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Opera Star Beverly Sills Dead at 78

Soprano captured America's heart

By Colleen Barry,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 3, 2007 4:44 AM CDT

(Newser) – Soprano Beverly Sills, whose ebullient personality and brilliant singing voice not only made her a star but helped demystify opera in America, died Monday night in her Manhattan home from inoperable lung cancer, the New York Times reports. She was 78. Sills spent much of her singing career with the New York City Opera, and later chaired Lincoln Center and the Metropolitan Opera.

Sills was Brooklyn-born and American-trained. She overcame modest beginnings, personal tragedy (two severely handicapped children) and mixed early reviews  (she was accepted at City Operat after eight unsuccessful auditions) to triumph in the bel canto Italian repertory. Sills was known for her adeptness with vocal embellishments and for helping to revive operas that hadn't been performed in years.

Opera singer Beverly Sills,left, is embraced by Carol Burnett at the New York City Opera during Miss Sills' final appearance as a singer in this file photo from Oct. 28, 1980. Sills, the Brooklyn-born opera diva who was a global icon of can-do American culture with her dazzling voice,...
Opera singer Beverly Sills,left, is embraced by Carol Burnett at the New York City Opera during Miss Sills' final appearance as a singer in this file photo from Oct. 28, 1980. Sills, the Brooklyn-born...   (Associated Press)
Beverly Sills sings the role of Rosalinda in Die Fledermaus at New York's Lincoln Center during her farewell performance with the New York City Opera, in this Oct. 27, 1980 file photo. Sills, the Brooklyn-born opera diva who was a global icon of can-do American culture with her dazzling voice,...
Beverly Sills sings the role of Rosalinda in "Die Fledermaus" at New York's Lincoln Center during her farewell performance with the New York City Opera, in this Oct. 27, 1980 file photo. Sills, the Brooklyn-born...   (Associated Press)
Former opera star Beverly Sills, poses in a Jan. 27, 1994 file photo. Sills, the Brooklyn-born opera diva who was a global icon of can-do American culture with her dazzling voice, bubbly personality and management moxie in the arts world, died Monday July 2, 2007 of cancer, said her manager,...
Former opera star Beverly Sills, poses in a Jan. 27, 1994 file photo. Sills, the Brooklyn-born opera diva who was a global icon of can-do American culture with her dazzling voice, bubbly personality and...   (Associated Press)
Beverly Sills sings the role of Manon in a performance of the Jules Massenet opera Manon at the New York City Opera in this 1969 file photo. Sills, the Brooklyn-born opera diva who was a global icon of can-do American culture with her dazzling voice, bubbly personality and management moxie...
Beverly Sills sings the role of Manon in a performance of the Jules Massenet opera "Manon" at the New York City Opera in this 1969 file photo. Sills, the Brooklyn-born opera diva who was a global icon...   (Associated Press)
In this undated photo released by PBS, opera stars Beverly Sills and Luciano Pavorotti rehearse for Gala of Stars, a PBS television special that was aired March 16, 1980. Beverly Sills, the Brooklyn-born opera diva who was a global icon of can-do American culture with her dazzling voice, bubbly personality...
In this undated photo released by PBS, opera stars Beverly Sills and Luciano Pavorotti rehearse for "Gala of Stars," a PBS television special that was aired March 16, 1980. Beverly Sills, the Brooklyn-born...   (Associated Press)
Opera stars Beverly Sills, left, as Adele the maid, and Joan Sutherland as Rosalinda share the stage during a performance of Die Fledermaus in San Diego, in this Oct. 6, 1980 file photo. Sills, the Brooklyn-born opera diva who was a global icon of can-do American culture with her dazzling...
Opera stars Beverly Sills, left, as Adele the maid, and Joan Sutherland as Rosalinda share the stage during a performance of "Die Fledermaus" in San Diego, in this Oct. 6, 1980 file photo. Sills, the...   (Associated Press)
Opera singer Beverly Sills, right, appears with her daughter, Muffy, and her mother, Shirley Silverman, left, in this Dec. 19, 1988 file photo at New York's Plaza Hotel. Beverly Sills, the Brooklyn-born opera diva who was a global icon of can-do American culture with her dazzling voice, bubbly personality and...
Opera singer Beverly Sills, right, appears with her daughter, Muffy, and her mother, Shirley Silverman, left, in this Dec. 19, 1988 file photo at New York's Plaza Hotel. Beverly Sills, the Brooklyn-born...   (Associated Press)
Beverly Sills sings the role of Norina in Donizetti's Don Pasquale,  at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, in this May 1980 file photo. Beverly Sills, the Brooklyn-born opera diva who was a global icon of can-do American culture with her dazzling voice, bubbly personality and management moxie in the...
Beverly Sills sings the role of Norina in Donizetti's "Don Pasquale, " at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, in this May 1980 file photo. Beverly Sills, the Brooklyn-born opera diva who was a global...   (Associated Press)
Opera singer Beverly Sills and singer Tony Bennett appear together at the Mayflower Hotel in New York, in this on Jan. 8, 1980 file photo. Sills, the Brooklyn-born opera diva who was a global icon of can-do American culture with her dazzling voice, bubbly personality and management moxie in the...
Opera singer Beverly Sills and singer Tony Bennett appear together at the Mayflower Hotel in New York, in this on Jan. 8, 1980 file photo. Sills, the Brooklyn-born opera diva who was a global icon of...   (Associated Press)
aid her manager, Edgar Vincent. She was 78. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer-File)
aid her manager, Edgar Vincent. She was 78. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer-File)   (Associated Press)
Beverly Sills, holding a bouquet of roses presented by the orchestra, takes her final bows as balloons and confetti fall on the stage at the New York City Opera in New York, in this file photo from Oct. 27, 1980.  Sills, the Brooklyn-born opera diva who was a global icon...
Beverly Sills, holding a bouquet of roses presented by the orchestra, takes her final bows as balloons and confetti fall on the stage at the New York City Opera in New York, in this file photo from Oct....   (Associated Press)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
Beverly Sills - Love Unspoken - The Merry Widow   (beverlysills (YouTube))
Beverly Sills sings the Mad Scene from Lucia Part 1   (beverlysills1 (YouTube))

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