<p>I just watched Charlie Rose’s tribute to Beverly Sills who just died. The show concluded with a radiant,young Beverly Sills singing a lovely, lyrical song in English. It ended over a half hour ago, and I am still buzzing from her lingering high notes. OMG! How beautiful!</p>
<p>She spoke of her role running Lincoln Center and the importance of the arts. I thought of Soozievt’s passionate defense of a young girl who wants to study linguistics AND theater. I can easily say that the arts are central to my life.<br>
I have written poetry with dedication since I was 15. Even performed and published some. All I ever really wanted to do was read poetry and novels. I did not want to go to law school. Now every day I spend my time reading Donne and neruda to my students among many other things.</p>
<p>So here’s to the miraculous Beverly Sills and all the other artists who help me find my heart.</p>
<p>What a beautiful post, mythmom. I join you in honoring someone of such talent and passion. Beverly Sills will be greatly missed by many.</p>
<p>~berurah</p>
<p>We spent a fair amount of time last night (4th of July) talking about Beverly Sills. Turns out one of the families knew her personally (their cousin was married to Beverly Sills’ nephew). Beverly Sills had a challenging family life. She found out within 6 mos of each other that her daugher, Muffy, was profoundly deaf (discovered this at around age 2) and her newborn son, Bucky, was severely developmentally delayed and autistic. He was unfortunately ultimately institutionalized. My friend was actually Muffy’s camp counselor! Small world. Can you imagine being an opera singer and having a child who cannot hear you? That is so sad. Muffy was well educated and did learn to speak pretty well, but it is still a sad situation all the way around. She was a classy lady and will be missed.</p>
<p>I have no interest whatsoever in opera, but I have always been intrigued by Beverly Sills. Perhaps it was because she was a Brooklyn girl (me too!) with an unforgettable voice and a sparkling presence to match. Perhaps because she was an America diva in a European “sport.” I understand that she was really quite a character and tough to deal with as an administrator, but she succeeded in opening up the beauty of opera to many. Except me. ;)</p>
<p>If any have the opportunity to hear a recording of young Beverly Sills singing Handel’s Cleopatra—do not miss it! The piece could have been written for her, and she was brilliant. That really is the perfect word, for once. Brilliant.</p>