Chuck Anziulewicz ([info]anziulewicz) wrote,
2005-08-03 15:41:00

Bubbles

Back in the mid 1970s, when most boys my age idolized rock stars and professional athletes, MY idol was ....

... BEVERLY SILLS. (And if that doesn't justify my Gay Card, nothing will.)

I'd be willing to bet that more than a few of my LiveJournal buddies haven't heard of this woman, but back in the day, she was quite the opera star. A coloratura soprano, Ms. Sills (or "Bubbles" as she was nicknamed) wasn't exactly a critical darling; from a purely technical point of view she wasn't up there with Maria Callas or Jessye Norman. But she did bring a certain populism to the stage, a warmth and enthusiasm that endeared her to audiences everywhere. I thought she was wonderful, and I even had an 8-track tape of hers that I would bravely sing along to (but only in the privacy of my old Mercury Bobcat).

Anyway, my latest NetFlix DVD to arrive from my queue was a 1976 production of "La Traviata," featuring Ms. Sills as Violetta, recorded at Wolftrap Farm Park outside of Washington DC. I was watching it last night, and while the production hasn't aged very well, I found myself becoming absolutely immersed in it. And really, I haven't seen any old Beverly Sills performances in at least 25 years, so this was a real treat.

I love opera, by the way; I have Richard Wagner's "Das Rheingold" and "Die Walkure" on DVD (the 1991 Met productions conducted by James Levine), and they are absolutely glorious. And in "Die Walkure" the role of Siegmund is played by a large, bearded Irish tenor named Gary Lakes, and when he strolls onto the stage in all his pelts and straps and buckles, WELL ....


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[info]excessor

August 3 2005, 21:12:05 UTC 6 years ago

Well, I certainly remember her as someone who helped to make opera more accessible to the general public. As I recall, she appeared as a guest star on a number of different shows. Her laugh was infectious.

Your Gay Card has just been renewed.

[info]anziulewicz

August 4 2005, 19:41:57 UTC 6 years ago

I remember seeing Ms. Sills on both "The Carol Burnett Show" and "The Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson. On Carson's show I remember her performing some kind of intimate, slow, sweet song, with only a piano accompaniment, and while remaining seated next to Johnny. Johnny was absolutely entranced, and the audience went nuts afterward.

[info]anziulewicz

August 4 2005, 21:00:17 UTC 6 years ago

I just did a little Googling, and it turns out that the piece Beverly Sills performed on "The Tonight Show" back in 1979 was "La Pastorella Delle Alpi" by Gioachino Rossini.

[info]mikiedoggie

August 3 2005, 22:43:20 UTC 6 years ago

OMG, I vaguely remember her as she was almost before my time. I vaguely recall seeing a special of her with Carol Burnett once and thought it was great!

Hi, btw, I'm Mike.

[info]chefxh

August 3 2005, 23:06:04 UTC 6 years ago

One night back in 1981, I was working the front desk at the Westin Crown Center Hotel in Kansas City, MO. I was sorting keys when a mellifluous voice behind me said hello. I turned around and gasped at seeing Leontyne Price. I started her check-in, instantly VIPing and upgrading her, and then sneaked away to tell the night auditor, a certified Opera Queen (tm), to come out to the front.

One of the highlights of my young life, that was. And Oleta Adams was singing every night in the bar in the hotel. Good times, good times.

[info]anziulewicz

August 4 2005, 19:42:37 UTC 6 years ago

Oooohhh, I ADORE Leontyne Price.

[info]chefxh

August 4 2005, 20:32:30 UTC 6 years ago

She is so kind and unassuming, not a trace of diva, as well as SO BEAUTIFUL!

She's my favorite Cio-Cio-San.

[info]brindledbear

August 4 2005, 01:19:31 UTC 6 years ago

One of my first professional theater jobs was at Wolf Trap - I was the production stage manager for the opera training company. Anna Moffo was one of my favorite sopranos and she was doing The Taming of the Shrew by Giannini that season.
One day after rehearsal she wanted to do some shopping and I volunteered to drive her over to the mall. At the time I kept the car radio tuned to WGAY (then a classical music station in DC) and while we were driving they played her recording of Un bel di' - she started harmonizing with herself - while we were driving around the beltway. It is still one of my favorite memories from my theater work.
Of course I'd love to hear your Libiamo...

[info]anziulewicz

August 4 2005, 20:09:37 UTC 6 years ago

Well, I spent most of my childhood in the DC area, and I became fascinated by the wide variety of radio formats there, especially during the more experimental 1965-1974 time frame. Was WGAY a classical station at one time? It was more of a "Beautiful Music" station when I was listening. From what I understand it has more of an "Adult Contemporary" format these days.

For what it's worth, the 8-track recording I used to sing along with was called "Plaisir D'Amour." It was conducted by Andre Kostelanetz and was very, VERY lush. It's still available here: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00000FCKP/qid=1123185376/sr=1-16/ref=sr_1_16/002-9577984-7787240?v=glance&s=classical

Listen to the sample entitled "Les filles de le Cadiz." It's the song I most enjoyed belting out. But doing that falsetto today, at the age of 46, simply is no longer possible, alas.

[info]anziulewicz

August 4 2005, 20:46:58 UTC 6 years ago

THAT'S one of the things I think has gone sadly missing from Public Television these days: OPERA. When I was living in the DC area, WETA (a local PBS affiliate) broadcast lots of opera. They produced a program called "Evening at Wolf Trap" that was wonderful. If PBS were to invest in a little more classical cultural programming in the evening, they could probably get a few of those nasty cultural conservatives off their back.

[info]brindledbear

August 4 2005, 21:59:10 UTC 6 years ago

I remember the Wolf Trap programs - they were always well produced. I agree with you in that PBS could generate a little more classical/cultural programming.

[info]brindledbear

August 4 2005, 21:51:42 UTC 6 years ago

I remember WGAY as classical but on my recent return trips it has changed. I spent a lot of time (starting mid to late 70s) on the beltway as I lived in Rockville and worked in both Virginia and DC. Over those years (70s-90s) there were lots of format changes across the radio dial.
I liked the album. Thanks for the recommendation - I'm adding it to my Amazon Wish List for a future purchase. I could never sing but I try - and try not to do it too loudly :-).

[info]daxcub

August 4 2005, 02:01:16 UTC 6 years ago

hmm...

Hence why I continue to find ya interest'n. ;)

[info]anziulewicz

August 4 2005, 20:42:02 UTC 6 years ago

Re: hmm...

Dax cannot pay me a nicer compliment. [:o)

[info]daxcub

August 4 2005, 22:54:45 UTC 6 years ago

Re: hmm...

Feel free to thank me in person sometime. Would enjoy meeting you face to face eventually! :)
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