"I can sing 22 arias...I have an extraordinary voice for my age." - Interview on the Major Bowes Capitol Family Hour - November 19, 1939 (age 10)
timeline
1920 -30s |
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May 25, 1929 |
Born Belle Miriam Silverman in Brooklyn, New York
(Please see May 25, 1929 Birthdate Controversy ) |
1933
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Appears on "Rainbow House," a New York City radio show
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1936
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Changes name to Beverly Sills; begins voice lessons with Estelle Liebling
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1937
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Makes appearance in the movie short, "Uncle Sol Solves It," singing Arditi's "Il bacio." (filmed in August 1937 but not released until June 1938) |
1939 |
Wins "Major Bowes Amateur Hour" radio talent contest and becomes a regular on"Major Bowes' Capitol Family Hour"
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1940 -50s |
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1945
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Tours with Gilbert and Sullivan repertory company
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1948
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Performs at Hour Glass Club in New York
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1951
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Tours with the Wagner Opera Company
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1955
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Makes New York City Opera debut in Strauss's Die Fledermaus
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1956
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Marries Peter Greenough; moves to Cleveland, Ohio
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1958
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Appears in New York City premiere of Moore's The Ballad of Baby Doe
|
1959
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Gives birth to daughter, Meredith, known as Muffy
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1960 -70s |
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1960
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With husband and daughter, moves to Milton, Massachusetts
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1961
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Gives birth to son, Peter, Jr., known as Bucky
|
1961 |
At the end of the year, Bucky is diagnosed as severely
mentally retarded. Around the same time, Muffy is diagnosed as
profoundly deaf. |
1966
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Plays Cleopatra in the New York City Opera production of Handel's Julius Caesar
|
1967 |
In February, Sills and her husband decide that Bucky cannot be
cared for well enough at home. They send Bucky to an institution in
Massachusetts. |
1968
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Sings title role in Massenet's Manon
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1969
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Appears in Rossini's The Siege of Corinth at La Scala opera house in Milan, Italy; moves with her family to New York City
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1970
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Portrays Queen Elizabeth I in Donizetti's Roberto Devereux; debuts at London's Covent Garden
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1971
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Performs at the White House at invitation of President Richard Nixon
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Oct. 24 1974 |
Undergoes successful cancer surgery
|
1975
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Makes Metropolitan Opera debut in The Siege of Corinth
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Oct. 5 1977 |
Sills' star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is unveiled at 1750 Vine St. |
1979
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Becomes general director of New York City Opera; makes last performance as primma donna at City Opera
|
1979
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Gives her final
performances of a complete opera at New York City Opera in Menotti's "La Loca." |
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1980 -90s |
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Oct. 27, 1980 |
Final public singing performance in her Farewell Gala at New York City Opera |
1980
| Receives Medal of Freedom from President Carter; performs in farewell gala at City Opera |
1981
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Masterclasses in China at both The Beijing Conservatory and The Shanghai Conservatory
|
1985
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Sills' recordings are reissued by Angel Records; warehouse fire destroys costumes at New York City Opera |
1988
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Sills announces retirement as New York City Opera's General Director
|
1989
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Becomes' president of the board at New York City Opera
|
1994 |
Made chairwoman of Lincoln Center |
1995 |
Sills' mother, Shirley Silverman, dies on October 16 at age
91 in the Hebrew Home for the Aged in the Bronx. |
1999
|
Sills' brother, Sidney Silverman, dies at age 74 in Boca Raton, FL. |
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2000 - 2007 |
|
2002
|
Steps down as chairwoman of Lincoln Center in May; becomes
chairwoman of the Metropolitan Opera |
2005 |
Retires as Chairman of the Metropolitan Opera |
2005 |
The Metropolitan Opera establishes the $50,000 Beverly Sills Artist Award for aspiring American singers. |
| 2006 |
Peter Greenough, Sills' husband, dies on September 6, 2006, at the age of 89. |
July 02 2007 |
Beverly Sills dies of cancer in New York City |
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