Beverly Sills (May 25, 1929 – July 2, 2007) was an American operatic soprano whose peak career was between the 1950s and 1970s. In her prime she was the only real rival to Joan Sutherland as the leading bel canto stylist.Although she sang a repertoire from Handel and Mozart to Puccini, Massenet and Verdi, she was known for her performances in coloratura soprano roles in live opera and recordings. Sills was largely associated with the operas of Donizetti, of which she performed and recorded many roles. Her signature roles include the title role in Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor, the title role in Massenet's Manon, Marie in Donizetti's La fille du régiment, the three heroines in Offenbach's Les contes d'Hoffmann, Rosina in Rossini's The Barber of Seville, Violetta in Verdi's La traviata, and most notably Elisabetta in Roberto Devereux.After retiring from singing in 1980, she became the general manager of the New York City Opera. In 1994, she became the Chairman of Lincoln Center and then, in 2002, of the Metropolitan Opera, stepping down in 2005. Sills lent her celebrity to further her charity work for the prevention and treatment of birth defects.
On ambition: I've always tried to go a step past wherever people expected me to end up.
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One of the things that separates the two-legged creatures from the four-legged ones is compassion. - 2005 benefit for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society
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It was never part of my plan to retire as a prima donna. I never thought the day I stopped singing would be the day I stopped working. - 2000 interview
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Fact
1
Upon her death, her remains were interred at Sharon Gardens Cemetery in Valhalla, Westchester County, New York. Her location plot is Memory Garden 3, Lot 320, Grave 1.
2
She was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 1750 Vine Street in Hollywood, California.
3
Never smoked.
4
Her son is autistic, and her daughter has MS.
5
Critically ill with cancer [June 28, 2007].
6
She was awarded the American National Medal of the Arts in 1990 by the National Endowment of the Arts in Washington D.C.
Is deeply involved with fund raising for research into curing multiple sclerosis, as her daughter, Muffy, is afflicted with the disease.
9
A member of the New York City Opera from 1955 to 1980.
10
She was the first woman chair of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts (1993).
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The first woman General Director and then President of the New York City Opera.
12
Acclaimed soprano.
13
Her professional debut at the age of three was as Bubbles Silverman on the Uncle Bob's Rainbow House radio show.
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Inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in 1998.
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She retired from performing at the age of 50, with an appearance in Menotti's La Loca, and accepted the position of General Manager of the New York City Opera. In 1991, she joined the board of the Metropolitan Opera, and four years later became head of New York's Lincoln Center.
Actress
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Metropolitan Opera HD Live
2007
TV Series
Hseself - Special Guest Interviewer
The Dean Martin Christmas Special
1980
TV Movie
The Metropolitan Opera Presents
1979
TV Series
Norina
Live from Lincoln Center
1976-1978
TV Series
Donna Fiorilla
Manon Lescaut
Rosina
La traviata
1976
TV Movie
Violetta
Roberto Devereux
1975
TV Movie
Queen Elisabeth
The Daughter of the Regiment
1974
TV Movie
Marie
Uncle Sol Solves It
1938
Short
Singer
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Girl in the Café
2005
TV Movie performer: "Barcarolle Belle nuit, ô nuit d'amour" - uncredited
À la folie... pas du tout
2002
performer: "'Belle nuit, ô nuit d'amour' from LES CONTES D'HOFFMANN"
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Live from Lincoln Center
1978-2007
TV Series
Herself - Host / Herself / Herself - Performer
The Metropolitan Opera HD Live
2007
TV Series
Herself - Host
New York Philharmonic New Year's Eve Concert
2005
TV Movie
Herself - Host
The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts
2000
TV Special documentary
Herself
60 Minutes
1999
TV Series documentary
Herself - Opera Diva (segment "Carol Burnett")
Biography
1998
TV Series documentary
Herself
Charlie Rose
1997
TV Series
Herself - Guest
Jeopardy!
1996
TV Series
Herself - Celebrity Contestant
The Annual Friars Club Tribute Presents a Salute to Barbara Walters
1994
TV Movie
Herself
Great Performances
1981-1989
TV Series
Herself - Host / Herself
A Conversation with Dinah
1989
TV Series
Herself (1991)
Lerner and Loewe: Broadway's Last Romantics
1988
TV Movie
Herself
The Grammy Lifetime Achievment Award Show
1987
TV Movie
Herself - Host
Gala of Stars 1986
1986
TV Special documentary
Herself - Host
The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts
1985
TV Special
Herself - Honoree
New York, New York
1985
TV Series
Herself
Fozzie's Muppet Scrapbook
1985
Video
Herself
Gala of Stars 1984
1984
TV Movie
Herself - Host
All-Star Party for Carol Burnett
1982
TV Movie
Herself
Today
1982
TV Series
Herself
Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color
1981
TV Series
Herself
John Denver: Music and the Mountains
1981
TV Special
Gala of Stars 1981
1981
TV Movie
Herself - Host
The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts
1980
TV Special
Herself
Beverly Sills in Concert
1980
TV Movie
Herself
The Muppet Show
1979
TV Series
Herself - Special Guest Star
Rockette: A Holiday Tribute to Radio City Music Hall
1978
TV Special
Herself
The CBS Festival of Lively Arts for Young People
1975-1978
TV Series
Herself - Hostess / Herself
Good Morning America
1978
TV Series
Herself
Dinah!
1975-1977
TV Series
Herself
The Television Critics Circle Awards
1977
TV Special
Herself
The Mike Douglas Show
1970-1977
TV Series
Herself - Co-Host / Herself - Opera Singer / Herself
The People's Command Performance: '77
1977
TV Movie
Herself
Jimmy Carter's Inaugural Gala
1977
TV Movie
Herself
Sills and Burnett at the Met
1976
TV Movie
Herself
The 28th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards
1976
TV Special
Herself - Co-Presenter: Outstanding Classical Music Program / Outstanding Children's Program & Outstanding Children's Special