commercial discography 2
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Anna Bolena
Artists - Shirley Verrett, Stuart Burrows, Paul Plishka, Patricia Kern, Robert Lloyd, Robert Tear, John Alldis Choir, London Symphony. Conductor - Julius Rudel Date & Location - August 1972; EMI Studios, London Label & Catalog numbers CD 289 465 957-2 - Deutsche Grammophon CD 289 465 967-2 - Deutsche Grammophon (Three Queens box set) CD 3-80355 - Millennium LP ATS 20015 - ABC Records LP AVC-34031 - Angel Records |
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Reviews -
In spectacular voice, and with the vocal line embellished the way it (probably) would have been for Giuditta Pasta (who created the part), Sills rules; she paints a vivid picture of the wronged queen. Whether pleading with Henry not to humiliate her by forcing her to go to trial, discovering that Seymour is her rival, half-crazily recalling happier childhood days, or manically pardoning the "wicked couple" as she goes to her death, Sills breathtakingly draws us into the drama. If this were her only recorded legacy, she would still be considered a great soprano.... Read More - Robert Levine, Classics Today |
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Don Pasquale
Artists - Alfredo Kraus, Donald Gramm, Alan Titus, Ambrosian Opera Chorus, London Symphony. Conductor - Sarah Caldwell Date & Location - August 1,4,7, & 9, 1978; EMI Studios, London Label & Catalog numbers CD 5 66030 2 - EMI classics LP SBLX 3871 - Angel Records |
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Lucia Di Lammermoor
Artists - Carlo Bergonzi, Piero Cappuccilli, Justino Diaz, Adolf Dallapozza, Patricia Kern, Keith Erwen, Ambrosian Opera Chorus, London Symphony Conductor - Thomas Schippers Date & Location - August 1970; EMI Studios, London Label & Catalog numbers CD 289 471 250-2 - Westminster LP ATS 20006 - ABC LP AVC-34012 - Angel Records |
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Reviews -
This was recorded at Beverly Sills' peak... Here, her slightly narrow tone is at its fullest, the coloratura is accurate, fast, and dazzling, the top notes secure... and the use of words pointed and intelligent enough to make the manic-depressive character heartbreaking. As if Callas had not proved the point, Sills made it clear that the days of the chirpy, empty Pons and Peters were over, and even the glorious Joan Sutherland, who probably sang the role better than anyone in history, was not in Sills' league. In short, at this point in her career Sills had everything..... Read More - Robert Levine, Classics Today The huge Sutherland voice was uniquely thrilling, but Sills was mesmerizing in her own way. For volume, she substituted her persuasive acting skills and a very touching humanity... Sills rises gloriously to every challenge. Impressive indeed are the high notes, the breath control, and the wonderful trills; but she also knew how to shape the musical line beautifully and expressively... Read More - Ralph V. Lucano, American Record Guide |
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Maria Stuarda
Artists - Eileen Farrell, Stuart Burrows, Louis Qylico, Patricia Kern, Christian du Plessis, John Alldis Choir, London Philharmonic. Conductor - Aldo Ceccato Date & Location - June 1971; Concert Auditorium, Fairfield Hall, London Label & Catalog numbers CD 289 465961-2 - Deutsche Grammophon CD 289 465 967-2 - Deutche Grammophon (Three Queens box set) LP ATS 20010 - ABC LP AVC-34032 - Angel Records |
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Reviews -
This performance is terrific! Sills is at her purest (well, except when she loses it and the "vil bastarda!" thing gets yelled), loveliest, most refined, dignified, and sad, and the voice is in glorious shape and Eileen Farrell as Queen Elizabeth, a role that lies in the high-mezzo range, has lots of coloratura, and needs to be exclaimed as much as sung, since she's always in some sort of cranky mood. And Farrell is dynamite, hurling her huge voice around like a spear and is wildly exciting.... Read More - Robert Levine, Classics Today Magazine |
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Roberto Devereux
Artists - Robert Ilosfavly, Peter Glossop, Beverly Wolff, Kenneth MacDonald, Don Garrard, Gwynne Howell, Richard Van Allan, Amrosian Opera Chorous, Royal Philharmonic
Conductor - Sir Charles Mackerras Date & Location - June, 1969; EMI Studios, London Label & Catalog numbers CD 289 465 964-2 - Deutsche Grammophon CD 289 465 967-2 - Deutche Grammophon (Three Queens box set) LP AVC-34033 - Angel Records LP 323 - Westminster | |||||
Reviews -
Beverly Sills has said that Elizabeth I in Donizetti's Roberto Devereux was the role that took 10 years off her career, and indeed, it's a fearsome undertaking...which only cemented her reputation as one of the world's greatest singing actresses. Sills is in absolute control of every resource she ever had here: accurate roulades, brutal chest tones, full-bodied high notes (interpolated up to an E-flat--the written part only goes to C), the ability to express both rage and joy, an impeccable bel canto line, stupendous breath control.... Read More - Robert Levine, Classics Today |
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Handel, George Frederic (1685 - 1759) |
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Giulio Cesare
Artists - Norman Treigle, Maureen Forrester, Beverly Wolff, Spiro Malas, Dominic Cossa, Michael Devlin, William Beck, Opera and Chorus of New York City Opera.
Conductor - Julius Rudel Date & Location - April 28-May 2, 1967; Webster Hall, New York City Label & Catalog numbers CD 6182-2 - RG - BMG/RCA LP LM/LSC 6182 - RCA Victor | ||||
Reviews -
The recording happily, has found Miss Sills in excellent form, and has captured a healthy portion of the purely vocal side of the magic. It is the last three arias that really take the breath away; the first two are very fine, but there are traces of unsettlement when she sustains tones around the top of the staff. and there are other "Piangerós" on records that offer healthy competition. But "V'adoro, pupille" is a really melting piece of vocal seduction; "Se pieta," with its beautiful flights of trills, high suspensions, and beautifully floated harmonic turns is heartachingly lovely; and the "Da tempeste" simply takes off into the ionosphere. A measure of this singing is that Miss Sills trills a hundred times if she trills once, and one never tires of the lovely, truly birdlike sound... Read More - Conrad L. Osborne, High Fidelity |
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Giulio Cesare
Artists - Norman Treigle, Peter Schreier, Maureen Forrester, Gui Gallardo, Franz Crass, Ricardo Yost, Orchestra & Chorus of the Teatro Colòn, Buenos Aries
Conductor - Karl Richter Date & Location - September 21, 1968; Buenos Aires, Argentina Label & Catalog numbers CD VAIA 1184 - VAI | ||||
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VAI has official license to distribute this live performance Reviews - Sills is genuinely beguiling, and while she uses essentially the same embellishments as in the studio recording, they convey new freshness and daring here... Read More - John W. Barker, American Record Guide |
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Semele |
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Artists - Helen Vanni, Elaine Bonazzi, Seth McCoy, Ara Berberian, Cleveland Orchestra Conductor - Robert Shaw Date & Location - December 28, 1967; Severance Hall, Cleveland OH (live radio broadcast) Label & Catalog numbers CD MAA-40602; Musical Arts Association (part of a 7-disc set "The Robert Shaw Legacy") |
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Lehar, Franz (1870 - 1948) |
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The Merry Widow
Artists - Alan Titus, Glenys
Fowles, Henry Price, James Billings, David Rae
Smith, New York City Opera Chorus and Orchestra.
Conductor - Julius Rudel Date & Location - Feb. 1-3, 1978; New York City Label & Catalog numbers CD CDC-7 47585 2 - EMI Angel LP AV-34081 - Angel Records | ||||
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