“Bells” and “Bubbles” and laughter and heart
A rare combo and straightforward champion of the Arts just took off on the ultimate journey and will now spend eternity with her splendid momma and loving husband. The combo was beauty and brains. She had it all. Knowing “Bubbles” she will keep a watchful and lovng eye on the pieces of her that still embrace our world; her son, and her little “baby” Muffy, and the millions of things she has done to serve the arts. A glittering iconic career of international success and acclaim, scaling dramatic heights in performances and literally making the world fall in love with her. She would have a rare “second act” after she retired from singing that kept not only her but opera front and center and popular and current….. she did it all.
Beverly Sills was a force of nature, a first class LADY, a brilliant business woman and a charming and captivating performer with a brilliant and accurate arrow of communication aimed straight for your intellect engaging your heart first. How many times growing up did I cheer for the effervescent lady with the ready smile and contagious laugh when I would see her with Carson late at night on TV, a place very hard for the Opera world to get to, or with Carol Burnett, or singing from the New York City Opera. How many countless times did she offer fabulous friendship and advice to me as I stepped forward to be a part of the professional world of opera. Brilliant advice and brave and supportive with just the right blend of courage and protection. She was an all American girl who made good. Real good. Top of the world!
I wil be forever haunted by her Tudor Queens, her absolutely beautiful, truly authentic Baby Doe; and Manon; a superb Cleopatra with lightening flexibility, to name only a few among so many wonderful creations of hers.
Dear friend, as you take your leave, thank you for all the beauty and humor and the talent and guts you gave the world, and for the loyalty and truth and solidarity you never failed to give your friends. May your first days in Paradise be filled with a joy and peace and profoundness you know it has, as it was always evident in your face while you sang. Go to that world of never ending beauty and peace with your loved ones close by, knowing you’ll ne’er be forgot.
