head voice quality especially in the top range! It is almost unbelievable and incredibly secure AND stunningly beautiful...technique comes in as she is able to do it over and over again! It's more than what she does with her voice. Especially when you hear the quality of her floating head voice... you know there is nothing like it! Sills voice AND what she does with is incredible... in my opinion.

[jglass54]

I would have paid tribute to her on this list with a recording of her from her legendary "Manon" with Nicolai Gedda. Still the best recording of the opera out there.

[andrebontemp]

Beverly Sills give a good rendition of this french aria and her diction in french is

excellent as a french myself I can say cause a lot of singers are quite difficult to understand and this langage is one of the less cantabile if you compare to italian

which is meant for Bel Canto .

[Tenorbravo]

JUST ONE WORD.....MAGNIFIQUE....

[cantorga]

Yes, she was the only coloratura who ever truly moved me--the others are all basically show-offs. Her "v'adoro o pupille" from Handel's JuliusCaesar is the most enticing seduction-music I have ever heard.

[Nacidodelmar]

@vergoti20 I love Beverly Sills, my brother works for her office at the Lincoln Center and he said the same thing about her, she was a nice lady.