Beverly Sills is gravely ill...

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 4:31pm

this deserves to be on the Main Board as well, for those who don't venture over to the other side.
ABC News

[philcrosby]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 4:33pm

Miss Sills is one of the truly great performers of this or any century. My thoughts and prayers are with her and her family.

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 4:37pm

Very sad. She was an extremely talented performer.

[mortgageguy79]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 4:45pm

How sad....my thought and prayers go out to her. She is such an incredible talent!

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 4:49pm

Wicked, she isn't dead yet. She IS. Not was.

[AC126748]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 4:49pm

A once-in-a-generation voice, and one of the few who has worked tirelessly to make opera accessible to people from all walks of life. I was just listening to her recording of Il Barbiere di Siviglia yesterday and her "Una voce poco fa" still makes my jaw drop, no matter how many times I have heard it.

I sat next to her at the Grand Tier Restaurant in April and she looked and seemed fine, having a lively dinner with a group of friends. This illness must have come on suddenly.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 4:53pm

iluv, Wicked said performer, not person. She hasn't performed in many, many years. "Was" is correct.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 4:55pm

This is sad news indeed. Not only was she a major talent in the opera field, but she was charming and gracious in real life.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 4:58pm

The New York Times cited her as "the most influential administrator for performing arts in New York". Her massive influence went far beyond her massive talent.

[morosco]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 5:13pm

She's a national treasure with remarkable class.

[D2]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 5:15pm

The first opera I ever saw was the telecast of THE BARBER OF SEVILLE with her singing Rosina. The first opera I ever saw live was her final MANON at City Opera. A truly phenomenal talent.

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 6/29/07 at 10:30am

As much as she loved opera, she also loved musicals and was a frequent opening night attendee.

On the opening night of SWEENEY TODD she told Sondheim that she thought the piece would be perfect for opera houses. Five years later under her direction the NYCO did the first New York revival of SWEENEY for 10 performances...all of them sold out.

Last year she hosted the Live from Lincoln Center telecast of THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA. Her voice sounded a bit raspy - which is to e expected at an advanced age - but she still had that sparkling personality we all know and love, and will miss.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 6/29/07 at 10:56am

Be Strong Bubbles.
You are the Classiest.

[MikeMagbaleta]

Posted: 6/29/07 at 3:50pm

My prayers and support for Ms. Sills and her family. Since I've had the fortune to live in the NY area in the past, she's always been an institution in NY opera and on stage worldwide..... God bless her and hope that all of our love and prayers reach and comfort her.

[jv92]

Posted: 6/29/07 at 4:13pm

Heard this on the radio taking a cab home after getting stuck in the rain last night. It's a tragedy. I hope she becomes well again, though things don't look great.