Beverly Sills And Friends

This collection, a tribute to Sills' collaborative spirit, brings together scenes from complete opera recordings that had come about as a result of productions at the New York City Opera, as well as six previously unreleased performances with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. The operas represent her recorded works, including selections from the French romantic, Italian bel canto, and contemporary American repertoire.

The performances with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center make this an important addition even to the collections of the confirmed Sills fans who may already own the operas from which these scenes are taken. This is not repertoire for which Sills is well known, and her concert performances of Read more these songs and arias are a real discovery; she brings to these works the same unerring sense of drama for which she was known on-stage. Schubert's Der Hirt auf dem Felsen, with Gervase de Peyer on clarinet and Charles Wadsworth on piano, emerges as a poignant monodrama, and Sills gives Adolphe Adam's extravagantly florid Ah! vous dirai-je, maman, with Paula Robison on flute and Charles Wadsworth on piano, a characterization of warmth and passion.

This CD is a fine introduction to Sills' work. As a performer who thrived on the collaborative process, and who was known for her artistic generosity, she is heard to excellent advantage in these ensembles. The characteristics that made her beloved are all in evidence here -- the distinctive creaminess of her timbre, her flawless intonation and rock-solid technique, but above all her ability to fully inhabit characters and invest them with real vulnerability and humanity. This is essentially a best-of compilation, and every selection of the highest standard. The Lucia Sextet, conducted by Julius Rudel, her frequent collaborator at the New York City Opera, is notable for its dramatic immediacy and for the excellent balance that allows the individual voices to emerge with clarity and urgency. Of special note are Sills' performances with other legendary sopranos; in the title role in Maria Stuarda, she joins with Eileen Farrell as Elizabeth, and as Anna Bolena, with Shirley Verrett as Jane Seymour. The synergy of these performers creates the kind of sizzling intensity that marks the most memorable operatic experiences.

-- Stephen Eddins, All Music Guide Read less

1.

Manon: Je marche sur tous chemins "Gavotte" by Jules Massenet
Performer: Beverly Sills (Soprano)
Conductor: Julius Rudel
Orchestra/Ensemble: New Philharmonia Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1883-1884; France
Date of Recording: 07/1970
Venue: All Saint's Church, Tooting, London, UK
Length: 2 Minutes 51 Secs.
Language: French

2.

Manon: Obéissons quand leur voix appelle "Gavotte" by Jules Massenet
Performer: Michel Trempont (Baritone), Beverly Sills (Soprano)
Conductor: Julius Rudel
Orchestra/Ensemble: New Philharmonia Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1883-1884; France
Date of Recording: 07/1970
Venue: All Saint's Church, Tooting, London, UK
Length: 3 Minutes 54 Secs.
Language: French

3.

Manon: Un mot, s'il vous plait, Chevalier by Jules Massenet
Performer: Beverly Sills (Soprano), Gérard Souzay (Baritone), Patricia Kern (Mezzo Soprano),
Nicolai Gedda (Tenor), Nico Castel (Tenor), Helia T'Hezan (Mezzo Soprano),
Michele Raynaud (Soprano)
Conductor: Julius Rudel
Orchestra/Ensemble: New Philharmonia Orchestra, Ambrosian Opera Chorus
Period: Romantic
Written: France
Date of Recording: 07/1970
Venue: All Saint's Church, Tooting, London, UK
Length: 3 Minutes 28 Secs.
Language: French
Notes: Composition written: France (1883 - 1884).

4.

Lucia di Lammermoor: Sulla tomba che rinserra by Gaetano Donizetti
Performer: Carlo Bergonzi (Tenor), Beverly Sills (Soprano)
Conductor: Thomas Schippers
Orchestra/Ensemble: London Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1835; Italy
Date of Recording: 08/1970
Venue: EMI Studios, London
Length: 10 Minutes 53 Secs.
Language: Italian

5.

Lucia di Lammermoor: Chi mi frena in tal momento? (Sextet) by Gaetano Donizetti
Performer: Patricia Kern (Mezzo Soprano), Beverly Sills (Soprano), Carlo Bergonzi (Tenor),
Piero Cappuccilli (Baritone), Adolf Dallapozza (Tenor), Justino Diaz (Baritone)
Conductor: Thomas Schippers
Orchestra/Ensemble: London Symphony Orchestra, Ambrosian Opera Chorus
Period: Romantic
Written: 1835; Italy
Date of Recording: 08/1970
Venue: EMI Studios, London
Length: 3 Minutes 55 Secs.
Language: Italian

6.

I puritani: Sai com' arde in petto mio by Vincenzo Bellini
Performer: Beverly Sills (Soprano), Paul Plishka (Bass)
Conductor: Julius Rudel
Orchestra/Ensemble: London Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1835; Italy
Date of Recording: 08/1973
Venue: EMI Studios, London
Length: 6 Minutes 10 Secs.
Language: Italian
Notes: This selection begins with "O amato zio."

7.

I puritani: Chi mosse a miei desir il genitor by Vincenzo Bellini
Performer: Beverly Sills (Soprano), Paul Plishka (Bass)
Conductor: Julius Rudel
Orchestra/Ensemble: London Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1835; Italy
Date of Recording: 08/1973
Venue: EMI Studios, London
Length: 3 Minutes 34 Secs.
Language: Italian

8.

I puritani: Qual suon si desta by Vincenzo Bellini
Performer: Beverly Sills (Soprano), Paul Plishka (Bass)
Conductor: Julius Rudel
Orchestra/Ensemble: London Philharmonic Orchestra, Ambrosian Opera Chorus
Period: Romantic
Written: 1835; Italy
Date of Recording: 08/1973
Venue: EMI Studios, London
Length: 4 Minutes 8 Secs.
Language: Italian

9.

Anna Bolena: Dio, che mi vedi...Sul capo...Va, infelice by Gaetano Donizetti
Performer: Beverly Sills (Soprano), Shirley Verrett (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor: Julius Rudel
Orchestra/Ensemble: London Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1830; Italy
Date of Recording: 08/1972
Venue: EMI Studios, London
Length: 16 Minutes 57 Secs.
Language: Italian

10.

Roberto Devereux: Nunzio son del Parlamento by Gaetano Donizetti
Performer: Kenneth MacDonald (Tenor), Don Garrard (Bass), Beverly Sills (Soprano),
Gwynne Howell (Bass), Beverly Wolff (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor: Sir Charles Mackerras
Orchestra/Ensemble: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Ambrosian Opera Chorus
Period: Romantic
Written: 1837; Italy
Date of Recording: 06/1969
Venue: EMI Studios, London
Length: 5 Minutes 52 Secs.
Language: Italian

11.

Maria Stuarda: Va, preparati furente by Gaetano Donizetti
Performer: Eileen Farrell (Soprano), Stuart Burrows (Tenor), Beverly Sills (Soprano),
Christian Du Plessis (Baritone), Patricia Kern (Mezzo Soprano), Louis Quilico (Baritone)
Conductor: Aldo Ceccato
Orchestra/Ensemble: London Philharmonic Orchestra, John Alldis Choir
Period: Romantic
Written: 1835; Italy
Date of Recording: 06/1971
Venue: Fairfield Hall, London, England
Length: 2 Minutes 59 Secs.
Language: Italian

12.

Les contes d'Hoffmann: Barcarolle by Jacques Offenbach
Performer: Beverly Sills (Soprano), Susanne Marsee (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor: Julius Rudel
Orchestra/Ensemble: John Alldis Choir, London Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1881; Paris, France
Venue: EMI Studios, London, England
Length: 4 Minutes 15 Secs.
Language: French
Notes: EMI Studios, London, England (07/1972 - 08/1972)

13.

Les contes d'Hoffmann: Malheureux, tu ne comprends donc pas by Jacques Offenbach
Performer: Stuart Burrows (Tenor), Beverly Sills (Soprano), Norman Treigle (Bass)
Conductor: Julius Rudel
Orchestra/Ensemble: John Alldis Choir, London Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1881; Paris, France
Venue: EMI Studios, London, England
Length: 6 Minutes 2 Secs.
Language: French
Notes: EMI Studios, London, England (07/1972 - 08/1972)

14.

Le toréador: Variations on "Ah! vous dirai-je maman" by Adolphe Adam
Performer: Charles Wadsworth (Piano), Beverly Sills (Soprano), Paula Robison (Flute)
Orchestra/Ensemble: Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
Period: Romantic
Written: 1849; France
Date of Recording: 03/1972
Venue: Rutgers Presbyterian Church, New York
Length: 6 Minutes 19 Secs.
Language: French

15.

Der Hirt auf dem Felsen, D 965/Op. 129 by Franz Schubert
Performer: Beverly Sills (Soprano), Gervase de Peyer (Clarinet), Charles Wadsworth (Piano)
Orchestra/Ensemble: Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
Period: Romantic
Written: 1828; Vienna, Austria
Date of Recording: 03/1972
Venue: Rutgers Presbyterian Church, New York
Length: 11 Minutes 45 Secs.
Language: German

16.

German Arias (9): no 6, Meine Seele hört im Sehen, HWV 207 by George Frideric Handel
Performer: Charles Wadsworth (Harpsichord), Beverly Sills (Soprano), Paula Robison (Flute),
Leslie Parnas (Cello)
Orchestra/Ensemble: Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
Period: Baroque
Written: 1724-1727; London, England
Date of Recording: 03/1972
Venue: Rutgers Presbyterian Church, New York
Length: 7 Minutes 4 Secs.
Language: German

17.

Artaxerxes: The soldier tir'd of war's alarms by Thomas Augustine Arne
Performer: Charles Treger (Violin), Beverly Sills (Soprano), Leslie Parnas (Cello),
Charles Wadsworth (Harpsichord)
Orchestra/Ensemble: Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
Period: Baroque
Written: 1762/1777; England
Date of Recording: 03/1972
Venue: Rutgers Presbyterian Church, New York
Length: 3 Minutes 31 Secs.
Language: English

18.

Comedy of errors: Lo, here the gentle lark by Henry Bishop
Performer: Paula Robison (Flute), Charles Wadsworth (Piano), Beverly Sills (Soprano)
Orchestra/Ensemble: Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
Period: Romantic
Written: 1819; England
Date of Recording: 03/1972
Venue: Rutgers Presbyterian Church, New York
Length: 5 Minutes 18 Secs.
Language: English

19.

Der Zarewitsch: Einer wird kommen, der wird mich begehren by Franz Lehár
Performer: Beverly Sills (Soprano)
Conductor: Julius Rudel
Orchestra/Ensemble: London Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1927; Vienna, Austria
Date of Recording: 05/1971
Venue: Fairfield Halls, Croydon, England
Length: 5 Minutes 6 Secs.
Language: German

20.

Maria Stuarda: Morta al mondo by Gaetano Donizetti
Performer: Stuart Burrows (Tenor), Eileen Farrell (Soprano), Louis Quilico (Baritone),
Beverly Sills (Soprano), Patricia Kern (Mezzo Soprano), Christian Du Plessis (Baritone)
Conductor: Aldo Ceccato
Orchestra/Ensemble: London Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1835; Italy
Date of Recording: 06/1971
Venue: Fairfield Hall, London, England
Length: 8 Minutes 5 Secs.
Language: Italian
Notes: This selection begins with "Deh! l'accogli!"

21.

Les contes d'Hoffmann: Cher ange! by Jacques Offenbach
Performer: Beverly Sills (Soprano), Norman Treigle (Bass), Stuart Burrows (Tenor)
Conductor: Julius Rudel
Orchestra/Ensemble: London Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1881; Paris, France
Venue: EMI Studios, London, England
Length: 2 Minutes 5 Secs.
Language: French
Notes: EMI Studios, London, England (07/1972 - 08/1972)

22.

Cantate (12) da camera, Op. 3: La rosa by Antonio Caldara
Performer: Charles Wadsworth (Harpsichord), Beverly Sills (Soprano), Leslie Parnas (Cello)
Orchestra/Ensemble: Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
Period: Baroque
Written: by 1699; Venice, Italy
Date of Recording: 03/1972
Venue: Rutgers Presbyterian Church, New York
Length: 7 Minutes 15 Secs.
Language: German

23.

The Ballad of Baby Doe: Willow Song by Douglas Moore
Performer: Beverly Sills (Soprano)
Conductor: Emerson Buckley
Orchestra/Ensemble: New York City Opera Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1956; USA
Date of Recording: 06/1959
Venue: New York City
Length: 3 Minutes 2 Secs.
Language: English

24.

The Ballad of Baby Doe: Oh, Mr. Tabor by Douglas Moore
Performer: Beverly Sills (Soprano), Walter Cassel (Baritone), Frances Bible (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor: Emerson Buckley
Orchestra/Ensemble: New York City Opera Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1956; USA
Date of Recording: 06/1959
Venue: New York City
Length: 1 Minutes 14 Secs.
Language: English

25.

The Ballad of Baby Doe: Warm as the Autumn Light by Douglas Moore
Performer: Walter Cassel (Baritone), Frances Bible (Mezzo Soprano), Beverly Sills (Soprano)
Conductor: Emerson Buckley
Orchestra/Ensemble: New York City Opera Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1956; USA
Date of Recording: 06/1959
Venue: New York City
Length: 4 Minutes 9 Secs.
Language: English

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