Charlie Rose Science Series
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07/04/2007
Beverly Sills
In Memoriam: Beverly Sills
Keywords:
Beverly Sills succumbed to cancer on July 2, 2007 at the age of 78. During her operatic career, Sills recorded eighteen full-length operas. She also starred in eight opera productions televised on PBS and participated in such specials as A Look-in at the Met with Danny Kaye in 1975, Sills and Burnett at the Met, with Carol Burnett in 1976, and Profile in Music, which won an Emmy Award.
DVD
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Charlie Rose DVDs on Amazon.
Audio
Audio available through Audible.com.
Audio available through Audible.com.
Transcripts
Transcripts available through Voxant.
Transcripts available through Voxant.
I watched this tribute again,8 months after she is gone. What a wonderfully talented human being. I heard her at NYCO in all those wonderful roles she sang. No one like her today and there never will be. An amazing musician and a real human being.
The Willow Song is a part of me now. Thank you, Charlie. Who found that clip and decided to play it in full? It was the perfect memorial.
Your memorial to Beverly Sills was simply wonderful! Tears were running down my face as she sang the Willow Song from the Ballad of Baby Doe. It was glorious! That scene looks as if it were a television program and I wonder if there is a video available? Thank you, Charlie Rose, for the tribute to a wonderful lady who has given us so much pleasure during her career.
Thank you, Charlie Rose, for the thoroughness of your interview with our beloved Beverly Sills. She must have been a pleasure to interview because she didn't sidestep difficult questions, as so many do, she merely used tact and prudence in her replies if she couldn't speak more openly. Her introduction of so many concerts of "Live from Lincoln Center" whetted our appetites for what was to come; her interviews with stellar musicians during the intermissions were so pleasureable - we viewers really learned something about what they were doing. All in all, she leaves us with so many memories: her beautiful voice, her delectable acting, her bubbly personality, her marvelous connection to audiences, and - last, but not least, her courage in the face of personal adversity. Like you, Charlie Rose, I loved her!
Thank you for the wonderful tribute and the complete haunting Willow Song from her memorable Baby Doe. It echoes still today as I peruse the obituaries in the Times and match them to the wonderful moments you shared in the interviews. She stood not only as a superb artist and administrator, but as a role model to the women of the 20th Century who dared to dream and achieve oustanding success AND share a complicated family life. Even more she is a model to the 21st Century women who walk away from commitments and husbands who "don't think much of their high notes." Her response was to soar publicly and deal with private sorrows. "Not happy, but cheerful" in face of challenge, and so she brought a wealth of high notes, fun, and great acting moments to audiences around the world. Over the years in San Francisco she blessed us with great scenes of palpable joy, madness, and sorrow in her many roles, but we'll never forget being turned on by the sexiest Manon in history who seduced not only the abbe Gedda but an entire steamed audience as she stroked his back in "N'est-ce pas ma main?" That she earned millions and shared her riches with charities and services to the diseased and handicapped even as she became an innovative cultural leader is a tribute to her mother's dicta "to help someone every day." And an example of creating goodness in response to misfortune. Her illness and death was not fair, but her gift to life was glorious.
Thank you for 7/4 Beverley Sills. It was splendid!!!!
Your memorial to Beverly Sills still rings in my ears and appears in my mind's eye these several days since it was shown. It was a great gift to we watchers. I want, no, i need to have it in my DVD collection so that it remains with me to watch and to share. I note that your "shop" lists this program as video, a process I no longer can use. Is it not available in DVD form? I will check back to see if my message has a response. In the meantime, I watch your show regularly and join the many other of your fans to wish you well and thank you for the many hours of information and pleasure you offer to the world.
What a wonderful tribute you gave to a most inspiring and talented woman , Beverly Sills . The music portions were outstanding and gave all of us a glimpse of her marvelous voice. I was so moved by it all especially the closing portion.....many , many tears . thank you so very much for this and for all of your programs which are of the highest quality.
Thank you for the thoughtful and touching tribute to Beverly Sills. She herself, in song and spoken word captures best the sense of her demise: joy for the fact of her, sorrow for the absence of her. "Willow..." how perfect! Again, thank you.
Thank you for the thoughtful and touching tribute to Beverly Sills. Her singing and speaking capture the sense of her demise: joy for the fact of her, sorrow for the loss of her. How perfect, "Willow..." Again, thank you.
Thank you for the thoughtful and touching tribute to Beverly Sills. Her singing and speaking capture the sense of her demise: joy for the fact of her, sorrow for the loss of her. How perfect, "Willow..." Again, thank you.
Thank you so much Charlie Rose for the memorial tribute to America's greatest opera singer. Her glorious voice, both on and off the stage, brought ineffable joy to millions of opera lovers. We are disconsolate over her passing.
Like so many others, I was very sad to learn of the death of Beverly Sills. And of course the wonderful Charlie Rose gave such a fitting tribute to this extraordinary woman. As mentioned in previous comments, tears were streaming down my face during the closing credits, when she stood there and gloriously sang the beautiful "Willow Song". Like many, it has stayed with me, as will Ms. Sills' spirit and talent and dedication to making this crazy world a better, more beautiful place. Thank you, Charlie. You're one of a kind.
Thank you for sharing your tribute to Ma. Sills here, as our local PBS affiliate doesn't carry your program! If not for the Internet, I could not have seen this. It is evident that you knew her well, and loved her; so I extend my sympathy to you personally, her many friends, and her family. Through your interviews, we were privileged to see the magnificent heart, and wonderful intellect which motivated and spurred a life of such great achievement - beyond even her glorious voice. Lesser mortals would have been destroyed by the challenges she faced. However, by coping with all of them as she did; she served as am example and inspiration for all, with grace and humor. The world is a better place for her presence in it; and poorer for her passing. What a great legacy she gave us!
I was very moved by the interviews with Beverly Sills. Is there any way I can get DVD's of your interviews with her, Charlie? The one last night and the two earlier ones? I would play them and re-play them and play them for my lady friends. She is so inspirational. Losing her is a great loss for the world. I know there are recordings of her performances, but your interviews with her revealed the person behind the superb performer, and that person was so admirable. Thank you so much for doing the interviews.
every wonderful tribute that has been written, by your followers, about beverly sills can be multiplied a hundred fold and still would not do her justice. Charlie, keep up the wonderful work! My day is made happier when Iam tuned into your programs.
Thank you, Charlie, for your touching tribute to Beverly Sills, a true diva in every sense of the word. I remember her ending her concerts with a lovely lullabye for her teacher, but the ending you chose, The Willow Song, was every bit as poignant and fitting. Simply lovely!
This is a question relating to the wonderful tribute we enjoyed last night. As the credits rolled, there was an old video clip of Beverly Sills in performance. Would you be able to tell me the name of the work she was singing and also when the video was made. My husband and I are faithful followers of Charlie Rose's show and were particularly moved by the July 4th production. What a delightful diva! We are all fortunate that our lives have been enriched by her beautiful voice. Thank you.
In Tucson we get your show a day after, & your tribute to Beverly Sills had the impact of a spectacular fireworks of blazing vibrant color against the dark sky of the now commonplace dire world news, pessimistic future warnings, & fear, fear, fear. What a unique, gifted, person in our midst for 78 years. And as you beutifully put it, totally loveable! Thanks for your gift.
To you, Charlie Rose, whom I admire for being you and doing what you do BEST ! As it showed in the tribute to Beverly Sills last night. I too enjoyed the past interviews that you shared with us all, as well as the moving comments at the end of the program. Upon hearing of her death, I was stunned & saddened along with the general public. Thank you again, for the beautiful program done so well, that only you can do.
Thank you Mr. Rose for the moving tribute to Beverly Sills. She was an artist in every sense of the word. I had the fortunate to hear her speak in Lexington, KY. It was so inspiring to hear her spirit and enthusiasm about her love for music. She contributed so much to the arts and her spirit and enthusiasm for all she did will certainly be an example for other to follow for years to come. Is it possible to get a copy of the tape? I would love to show it to students of voice. Thanks again for that wonderful tribute.
I am deeply saddened by the news of Beverly Sills'death. She brought me personaly great joy with her humor,great smile, generosity of spirit,advocacy of the arts and not the least, her magnificent artistry. She was a remarkable human being, a 'mensch' in the fullest sense of that compliment. I will be grateful for her presence in our lives for the remainder of my life.
The Baby Doe aria has been haunting me all day also. It's perhaps the most beautiful melody in all modern American opera. Sills' association with that opera is not always remembered, so the film footage is doubly appreciated. A very poignant closing to a loving tribute. Thank you.
What a wonderful tribute to Beverly Sills. When the program ended with The Willow Song, tears streamed down my face. I feel as though I have lost a cherished friend.
The closing credits song is "Willow, where we met together" The Ballad of Baby Doe
I, too, woke up with the song at the ending of the piece still running through my head. It was masterful and I'm very thankful for the experience. What a wonderful talent Beverly Sills shared with us all. May we all honor her memory by living our lives to the fullest, sharing our talents, and caring for others.
Linda Cox asked about the name of the piece Beverly Sills performed during the closing credits. I believe it was "Willow Where We Met Together" (The Willow Song) from first act of The Ballad of Baby Doe by Douglas Moore. That particular song moved me as well. I woke up this morning with it still playing in my head.
Thank you for running this splendid interview. May I ask the name of the piece Ms. Sills performed during the closing credits? With thanks for your wonderful program.
Your July 4,2007 summary of Sills' life and achievements was extraordinary. Thank you for rebroadcasting her 2002 interview which revealed her personality, intelligence, work ethic and humanity. She was one of the truly great human beings of the past 50 years. I accidently clicked on one star instead of 5 stars when rating her 2002 interview and was unable to correct this error--Please tell the web master to change my rating --She deserves 10 stars for the her leadership in the arts, and in her work with the March of Dimes raising funds for people with birth defects.
Thank you, Charlie Rose. The tribute to Beverly Sills was wonderful. Someone there did their homework and finishing the segment with the Baby Doe aria (with Douglas Moore, the composer looking on) was the most fitting conclusion one could hope for. The world has lost a champion of the arts, a great artist and a joyous presence wherever she went. But she leaves us a smile. Thank you, Beverly and thank you Charlie for your program honoring her.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, Mr Rose, for giving so many the opportunity of a memorial visit with Beverly Sills. Her recordings and performances have graced our lives and her life has taught us by example. I look forward to the rebroadcast of this beautiful hour.
When you want to see clear evidence of divine inspiration, you need look no further than the magnificence of Beverly Sills--as a performer and a wonderful human being. Where can I find a recording of that unbelievable closing piece? If that didn't move you, you're made of stone!
Thank you, God, for giving us Beverly Sills. She was an inspiration to all the world. We loved her spirit, her cheerfulness, her humor, and her generosity. Because of her, opera became better known to so many, and the arts were more appreciated. I had the immense good fortune to see Beverly Sills in concert in the mid-70's in Saratoga Springs, NY with my family. Her mother was there and we were so excited seeing them both. Her concert was phenomenal. I started to collect her recordings and later on in CD form. I saw her on VHS in La Traviata and her performance is so memorable and brilliant that it leaves you in awe. I was stunned to read in the paper that she was gravely ill and dying of lung cancer, even though she never smoked. I couldn't speak and it hit me hard. I feel a loss now after reading that she passed on and am very saddened about us all losing this special angel who gave so much of her very self for others, which is the greatest gift after all. God bless her children, her family and friends. We will be hearing your God-given voice that you left with us. You have honored us and the world will always remember you. Thank you for everything. God be with you always.
While the world is spinning-out-of-control let us all remember the amazing 'Bubbles'. In times of need we can always listen to her singing and making the world a much better place. Her voice, her good life and her good deeds, will live on forever. We have truly lost an amazing Lady! The Angels are lucky to be singing with her now.