AMAZING!!! Beverly Sills is the ONLY Lyric Coloratura Soprano that could have effectively and so beautifully performed these 3 roles. Particularly Elisabetta. It really does call for a much heavier voice. And sadly, the role probably took about 10 years off her career. BUT, that being said, she still did an absolutely phenomenal job, because of how expressively she used the voice she had, to bring out BOTH the music AND the drama! AND, even with her very lyric voice, she had no problem making it first when it was needed! I can't think of one other lyric viice that could ever have done this. BRAVA, Bev!❤
Sills stated in one of her autobiographies that her goal was never to sing forever...and in regard to the three Queens she stated long after her retirement from singing "if God gave me back my voice for only one day, I'd say....dig out that old queen costume!"
@@ChrisStockslager So true! They were both so very different and both phenomenal! I can't remember if Caballe ever did Stuarda. I know she did Roberto Devereaux and Anna Bolena, and was also wonderful. But can't remember if she did Maria Stuarda or not. Do you know?
I rode from school in Boston (Greyhound) at 18 to see and hear Sills' first Devereux at NYCO. THAT'S the Vivi Ingrato I HEARD OPENING NIGHT!!! Magic...I NEVER for get that night!!!!!
FWI: This isn't opening night. In fact this is a re-creation done and filmed for a special BBC project with scenes from Devereaux, Baby Doe and Manon which aired in the early 70's.
@@maestrojimbo I did not say this was opening night..I could see it was not. All I said was the Vivi ingrato was sung the same as I heard opening night!
@@pugh.joseph - Equally impressive! ~ However they are worlds apart by contrast ... each with her own distinct "Style". Sondra claims the role amongst all of todays sopranos, easily - a shame we didn't get her BOLENA on film, she was quite adept at that portrayal as well.
I saw her sing all the Queens - more than once - at City Opera. I didn't notice at the time that she was using some of Bette Davis' mannerisms (ELIZABETH AND ESSEX). Elizabeth was the least suited to her voice - I thought then, and now - but she sang them so well, and of course she had the clout to get the 3 operas produced. If it shortened her career a bit - so what? She did what she wanted to do, she had earned to right to do it, and all of us in New York delighted in hearing these then- unusual works. Love to you always, Bubbles Silverman!
God Almighty, that last note.. WOW!!!!!! That was God himself singing, he just happened to have used Beverly Sills' vocal chords for us to hear it.. truly amazing sound!
Just my opinion, but, as time goes on, we have lost so many teachers that really taught a singer how to use their voice to express themselves in their roles, and, also, the coaches that carried on the traditions of the repertoire. I hope I'm wrong...
Gracious!, the higher she climbed the more "expressivo" she managed to be. And if that's correct, Beverly Sills could be the top coloratura in History and God knows how many there are and were or will be of astonishing quality.
Is this from the BBC special on her from the early 70s? I remember seeing this on PBS. It featured her performing excerpts from many of her roles - Rosina, Baby Doe, Cleopatra, Manon, Lucia, etc. It was a great documentation of Sills at the peak of her career.
I'm paraphrasing here, but Beverly stated in her autobiography that her voice teacher, Estelle Liebling, refused to work on this role with her because she felt it would take too great a toll on her voice. She wanted her to save her voice. Beverly said, "But what was I saving it for? I'd rather have 10 years of exciting roles than 20 years of ultimately boring ones". In some scenes of this opera she deliberately made her voice ugly for dramatic purposes. Still, this is one of the most incredible performances of her career. Or opera in general, for that matter. Beverly once said she considered it the crowning achievement of her career.
In one of her books she mentions a discussion she had over the phone with Sarah Caldwell, Director of the Boston Opera (this would have been in the 1970s). Beverly said something about a role she considered "boring." Apparently, Ms. Caldwell "screamed" that there were no boring roles, only boring singers.
Music is tension and relaxation. Her singing here shows what a master of understanding she had regarding the vocal line. Pure genius.
I finally see & hear what people mean when they write gloriously about her. This is amazing !
Welcome to the Club!
AMAZING!!! Beverly Sills is the ONLY Lyric Coloratura Soprano that could have effectively and so beautifully performed these 3 roles. Particularly Elisabetta. It really does call for a much heavier voice. And sadly, the role probably took about 10 years off her career. BUT, that being said, she still did an absolutely phenomenal job, because of how expressively she used the voice she had, to bring out BOTH the music AND the drama! AND, even with her very lyric voice, she had no problem making it first when it was needed! I can't think of one other lyric viice that could ever have done this. BRAVA, Bev!❤
Sills stated in one of her autobiographies that her goal was never to sing forever...and in regard to the three Queens she stated long after her retirement from singing "if God gave me back my voice for only one day, I'd say....dig out that old queen costume!"
Can you imagine if she and Sutherland alternated the 3 Queen roles?! Or alternated Maria and Elisabetta in Stuarda?? 😱💚💙
@@ChrisStockslager I could definitely see Sills as Stuarda with Sutherland as Elisabetta. But not so much the other way around.
Art Danks I mean, Sutherland’s Stuarda was pretty wonderful! Especially her live 1975 one!
@@ChrisStockslager So true! They were both so very different and both phenomenal!
I can't remember if Caballe ever did Stuarda. I know she did Roberto Devereaux and Anna Bolena, and was also wonderful. But can't remember if she did Maria Stuarda or not. Do you know?
I rode from school in Boston (Greyhound) at 18 to see and hear Sills' first Devereux at NYCO.
THAT'S the Vivi Ingrato I HEARD OPENING NIGHT!!!
Magic...I NEVER for get that night!!!!!
Sorry...I meant to say I'll never forget that night!!!!
FWI: This isn't opening night. In fact this is a re-creation done and filmed for a special BBC project with scenes from Devereaux, Baby Doe and Manon which aired in the early 70's.
@@maestrojimbo I did not say this was opening night..I could see it was not. All I said was the Vivi ingrato was sung the same as I heard opening night!
@@davidhumphrey3842 you know that if you press on the 3 dots next to your comment, you can edit it.
Flawless. Saw her sing this at NYCO. Changed my life. This and her Cleopatra.
I had the opportunity to see and heard her in the 3 queens. I consider very lucky. She was always a fantastic singer❤
I was so lucky to have seen this live!
omg when the chords of vivi ingrate begins, I’m instantly in tears ❤
Beautiful voice indeed, but her acting is just phenomenal here. And kudos to the custom design too.
Couldn't agree more!
Exceptional ~ Beverly and Donizetti at their best!
What about Sondra Radvanosky: ua-cam.com/video/PW8HcBt3ryg/v-deo.html though?
@@pugh.joseph - Equally impressive! ~ However they are worlds apart by contrast ... each with her own distinct "Style". Sondra claims the role amongst all of todays sopranos, easily - a shame we didn't get her BOLENA on film, she was quite adept at that portrayal as well.
@@Ronizetti agree
I saw her sing all the Queens - more than once - at City Opera. I didn't notice at the time that she was using some of Bette Davis' mannerisms (ELIZABETH AND ESSEX). Elizabeth was the least suited to her voice - I thought then, and now - but she sang them so well, and of course she had the clout to get the 3 operas produced. If it shortened her career a bit - so what? She did what she wanted to do, she had earned to right to do it, and all of us in New York delighted in hearing these then- unusual works.
Love to you always, Bubbles Silverman!
Suzanne Derringer. My exact thoughts! Couldn't have said this better! Thank you!
Perfectly stated, Suzanne!
Beverly Sills humorously described herself in this role as Bette Davis with high notes.
Better Davis was brilliant in that film as Sills is brilliant
@@tenortonyvillecco2404 Bette
that last note send chills down my spine.. What a celestial note. Will it be possible to see another singer with such skill and sound?
God Almighty, that last note.. WOW!!!!!! That was God himself singing, he just happened to have used Beverly Sills' vocal chords for us to hear it.. truly amazing sound!
Sills' attack on that double High D was epic. She was fearless as Elisabetta and created a role for the ages.
Perfect blend of voice and acting.
Supposedly the only other singer of achieving that balance was Callas as documented in her Tosca clips with Gobbi.
No words... Truly amazing!
Incredible.
@mjmacmtenor Yes. indeed it was. She was in great voice during this period of her career.
Just my opinion, but, as time goes on, we have lost so many teachers that really taught a singer how to use their voice to express themselves in their roles, and, also, the coaches that carried on the traditions of the repertoire. I hope I'm wrong...
@Gary Green. Unfortunately, you are not wrong! And that is so sad!
Gracious!, the higher she climbed the more "expressivo" she managed to be. And if that's correct, Beverly Sills could be the top coloratura in History and God knows how many there are and were or will be of astonishing quality.
Not "could be".. totally IS the top coloratura of all history!
Is this from the BBC special on her from the early 70s? I remember seeing this on PBS. It featured her performing excerpts from many of her roles - Rosina, Baby Doe, Cleopatra, Manon, Lucia, etc. It was a great documentation of Sills at the peak of her career.
@@danawinsor1380 It most certainly is.
@@petelovesbevsills Thank you for the correction.
No. Sills was UNIQUE!
Magnificent
I'm paraphrasing here, but Beverly stated in her autobiography that her voice teacher, Estelle Liebling, refused to work on this role with her because she felt it would take too great a toll on her voice. She wanted her to save her voice. Beverly said, "But what was I saving it for? I'd rather have 10 years of exciting roles than 20 years of ultimately boring ones". In some scenes of this opera she deliberately made her voice ugly for dramatic purposes. Still, this is one of the most incredible performances of her career. Or opera in general, for that matter. Beverly once said she considered it the crowning achievement of her career.
In one of her books she mentions a discussion she had over the phone with Sarah Caldwell, Director of the Boston Opera (this would have been in the 1970s). Beverly said something about a role she considered "boring." Apparently, Ms. Caldwell "screamed" that there were no boring roles, only boring singers.
Without equal!
Wow #dnaturalabovehighC #doubleattack
Imagine wearing a dress weighing over 50 lbs and having to sing... i would have Loved to be a Sparrow in the eaves..
Elle n'a pas la voix du rôle, mais sa performance est électrisante. Merveilleux !