Death of Beverly Sills

Posted by Sarah Canice Funke Jul 6, 2007

The opera world lost two sopranos this week. Thursday saw the passing of French soprano/mezzo-soprano Régine Crespin. But earlier in the week, America lost 78-year-old Beverly Sills. Though the coloratura soprano had never smoked, she died of lung cancer in her Manhattan home on Monday, July 2.

Beverly Sills' career began in 1955 with the New York City Opera. She first performed with the New York Metropolitan Opera in 1975. A mere five years later she retired from singing, but kept active in promoting the arts, including serving a ten year stint as general director of the New York City Opera. She also appeared as guest host on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson."

Beverly Sills became a mythic figure in the American eye. Born in the Crown Heights district of Brooklyn to immigrant parents, Sills played out the rags-to-riches story of hard work and the American Dream. When many divas are temperamental, Sills laughed off her successes and made opera seem accessible.

A full obituary can be found at the International Herald Times.