There is an interest part in one of her autobiographies addressing her trill. Apparently, Sills' teacher Estelle Liebling was in the audience of a performance where her trill became sloppy. Ms Libeling was in her 90s at the time and the next morning they went into the studio and worked on the trill. Even world class singers have to work, which is an inspiration to the rest of us who are good singers but not household names.
There is just NO OTHER soprano who could sing this Händel work or any of his others at this INCREDIBLE tempo, which is what it is marked at with metronome markings in the text I am told. Dame Joan did not come even close to this impeccable performance!
The metronome as we know it was invented in Beethoven's day, the 1800s - it didn't exist in Handel's. There are no "original" metronome markings for Baroque music -- at most, there might have been indications like allegro or adagio, but no more, and sometimes not even that.
Incredible articulation and pronunciation of the text at a tempo that even Sutherland might have had a bit of trouble with. Sills was perhaps the best Handel opera singer of the 20th Century.
Dame Joan did not come even close to this tempo Wilson! Mme Sills was by far THE Händel soprano of the 20th century and dare I say that I doubt any other will even close in the 21st century!
@@MrAndredekock They were very different voices, different types of singers, and different types of women. Sutherland had the more natural voice, but Sills was the better musician and if I may go out on a limb...the more intellectual of the two. Back when I was very young and only a chorus singer, I sang with a guy who sang with both of these singers when HE was very young and only a chorus singer. Sutherland had to constantly look at her roles no matter how many times she performed them, Sills could master them in one take and never have to look at the music again. He said "Sills' actual voice wasn't exceptional in its sound quality...but oh was she exciting with what she was able to do with it!". Sutherland was easier to work with, Sills had the more artistic temperament. I like both singers for different reasons....and think its silly when people ...often times non singers.....argue over who was better.
I always found Sills’s voice pleasing. Her voice has warmth that isn’t usually associated with coloraturas. Her diction is also really amazing, something that Sutherland never really had.
@@baritonebynight And, funnily enough, those arguments didn't seem to affect either career. There were two incredible singers with, as you say, different voices. They were both a delight to hear. Sutherland had warmth and Sills had fireworks - her ornamentation was astounding. It's sad that their appearance together in Die Fledermaus with Alan Titus (and other notables) in San Diego , 1980, was only captured in a house recording. What does exists makes the case for both singers!
I was at this performance. Unforgettable!
One of the great coloraturas of all time
Brava Beverly Sills! What a magnificent upload too, thank you so much Federico! Tante Grazie!!!!:-)))
Her and Sutherland had the best trills.
There is an interest part in one of her autobiographies addressing her trill. Apparently, Sills' teacher Estelle Liebling was in the audience of a performance where her trill became sloppy. Ms Libeling was in her 90s at the time and the next morning they went into the studio and worked on the trill. Even world class singers have to work, which is an inspiration to the rest of us who are good singers but not household names.
The phenomenal singing of Beverly Sills.
Absolutely mind-boggling!
There is just NO OTHER soprano who could sing this Händel work or any of his others at this INCREDIBLE tempo, which is what it is marked at with metronome markings in the text I am told. Dame Joan did not come even close to this impeccable performance!
The metronome as we know it was invented in Beethoven's day, the 1800s - it didn't exist in Handel's. There are no "original" metronome markings for Baroque music -- at most, there might have been indications like allegro or adagio, but no more, and sometimes not even that.
True. But Dame Joan is so overrated anyway.
Incredible articulation and pronunciation of the text at a tempo that even Sutherland might have had a bit of trouble with. Sills was perhaps the best Handel opera singer of the 20th Century.
Dame Joan did not come even close to this tempo Wilson! Mme Sills was by far THE Händel soprano of the 20th century and dare I say that I doubt any other will even close in the 21st century!
@@MrAndredekock They were very different voices, different types of singers, and different types of women. Sutherland had the more natural voice, but Sills was the better musician and if I may go out on a limb...the more intellectual of the two. Back when I was very young and only a chorus singer, I sang with a guy who sang with both of these singers when HE was very young and only a chorus singer. Sutherland had to constantly look at her roles no matter how many times she performed them, Sills could master them in one take and never have to look at the music again. He said "Sills' actual voice wasn't exceptional in its sound quality...but oh was she exciting with what she was able to do with it!". Sutherland was easier to work with, Sills had the more artistic temperament. I like both singers for different reasons....and think its silly when people ...often times non singers.....argue over who was better.
I always found Sills’s voice pleasing. Her voice has warmth that isn’t usually associated with coloraturas. Her diction is also really amazing, something that Sutherland never really had.
@@baritonebynight And, funnily enough, those arguments didn't seem to affect either career. There were two incredible singers with, as you say, different voices. They were both a delight to hear. Sutherland had warmth and Sills had fireworks - her ornamentation was astounding. It's sad that their appearance together in Die Fledermaus with Alan Titus (and other notables) in San Diego , 1980, was only captured in a house recording. What does exists makes the case for both singers!
💜💐