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Beverly Sills facts for kids

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Beverly Sills by Van Vechten
Beverly Sills in 1956, photo by Carl Van Vechten

Beverly Sills (born Belle Miriam Silverman; May 25, 1929 – July 2, 2007) was a famous American opera singer. She was a soprano, which is the highest female singing voice. Her most active years were from the 1950s to the 1970s.

Beverly Sills was especially known for her amazing performances in roles that required a special singing style called "coloratura." This style involves very fast, fancy, and high notes. She was often linked with the operas of Gaetano Donizetti, performing and recording many of his works. Some of her most famous roles were in operas like Lucia di Lammermoor, Manon, La fille du régiment, and Roberto Devereux.

After she stopped singing in 1980, Sills became a leader in the opera world. She was the general manager of the New York City Opera. Later, she became the chairwoman of important arts organizations like Lincoln Center and the Metropolitan Opera. Beverly Sills also used her fame to help charities that worked to prevent and treat birth defects.

Biography

Beverly Sills was born Belle Miriam Silverman in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, New York City. Her mother, Shirley Bahn, was a musician, and her father, Morris Silverman, worked in insurance. Her parents were immigrants from Ukraine and Romania. Growing up in Brooklyn, her friends called her "Bubbles" Silverman. As a child, she learned to speak several languages, including Yiddish, Russian, Romanian, French, and English. She went to Erasmus Hall High School and the Professional Children's School in Manhattan.

Early Life and Career

Beverly Sills started performing very young. At just three years old, she won a "Miss Beautiful Baby" contest by singing. By age four, she was already singing professionally on a radio show called "Rainbow House," where she was known as "Bubbles" Silverman.

She began taking singing lessons at age seven with a teacher named Estelle Liebling. A year later, she appeared in a short film. Around this time, she started using her stage name, Beverly Sills. When she was 10, Sills won a radio talent show called Major Bowes' Amateur Hour. After that, she often appeared on another weekly radio show called Capitol Family Hour.

In 1945, Sills began her professional stage career with a touring company that performed Gilbert and Sullivan operas. She traveled to many cities in the US and Canada. This experience helped her develop her comedic timing, which she later became famous for. She enjoyed playing funny characters and found she had a talent for humor on stage.

Opera Debut and Family Life

In 1947, Beverly Sills made her first appearance in a full opera. She played the role of Frasquita in Bizet's Carmen with the Philadelphia Civic Grand Opera Company. She then toured North America, singing lead roles in operas like La traviata. In 1953, she debuted with the San Francisco Opera.

On October 29, 1955, she performed for the first time with the New York City Opera (NYCO) in Die Fledermaus. Critics praised her performance. Her reputation grew even more when she sang the main role in the New York premiere of The Ballad of Baby Doe in 1958.

In 1956, Sills married journalist Peter Greenough and moved to Cleveland, Ohio. They had two children, Meredith (born 1959) and Peter Jr. (born 1961). To care for her children, Beverly Sills chose to perform less often. Her daughter, Meredith, had significant health challenges, and her son, Peter Jr., had severe developmental disabilities.

In 1960, her family moved to Milton, Massachusetts. Sills continued to sing, taking on roles like Manon in Massenet's Manon in 1962. This became one of her most famous roles.

Becoming an International Star

Beverly Sills became an international opera star in 1966. This happened after her amazing performance as Cleopatra in Handel's opera Giulio Cesare at the New York City Opera. She continued to have great success at the NYCO in roles like the Queen of Shemakha in The Golden Cockerel and Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor.

In 1969, Sills sang Zerbinetta in a concert version of Richard Strauss's Ariadne auf Naxos. Her performance, especially of Zerbinetta's difficult aria, earned her huge praise. That same year, she debuted at La Scala in Milan, Italy, in The Siege of Corinth, which was a big success.

By 1971, Sills was so famous that she appeared on the cover of Time magazine, which called her "America's Queen of Opera." She purposely limited her performances overseas to be with her family. However, she did sing in major opera houses in London, Milan, Venice, Vienna, and Paris. She also performed in South America and Mexico City. Many of her performances were televised, bringing opera to more people.

Beverly Sills also became a popular guest on talk shows, helping to make opera more accessible and showing her down-to-earth personality. In late 1974, she had successful surgery for a health challenge and recovered so quickly that she was back on stage a month later.

On April 7, 1975, Sills finally made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in The Siege of Corinth. She received a huge, eighteen-minute ovation from the audience. She sang other famous roles at the Met, including Violetta in La Traviata and Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor.

Sills also gave many concerts in smaller cities and at colleges, sharing her talent with audiences who might not have seen her in full opera productions. She continued to perform new roles at the New York City Opera until her retirement from singing in 1980. Her final performance was in Die Fledermaus in San Diego.

As she got older, Sills took on some more challenging opera roles that required a stronger voice. She was admired for bringing dramatic power to these parts, even with her lighter voice.

Beverly Sills helped make opera popular by appearing on many TV talk shows, like Johnny Carson and The Muppet Show, where she even had a "high-note contest" with Miss Piggy. Her friendly and approachable manner helped change the idea that opera singers were always serious or temperamental.

Later Years and Legacy

In 1978, Beverly Sills announced she would retire from singing in 1980. In 1979, she became the co-director, and then the sole general director, of the New York City Opera. She held this position until 1989. During her time as general director, Sills helped the opera company, which was having financial difficulties, become successful again.

After her time at the NYCO, she dedicated herself to supporting the arts and various charities, especially the March of Dimes. From 1994 to 2002, Sills was the chairwoman of Lincoln Center, a major performing arts complex in New York City. In 2002, she became the chairwoman of the Metropolitan Opera, a role she held until 2005. She stepped down to care for her husband, Peter Greenough, who passed away in 2006.

Beverly Sills herself passed away on July 2, 2007, at the age of 78, after a health challenge. She is buried in Kensico Cemetery in Valhalla, New York. Her daughter, Meredith, passed away in 2016.

Voice and Style

Beverly Sills's voice was described in many ways: "rich," "silvery," "precise," and "multicolored." People noted its "cutting edge" that could easily be heard over a large orchestra. Her singing technique and musical skills were highly praised. One conductor said she had "the fastest voice alive."

The New York Times wrote that she could sing very fast and fancy musical patterns, reaching high notes with seemingly effortless skill. She sang with great musical accuracy and a clear understanding of the words. Her vocal range was impressive, extending to very high notes.

Operatic Roles

Here are some of the opera roles Beverly Sills performed on stage, television, or radio:

Composer Opera Role In repertoire Performed with Recorded
Bellini I Capuleti e i Montecchi Giulietta 1975 Opera Company of Boston Yes
Bellini I puritani Elvira 1972–1978 Philadelphia Lyric Opera Company, New York City Opera, San Francisco Opera, Tulsa Opera Yes
Bellini Norma Norma 1972–1978 Opera Company of Boston, Opera Theatre of New Jersey, Connecticut Opera, Ravinia Festival, San Diego Opera, San Antonio Opera Yes
Bizet Carmen Frasquita 1951 Philadelphia Civic Grand Opera Company No
Bizet Carmen Micaela 1952–1958 Charles Wagner Opera Company, Robin Hood Dell West, Cosmopolitan Opera No
Bizet Les pêcheurs de perles Leila 1956 DuMont Television Network Yes
Boito Mefistofele Helen of Troy 1953 San Francisco Opera No
Charpentier Louise Louise 1962–1977 New York City Opera Yes
Donizetti Anna Bolena Anna 1973–1975 New York City Opera Yes
Donizetti Don Pasquale Norina 1978–1980 Opera Company of Boston, Metropolitan Opera, Houston Grand Opera, San Diego Opera Yes
Donizetti La fille du régiment Marie 1970–1977 Opera Company of Boston, Carnegie Hall, San Antonio Opera, Philadelphia Lyric Opera, San Diego Opera, Cincinnati Opera, Edmonton Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Wolf Trap Opera, San Francisco Opera, New York City Opera, Opera Memphis, Palm Beach Opera Yes
Donizetti L'elisir d'amore Adina 1964 Opera Company of Boston No
Donizetti Lucia di Lammermoor Lucia 1968–1977 Fort Worth Opera, Cincinnati Opera, Edmonton Opera, Opera Company of Boston, New York City Opera, Palacio de Bellas Artes, La Scala, San Antonio Grand Opera, Ravinia Festival, Philadelphia Lyric Opera Company, Covent Garden, Tulsa Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Mississippi Opera Association, Zoo Opera, Wolf Trap Opera, New Orleans Opera, Pittsburgh Opera, Seattle Opera, Teatro Colón, San Francisco Opera, Opera Memphis, San Antonio Symphony, Florentine Opera, Opera Omaha, Metropolitan Opera Yes
Donizetti Lucrezia Borgia Lucrezia Borgia 1975–1976 New York City Opera Yes
Donizetti Maria Stuarda Maria Stuarda 1972–1974 New York City Opera Yes
Donizetti Roberto Devereux Elizabeth I 1970–1975 New York City Opera, Cincinnati Opera, Wolf Trap Opera Yes
Gounod Faust Marguerite 1963–1970 Boston Opera Group, New York City Opera, Cincinnati Opera, Orlando Opera, San Antonio Grand Opera Festival, Duluth Symphony Orchestra Yes
Handel Ariodante Ginevra 1971 Kennedy Center Yes
Handel Giulio Cesare Cleopatra 1966–1971 New York City Opera, Teatro Colón, Cincinnati May Festival Yes
Handel Semele Semele 1967–1969 Cleveland Orchestra, Caramoor Festival Yes
Hindemith Hin und zurück Helene 1965 WGBH-TV Yes
Lehár The Merry Widow Hanna Glawari 1977–1979 San Diego Opera, Houston Grand Opera, New York City Opera Yes
Massenet Manon Manon 1953–1978 Baltimore Opera Company, New York City Opera, Palacio de Bellas Artes, Teatro Colón, San Francisco Opera, Opera Company of Philadelphia Yes
Massenet Thaïs Thaïs 1954–1978 DuMont Television Network, San Francisco Opera, Metropolitan Opera Yes
Menotti La Loca Juana La Loca 1979 San Diego Opera, New York City Opera Yes
Meyerbeer Les Huguenots Marguerite 1969 Carnegie Hall Yes
Moore The Ballad of Baby Doe Baby Doe 1958–1969 New York City Opera, Musicarnival Yes
Mozart Die Entführung aus dem Serail Konstanze 1965–1975 Boston Opera Group, New York City Opera, Fort Worth Opera, Grant Park, Tanglewood Music Festival, Frederic R. Mann Auditorium, Ravinia Festival Yes
Mozart Die Zauberflöte Queen of the Night 1964–1967 Boston Opera Group, Théâtre de Beaulieu, Tanglewood Music Festival, Houston Grand Opera, Vienna State Opera, New York City Opera, CBC Radio Yes
Mozart Don Giovanni Donna Elvira 1953–1955 San Francisco Opera, Chattanooga Opera Association No
Mozart Don Giovanni Donna Anna 1963–1967 New York City Opera, Opera Company of Boston, Metropolitan Opera, Palacio de Bellas Artes, Théâtre de Beaulieu, Baltimore Opera Company Yes
Nono Intolleranza 1960 The Companion 1965 Opera Company of Boston Yes
Offenbach Les contes d'Hoffmann Three Heroines 1964–1973 New Orleans Opera, Grant Park, Opera Company of Boston, Cincinnati Opera, New York City Opera, Baltimore Opera Company, Palacio de Bellas Artes, San Antonio Grand Opera, San Antonio Symphony, Shreveport Opera, Municipal Theatre of Santiago, San Diego Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Florida Symphony Yes
Puccini La bohème Musetta 1958–1963 Cosmopolitan Opera, New York City Opera No
Puccini Gianni Schicchi Lauretta 1967 New York City Opera Yes
Puccini Suor Angelica Suor Angelica 1967 New York City Opera Yes
Puccini Il tabarro Giorgetta 1967 New York City Opera Yes
Rameau Hippolyte et Aricie Aricie 1966 Opera Company of Boston Yes
Rimsky-Korsakov Le Coq d'Or Queen Shemakha 1967–1971 New York City Opera Yes
Rossini The Barber of Seville Rosina 1974–1980 Opera Company of Boston, San Antonio Symphony, New York City Opera, Kennedy Center, Fort Worth Opera, Palm Beach Opera, Festival Internacional Cervantino, Robin Hood Dell Yes
Rossini Il turco in Italia Fiorilla 1978–1979 New York City Opera Yes
Rossini The Siege of Corinth Pamira 1969–1976 La Scala, Metropolitan Opera Yes
Johann Strauss II Die Fledermaus Rosalinda 1955–1980 Musicarnival, New York City Opera, Cincinnati Opera, Opera Company of Boston Yes
Johann Strauss II Die Fledermaus Adele 1977–1980 New York City Opera, San Diego Opera Yes
Richard Strauss Ariadne auf Naxos (original version) Zerbinetta 1969 Boston Symphony Orchestra Yes
Sullivan H.M.S. Pinafore Josephine 1945 Providence, Rhode Island at the Metropolitan Theater and Hartford, Connecticut at the Bushnell Memorial Auditorium No
Sullivan The Pirates of Penzance Mabel 1945 Hartford, Connecticut at the Bushnell Memorial Auditorium No
Verdi Aida Aida 1954–1960 University of Utah football stadium, Paterson, New Jersey, Central City Opera Yes
Verdi La traviata Violetta 1951–1977 Kingston High School, Charleston Municipal Auditorium, Orlando Municipal Auditorium, Saenger Theatre, Duke University, Academy of Music, Erie Philharmonic Orchestra, Portland Civic Opera Association, DuMont Television Network, New York City Opera, Fort Worth Opera, Tulsa Opera, Cincinnati Opera, San Antonio Symphony, Grant Park, Teatro di San Carlo, Connecticut Opera, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Opera Company of Boston, La Fenice, San Antonio Grand Opera, San Francisco Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Ravinia Festival, Palm Beach Opera, Metropolitan Opera, Wolf Trap Opera Company, San Diego Opera Yes
Verdi Rigoletto Gilda 1957–1977 Grant Park, Opera Company of Boston Yes
Wagner Die Walküre Gerhilde 1953 San Francisco Opera No
Weisgall Six Characters in Search of an Author Coloratura 1959–1960 New York City Opera Yes

Awards and Honors

Beverly Sills received many awards and honors throughout her life. Here are some of the most important ones:

  • Grammy Awards:
    • 1976 – Won for "Music of Victor Herbert"
  • Emmy Award nominations and wins:
    • 1975 – Won for "Profile in Music: Beverly Sills, Festival '75"
    • 1978 – Won for "Lifestyles with Beverly Sills" (her own talk show)
  • Honorary Doctorates in Music:
    • Received degrees from many universities, including Harvard University (1974).
  • Other Music Awards:
    • 1970 – Named "Musician of the Year" by Musical America.
    • 1972 – Won an Edison Award for her Manon recording.
    • 1985 – Received the Kennedy Center Honors, a top award for artists.
    • 1990 – Awarded the National Medal of Arts from the US government.
    • 2005 – The Metropolitan Opera created the "Beverly Sills Artist Award" in her honor, a $50,000 annual award for talented young American opera singers.
  • Charity and Humanitarian Awards:

Recordings and TV Shows

Beverly Sills recorded eighteen full-length operas during her career. She also released nine solo albums of arias (songs from operas) and other songs.

She starred in eight opera productions that were shown on PBS television, and more on other public TV channels. She also appeared in TV specials like "A Look-in at the Met" with Danny Kaye and "Sills and Burnett at the Met" with Carol Burnett. One of her TV specials, "Profile in Music," won an Emmy Award.

Some of her televised performances are available on DVD, including:

  • Ariadne auf Naxos (1969)
  • La fille du régiment (1974)
  • Roberto Devereux (1975)
  • La traviata (1976)
  • Il barbiere di Siviglia (1976)
  • Manon (1977)

After she retired from singing in 1980, Beverly Sills hosted many of the "Live from Lincoln Center" telecasts on PBS until 2006.

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See also

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