Additional Live Recordings Sources

In addition to several official live recordings and the handful of unofficial live recordings issued on commercial CDs, there are many more live recordings available with Sills in operas, concerts, recitals, and radio/TV appearances. These are too numerous to list separately here (over 200 separate performances in opera; more that 60 in concerts and recitals), but you can find confirmation of these existing live performances in the “Recordings” column of the Performance Annals on this website.

There’s a small group of online-only companies that supply live opera performances, including quite a lot with Sills. These recordings are not official or formally licensed. These companies complete their orders on demand, issuing them either on CDs or in digital files for downloading

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The three companies below supply nicely packaged CDs, with printed labels and inserts, with reliably good sound quality.

OPERA DEPOT:

This company currently has about 2 dozen live Sills performances, including some rare ones in “Aida,” “Hippolyte et Aricie” and “Lucrezia Borgia.” When searching, use only “Sills” to get the most results, due to inconsistent cast tagging).

https://operadepot.com/

PREMIERE OPERA ITALY:

NOTE: This is an Italian company (prices are in Euros) and is not to be confused with Premiere Opera in the U.S. (see the separate listing further below for that U.S. company)

https://www.premiereopera.net/page/1/?s=Beverly+Sills&post_type=product

St-Laurent Studio:

This Canada-based company offers a range of classical music and opera based mostly around conductors. Currently, they offer four recordings with Sills. However, for some reason, the search function doesn’t search on vocal soloists. It’s best to use the catalog number in the listings below to find the Sills recordings on the site:

  1. YSL 0453 T – Haydn: Mass No. 13 (“Creation”) – Boston, Feb. 23, 1967 Leinsdorf/ Sills, Domingo, Wolff, Berberian
  2. YSL 0270 T – Mozart: Don Giovanni – Boston, Feb. 21, 1966 Calwell/ Sills, Gramm, Dooley
  3. YSL 0739 T – Schumann: Scenes From Goethe’s Faust – Boston, Feb. 25, 1966 Leinsdorf/ Sills, Bressler/Prey/Troyanos
  4. YSL 0412 T – R. Strauss – Finale Scene from “Daphne” – Boston, Feb. 24, 1967 Leinsdorf/ Sills

https://78experience.com/

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The two companies below have been much longer established and both have the largest selections of Sills live recordings. They sell their recordings “as is,” because the original sources can range from radio broadcasts and “house” recordings by opera companies to recordings made privately from the audience. The sound quality can vary from excellent to poor, which these companies do not attempt to enhance or upgrade. Their prices are low, and, accordingly, their products are more minimally produced. Each has a reputation for lengthy shipping times (can be a number of weeks) and the catalog listings are brief and imprecise, sometimes listing the same performance separately with different catalog numbers. Our Performance Annals can be useful in confirming more specific information about their listings.

Opera Vault (formerly Premiere Opera Intl.):

https://02c17e5.netsolstores.com/login.aspx (entering www.operavault.com converts to this URL)

(NOTE: As of October 2023, Premiere Opera Intl. has rebranded as Opera Vault.) In order to search for performances, one much sign up for a free account. Currently there are over 100 Sills listings for audio and 40 for video. Because of the brief cataloging texts, search only on the last name Sills – do not use the full name Beverly Sills because that reduces the number of hits by 2/3.

Opera Passion (House of Opera):

https://www.operapassion.com/

Many of the performances offered here are duplicated at Premiere Opera (U.S.) and are from the same sources. NOTE: Oddly, the best search term for using Opera Passion is the whole name Beverly Sills, which brings up just over 100 performances. However, the same performances on CD and MP3 downloads are cataloged separately, making it seem as though there are more individual performances than there actually are. Use the “Categories” drop-down menu to find performances only on CDs, DVDs or MP3s.

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Other Sources:

eBay: Live recordings with Sills regularly show up for auction or “Buy Now” from collectors and vendors. It’s best to activate an eBay “Saved Search” alert that will send you an email when any new Sills item appears, but directly checking every so often can usually turn up desirable performances.

https://www.ebay.com/

Berkshire Record Outlet:

A long-established source for overstock and out-of-print recordings, usually including a few Sills titles (official and unofficial) at very good prices. It’s worth regularly checking because new stock being added, as well as the re-stocking of previously offered titles, mean different results with each search.

https://www.broinc.com

Facebook Page: The Beverly Sills Crazies

Despite the lighthearted name, this Facebook group is seriously devoted to all things Sills. It counts among its members those who were her colleagues on stage, family, close friends, artists involved with all aspects of opera, memorabilia collectors and, of course, fans, many of whom witnessed Sills artistry in live performances. The moderator runs a tight ship to ensure there is always respect for Sills and to keep the postings focused on her. This page is listed here because Sills’ recordings, including the live ones, are constantly being discussed, often with information about where recordings can be acquired.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/205612719485350

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Unofficial Live Recordings on Commercial CDs

Before streaming music became the norm, a number of companies (mostly from Italy and other European countries) issued CDs of live performances by Sills. These were not sanctioned or licensed but were usually issued based on the shorter copyright laws in those countries. They usually had good-to-great sound and represented many of Sills’ best performances. These were made with commercial grade CDs, booklets and cases, and were sold in CD stores. They are now all out-of-print but often can be found on Amazon, eBay, and other online CD sellers, as well as in second-hand CD stores. Below are the known CD sets issued in this manner (there are online-only companies that sell digital downloads and/or on-demand CDs of these same performances, which will be listed in a separate menu choice).

Bellini:

I Puritani – January 18, 1972 – Philadelphia Lyric Opera, Academy of Music

Legato Classics LCD 176-2

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Donizetti:

La Fille du Régiment – Feb. 13, 1970 – American Opera Society, Carnegie Hall

Legato Classics LCD-238 (2 CDs) issued 1998 (note: transferred from private LPs, not original tape, resulting in some clicks and pops on the recording)

Opera D’Oro OPD-1275 issued 2000 (performance year is incorrect on the back cover)

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Lucia di Lammermoor – November 3, 1970 – Philadelphia Lyric Opera, Academy of Music

Giuseppe Di Stefano Records GDS 21040 issued 1991

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Lucia di Lammermoor – June 25, 1972 – Buenos Aires, Teatro Colòn

Arkadia CDMP 474.2 issued 1994

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Lucia di Lammermoor – July 4, 1972 – Buenos Aires, Teatro Colòn

West Hill Radio Archives WHRA-6013 issued 2003

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Lucia di Lammermoor – November 17, 1972 – San Francisco Opera

Golden Melodram GM 5.0072

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Lucia di Lammermoor – August 28, 1974 – New York City Opera, State Theater

On Stage! OS4721

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Lucia di Lammermoor – January 15, 1977 – Metropolitan Opera, New York City

Myto 022.262 issued 2002

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Roberto Devereux – October 24, 1970 – New York City Opera, State Theater

Melodram CDM 270107 issued 1993

Giuseppe Di Stefano Records GDS 21029 issued 1990

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Massenet:

Manon – February 20, 1969 – New York City Opera, State Theater

IMC (Italian Music Company) CDI 205008 issued 1995

Melodram MEL 27058

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Meyerbeer:

Les Huguenots – May 14, 1969 – American Opera Society, Carnegie Hall, New York City

Voce Della Luna VL2016-2

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Rimsky-Korsakov:

Le Coq D’Or – November 9, 1971 – New York City Opera, State Theater

Gala GL 100.740 issued 2003

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Rossini:

L’assedio di Corinto (The Siege of Corinth)

Legato Classics LCD 135-2

Opera D’Oro OPD 1271 issued 2001

Opera D’Oro Grand Tier OPD 7065 issued 2008

Opera D’Oro OPD 1134 issued 1998

NOTE: Opera D’oro first issued this performance as catalog number 1134, in 1997, with the covers shown below, incorrectly identifying the conductor as Carlo Franci.

Notes Opera PGP 21002 issued 1992

Arkadia CDHP 573.2

NOTE: This Arkadia issue mis-dates the recorded performance as April 11, 1969, which was the production’s opening night. All CD versions of this recording are the same RAI radio broadcast of April 14, 1969, the second night of the run.

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Verdi:

La Traviata – January 17, 1970 – Naples, Italy, Teatro San Carlo

Melodram MEL 27063 issued 1989

Opera D’Oro OPD-1263 issued 2000

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Aria Compilations:

Beverly Sills – Opera Arias: Concerts in Paris 1971, Cologne 1968

Arkadia GI 804.1 issued 1994

NOTE: The Paris concert took place on Januay22, 1971 at the Salle Peyel. The Cologne (Köln) concert was not a live broadcast but a recording in the studios of the Cologne Radio Orchestra held over two days (April 9 & 10, 1967). Sills recorded eight arias altogether, to be broadcast at a later date. The Arkadia CD includes only five of the eight. The incorrect date of “May 1968” for the “performance” is likely the date of the delayed broadcast (or possibly even a repeat of an earlier broadcast soon after the recording sessions).

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Beverly Sills: Sillsiana (arias from concerts and fully stage performances between 1966 and 1976)

Gala GL 100.576 (2 CDs) issued 2000

NOTE: The final selection on CD 2 is the delightful and hilarious parody, “Sillsiana,” a six-minute jumble of aria and song snippets created for Sills by Roland Gagnon. It was sung on a program at Hunter College on Oct. 3, 1970, as benefit for the International Piano Library, which had suffered a devastating fire. It also included four of the five arias from the 1967 Cologne recording sessions which are on the Arkadia compliation disc above.

Officially-Issued Studio & Live Videos

Donizetti, Gaetano (1797 – 1848)

DVD cover of Donizetti's La Fille du RégimentLa Fille du Régiment
Artists – William McDonald, Spiro Malas, Muriel Greenspon, Filene Center Orchestra & Chorus
Conductor – Charles Wendelken-Wilson
Date & Location
July 2, 1974, Wolf Trap Farm Park, Vienna, VA
Label & Catalog numbers
DVD 4212 – Video Artists International (VAI)
VHS 69071 – Video Artists International (VAI)

DVD cover of Donizetti's Roberto DevereuxRoberto Devereux
Artists – John Alexander, Susanne Marsee, Richard Fredericks, Filene Center Orchestra & Chorus
Conductor – Julius Rudel
Date & Location
July 27, 1975, Wolf Trap Trap Farm Park, Vienna, VA
Label & Catalog numbers
DVD 4204 – Video Artists International (VAI)
VHS 4204 – Video Artists International (VAI)

Hindemith, Paul (1895-1963)

DVD cover for Aaron Copland: Music in the 20’sHin Und Zurück (in the 3-disc set “Aaron Copland: Music in the 20’s”]
Artists – Davis Cunningham, Chester Ludgin, Raymond Michalski, James Billings
Conductor – Sarah Caldwell
Date & Location
July 12, 1965 – WGBH Studios, Boston
Label & Catalog numbers
DVD D4760 – Kultur

Massenet, Jules (1842 – 1912)

DVD cover for Massenet's ManonManon
Artists – Henry Price, Richard Fredricks, Samuel Ramey, Nico Castel, Robert Hale, New York City Opera Orchestra & Chorus
Conductor – Julius Rudel
Date & Location –
October 18, 1977, New York City Opera
Label & Catalog numbers
VHS 12701 – Bel Canto/Paramount

NOTE: This performance has never been officially issued on DVD but copies can be ordered from Premiere Opera (U.S.) – see “Additional Live Recordings Sources” in the menu.

Rossini, Gioachino (1792 – 1868)

DVD cover for recording of Rossini's Il Barbiere Di SivigliaIl Barbiere Di Siviglia
Artists – Alan Titus, Henry Price, Donald Gramm, Samuel Ramey, New York City Opera Orchestra & Chorus
Conductor – Sarah Caldwell
Date & Location –
November 3, 1976, New York City Opera
Label & Catalog numbers
VHS 12707 – Bel Canto/Paramount

NOTE: This performance has never been officially issued on DVD but copies can be ordered from Premiere Opera (U.S.) – see “Additional Live Recordings Sources” in the menu.

Strauss, Richard (1864 – 1949)

DVD cover for recording of Strauss's Ariadne Auf NaxosAriadne Auf Naxos
Artists – Claire Watson, John Reardon, Robert Nagy, Benita Valente, Boston Symphony Orchestra
Conductor – Erich Leinsdorf
Date & Location
January 7, 1969, Symphony Hall, Boston
Label & Catalog numbers
DVD 4363 – Video Artists International (VAI)

Verdi, Giuseppe (1813 – 1901)

DVD cover for recording of Verdi's La TraviataLa Traviata
Artists – Henry Price, Richard Fredericks, Filene Center Orchestra & Chorus
Conductor – Julius Rudel
Date & Location –
August 12, 1976, Wolf Trap Farm Park, Vienna VA
Label & Catalog numbers
DVD 4207 – Video Artists International (VAI)
VHS 69079 – Video Artists International (VAI)

Miscellaneous Videos

Deutsche Grammophon

DVD cover of recording Beverly Sills: Made in AmericaBeverly Sills: Made in America
Release Date (US) – November 21, 2006
Label & Catalog number
DVD 044007342992 – Deutsche Grammophon
Note –
This is the DVD version of the WNET/PBS program of the same title, first broadcast on Nov. 23, 2006. The 90-minute program consists of performances and interviews from across Sills’ singing career from 1936 to 1980. Included are a number of rare clips from such sources as the 1955 Opera Cameo “La Traviata,” the 1966 CBC “Magic Flute,” and the 1969 CBS camera Three profile, which featured Sills singing from “Julius Caesar” in her original NYCO costume. The DVD also include a bonus of the complete 1955 Opera Cameo production.

Kultur

DVD cover for recording Great Moments in Opera from The Ed Sullivan ShowGreat Moments in Opera from The Ed Sullivan Show
Conductor – Ray Bloch
Date & Location –
Sills segement telecast May 4, 1969; Ed Sullivan Theater, New York City
Label & Catalog numbers
DVD D2528 – Kultur
VHS KLT 2135V – Kultur (Vol I.)
Note –
Sills sings “O luce di quest’anima” from Donizetti’s Linda di Chamounix

DVD cover for video The Original Amateur HourThe Original Amateur Hour
Artists – The two DVDs includes over four hours of material from both the Major Bowes radio program and the the later Ted Mack TV show, including appearances by Robert Merrill, Maria Callas and Frank Sinatra.
Date & Location – Sills segment performed on the October 26, 1939 radio program (which she won).
Label & Catalog numbers – DVD D3138 – Kultur
Note –
The Sills segment includes the full interview and the finale of her performance of “Caro nome” from Rigoletto on the October 26, 1939 radio program (which she won). The audio is accompanied by photos of Sills with Major Bowes.

DVD cover for video ABC NEWS - One on One - Beverly SillsABC NEWS – One on One – Beverly Sills
Artists – Gret Jackson, Beverly Sills
Date of telecast – May 26, 1983
Note –
Correspondent Greg Jackson interviews Sills about her career and family, including a Muffy and Bucky. A thoughtful, rather serious look at her life  -22 minutes .

Charlie Rose, Inc.


These programs were originally available as DVDs are hard to find and are expensive. However, they can be viewed for free on the Charlie Rose website – www.charlierose.com

Cover for video of Charlie Rose ShowCharlie Rose Show – “A Conversation About Chinese and American Opera” – telecast July 21, 1997
Sills and soprano Ying Huang talk about the differences between Chinese and American opera, and also discuss Huang’s debut at the Mostly Mozart Festival (this is a 17-minute segment with a program that also includes interviews with money manager Jim Cramer and novelist Richard Ford)

Cover for video of Charlie Rose ShowCharlie Rose Show – “An Hour With Beverly Sills” – telecast of April 29, 2002
Sills speaks about her role as chairman of the Lincoln Center board and her career in general. A major section is devoted to her opening night in Roberto Devereux at New York City Opera.

Cover for video of Charlie Rose ShowCharlie Rose Show – “In Memoriam: Beverly Sills” – telecast of July 4, 2007
A retrospective of Sills’ career, shown two days after her death. Rose narrates the program, which is made up of clips seen in the “Made in America” program, plus excerpts of two previous Rose interviews with Sills on April 29, 2002 and July 21, 1997.

Time Life Video

DVD cover of video The Best of the Muppet ShowThe Best of the Muppet Show
Artists – DVD includes three programs with guests Tony Randall, Beverly Sills and Pearl Bailey
Conductor – Jack Parnell, Muppet Show Orchestra
Date & Location
Sills program telecast November 8, 1979; ATV Studios, Borehamwood, England.
Label & Catalog numbers
DVD V837-13 – Time Life Video
Note –
Sills sings a country & western song, does a tap dance, and participates in “Pigoletto,” an opera spoof in which she sings parts of “Sempre libera” and bits of Brunhilde.

Officially-Issued Studio & Live Audios

This listing contains all the officially released recordings Sills made of operas and recital albums. They were mostly recorded in the studio, but a few recorded live. Sills’ recordings were first issued on LPs, and most were later released on 8-track, cassette tapes and CDs. Although all the 18 complete operas have been released on CD, the recital albums have often been issued piecemeal on “Best Of” albums and other themed CDs. The information below attempts to identify the various ways in which the selections on those recital albums have been issued.

Note: Most of Sills’ CD issues are no longer in print. However, copies, both new and used, can be regularly found on Amazon, eBay, Discogs, and other sites that sell CDs. It’s best to compare prices across these sales sites, as the prices can vary widely. It’s also worth checking back on prices and availability from time to time, because additional copies often crop up in the meantime.

Operas

Bellini, Vincenzo (1801 – 1835)


Cover of Bellini's i Capuleti with Beverly SillsI Capuleti e i Montecchi
Artists – Janet Baker, Nicolai Gedda, Robert Lloyd, Raimund Herincx, John Alldis Choir, New Philharmonia.
Conductor – Giuseppe Patane
Date & Location – June 16-26, 1975; Abbey Road Studios, London
Label & Catalog numbers
CD 5-86055-2 – EMI Classics Gemini
LP SCLX-3824 – Angel Records

Cover of Bellini's Capuleti e Montecchi recordingI Capuleti e i Montecchi
Artists – Tatiana Troyanos, Joseph Evans, Herbert Beattie, Robert Trehy, Chorus & Orchestra of the Opera Company of Boston
Conductors – Sarah Caldwell, William Fred Scott
Date & Location – June 5 & 7, 1975; Boston, MA
Label & Catalog numbers
CD VAIA 1221-2 – Video Artists International

Note –
This live recording combines the best of the June 5 & 7 performances

Cover of Bellini's Norma recordingNorma
Artists – Shirley Verrett, Enrico Di Giuseppe, Paul Plishka, Delia Wallis, Robert Tear, John Alldis Chorus, New Philharmonia.
Conductor – James Levine
Date & Location – August 1973; All Saints Church, Tooting, London
Label & Catalog numbers:

CD 477 8186 Deutsche Grammophon
CD OPE-CD 1049/1050 EMI France (slightly abridged – missing 15 minutes in Act I)
LP AVC_34030 – Angel Records
LP ATS 20017 – ABC Audio Treasury

Cover of Bellini's I Puritani recordingI Puritani
Artists – Heather Begg, Nicolai Gedda, Riccardo Cassinelli, Louis Quilico, Richard Van Allan, Paul Plishka, London Philharmonic Orchestra.
Conductor – Julius Rudel
Date & Location – August 1973; EMI Studios, London
Label & Catalog numbers
CD 289 471 207-2 – Westminster : the Legacy
CD 3-80356 – Millennium Classics
LP AVC-34013 – Angel Records
LP ATS 20016 – ABC/Dunhill Records

Charpentier, Gustave (1860 – 1956)


Cover of Charpentier's Louise recordingLouise
Artists – Nicolai Gedda, Jose van Dam, Mignon Dunn, Martyn Hill, Chorus and Orchestra of Theatre de l’Opera de Paris.
Conductor – Julius Rudel
Date & Location – June 1977, Salle Wagram, Paris
Label & Catalog numbers
CD 5 65299-2 – EMI Angel
LP SCLX-3846 – Angel Records

Donizetti, Gaetano (1797 – 1848)


Cover of Donezetti's Anna Bolena recordingAnna 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

Cover of Donezetti's Don Pasquale recordingDon 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

Cover of Donizetti's Lucia de Lammermoor recordingLucia 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

Cover of Donizetti's Maria Stuarda recordingMaria 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

Cover of recording of Donizett's Roberto DevereuxRoberto 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

Handel, George Frederic (1685 – 1759)


Cover of recording of Handel's Giulio CesareGiulio 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

Cover of recording of Handel's Giulio CesareGiulio 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

Cover of recording of Handel's SemeleSemele
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”)

Lehar, Franz (1870 – 1948)


Cover of recording of Lehar's The Merry WidowThe 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

Massenet, Jules (1842 – 1912)


Cover of recording of Massenet's ManonManon
Artists – Nicolai Gedda, Gerard Souzay, Gabriel Bacquier, Nico Castel, Michel Trempont, Patricia Kern, Michele Raynaud, Helia T’Hevan, Ambrosian Opera Chorus, New Philharmonia.
Conductor – Julius Rudel
Date & Location – July 15-29, 1970; All Saints Church, Tooting, London
Label & Catalog numbers
CD CMS 769831 2 – EMI
CD 289 474 950-2 – Deutsche Grammophon
LP ATS 20007 – ABC
LP AVC-34010 – Angel Records

Cover of recording of Massenet's ThaïsThaïs
Artists – Sherrill Milnes, Nicolai Gedda, Richard Van Allan, Ann-Marie Connors, Ann Murray, Norma Burrowes, Patricia Kern, Brian Ethridge, John Alldis Choir, New Philharmonia.
Conductor – Lorin Maazel
Date & Location – June 18-30, 1976; EMI Studios, London
Label & Catalog numbers
CD 5654792 – EMI
LP SCLX 3832 – Angel Records

Moore, Douglas (1893 – 1969)


Cover of recording of Moore's Ballad of Baby DoeThe Ballad of Baby Doe
Artists – Walter Cassel, Frances Bible, Grant Williams, Chorus and Orchestra of New York City Opera.
Conductor – Emerson Buckley
Date & Location – June, 1959; Manhattan Center, New York City
Label & Catalog numbers
CD 289 465 148-2 – Deutsche Grammophon
LP 2709 061 – Deutsche Grammophon
LP S3-GC-1 – MGM
LP HS 25035-5 – Helidor

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus (1756 – 1791)


Cover of recording of Mozart's Die ZauberflöteDie Zauberflöte
Artists – George Shirley, John Reardon, Judith Raskin, Anne Elgar, Ezio Flagello, Boston Symphony Orchestra
Conductor – Erich Leinsdorf
Date & Location
August 6, 1966; Tanglewood Festival, Lenox, Massachusetts (live radio broadcast)
Label & Catalog numbers
Digital Media BSO Classics (no catalog # – was downloadable from the BSO website shop for a short time)

Offenbach, Jacques (1819 – 1880)


Cover of recording of Offenbach's Les Contes d'HoffmanLes Contes d’Hoffmann
Artists – Stuart Burrows, Norman Treigle, Susanne Marsee, Nico Castel, Robert Lloyd, Patricia Kern, Raimund Herincx, Bernard Dickerson, John Noble, John Alldis Choir, London Symphony.
Conductor – Julius Rudel
Date & Location
July-August, 1972; EMI Studios, London
Label & Catalog numbers
CD 289 471 247-2 – Westminster
LP ATS 20014 – ABC records
LP AVC-34011 – Angel Records

Cover of recording of Offenbach's Les Contes d'HoffmanLes Contes d’Hoffmann
Artists – Andre Turp, Norman Treigle, Edith Evans, Michael Devlin, John West, Luigi Velluccci, New Orleans Opera Orchestra & Chorus
Conductor – Knud Andersson
Date & Location
Februrary 27, 1964, New Orleans, LA
Label & Catalog numbers
CD VAIA 1121- Video Artists International (VAI)

Rossini, Gioacchino (1792 – 1868)


Cover of recording of Rossini's Il Barbiere di SivigliaIl Barbiere di Siviglia
Artists – Sherrill Milnes, Nicolai Gedda, Renato Capecchi, Ruggero Raimondi, Fedora Barbieri, Joseph Galiano, John Alldis Choir, London Symphony.
Conductor – James Levine
Date & Location – August 1974 & May 1975; All Saints Church, Tooting, London
Label & Catalog numbers
CD 7243 5 85523 2 4 – EMI Classics Gemini
(issued Feb. 2004)
CD 7243 5 66040 2 5 – EMI Classics (issued in 1996)
LP SCLX-3671 – Angel Records

Note –
When EMI transferred the original LP recording to CD, they didn’t want to go to 3 discs, so they cut “A se e ver,” an aria from Rosini’s “Sigismondo” that Sills had interpolated at the end of the Bartlolo/Rosina scene before the Storm in Act II. The aria has not been re-issued on CD in any form, thus it is only available on the original LP recording. The CD issue also cuts Gedda’s aria and cabaletta, “Cessa di più…Ah, il più lieto,” as well as 4 minutes of recitative in other places.

Cover of recording of Rossini's L'Assedio di CorintoL’Assedio di Corinto
Artists – Shirley Verrett, Justino Diaz, Harry Theyard, Gwynne Howell, Robert Lloyd, Delia Wallis, Gaetano Scano, Ambrosian Opera Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra.
Conductor – Thomas Schippers
Date & Location – July & August, 1974; All Saints Church, Tooting, London
Label & Catalog numbers
CD 7 64335 2 – EMI Classics
LP SCLX-3819 – Angel Records

Verdi, Giuseppe (1813 – 1901)


Cover of recording of Verdi's La TraviataLa Traviata
Artists – Nicolai Gedda, Rolando Panerai, Delia Wallis, Mirella Fiorentini, Keith Erwen, Terence Sharpe, Richard Van Allan, Robert Lloyd, Mario Carlin, William Elvin, John Alldis Choir, Royal Philharmonic.
Conductor – Aldo Ceccato
Date & Location
July 6-9 & 15-16, 1971; All Saints Church, Tooting, London
Label & Catalog numbers
CD 7 69827-2 – EMI
LP SCLX 3780 – Angel Records

Cover of recording of Verdi's RigolettoRigoletto
Artists – Sherill Milnes, Alfredo Kraus, Samuel Ramey, Mignon Dunn, Ann Murrary, John Rawnsley, Dennis O’Neilll, Malcolm King, Sally Burgess, Alan Watt, Jennifer Smith, Ambrosian Opera Chorus, Philharmonia.
Conductor – Julius Rudel
Date & Location
August 12-15, 1978, EMI Studios, London
Label & Catalog numbers
CD 5 66037 2 – EMI Classics
LP SCZX-3872 – Angel

Arias & Songs Albums

EMI / ABC / Westminster


Cover of recoding of Bellini & Donizetti HeroinesBeverly Sills – Bellini & Donizetti Heroines
Conductor – Jussi Jalas
Orchestra – Orchestra of the Vienna Volksoper
Date & Location – June 1968; Mozartsaal, Vienna, Austria
Label & Catalog numbers:
CD UMD 80468 – Millinneum Classics
LP AV-34034 – Angel Records
LP WST-17143 – ABC/Westminster Records

Cover of recording Beverly Sills ConcertBeverly Sills – In Concert
Accompanists -Paula Robinson, flute; Charles Wadsworth, piano & harpsichord; Gervase de Peyer, clarinet; Charles Treger, violin; Leslie Parnas, cello
Orchestra – Members of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
Date & Location
March 1972; Rutgers Presbyterian Church, New York City
Label & Catalog numbers
CD 477-630-4 – Deutsche Grammophon (This complete album has been re-issued on the DG CD “Beverly Sills and Friends. In addition, “Ah! vous direrai-je maman” and “Lo! here the gentle lark” have been re-issued on the Decca CD “The Singers.”
LP AV-34036 – Angel Records
LP ATS-20011 – ABC Audio Treasury
LP WGS-8268 – ABC Westminster Gold

Cover of recording of Beverly Sills Sings Mozart and Strauss Beverly Sills – sings Mozart and Strauss
Conductor – Aldo Ceccato
Orchestra – London Philharmonic Orchestra
Date & Location – January & August, 1970, EMI Studios, London
Label & Catalog numbers
CD CDC-7 47523 2
LP AV-34014 – Angel Records
LP AT-20004 – ABC Records

Cover of recording of Beverly Sills Sings VerdiBeverly Sills – Sings Verdi
Conductor – Aldo Ceccato
Orchestra – Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Date & Location
Tracks 1-4: January 1970, EMI Studios
(Tracks 5-7 added from the complete EMI recordings of Rigoletto [1978] and La Traviata [1971] )
Label & Catalog numbers
CD CDC-7 47383 2
LP AV-34017 – Angel Records
Note –
The first four arias on this disc were part of a planned full Verdi recital disc. Sills became ill during the recording sessions, completing only four arias. She ended up with a temperature of 105 and was told to go home. Sills didn’t remember recording them after her illness and the recordings stayed shelved in the ABC Records vault. They were discovered in the mid-1980’s when MCA bought the ABC catalog and did an inventory. EMI/Angel put out the LP and the CD in 1985.

Cover of recording of Music of Victor HerbertBeverly Sills – Music of Victor Herbert
Conductor – Andre Kostelanetz
Orchestra – London Symphony Orchestra
Date & Location
1975; EMI Studios, London
Label & Catalog numbers
CD CDC-7 47197 2 – EMI Angel
LP SFO-37160 – Angel Records

Cover of recording of Scenes and Arias from French OperaScenes and Arias from French Opera
Conductor – Sir Charles Mackerras
Orchestra – Royal Philharmonic Orchestra & Ambrosian Opera Chorus
Date & Location
May 1969; EMI Studios, London
Label & Catalog numbers
LP AV-34035 – Angel Records
LP WST-17163 –
ABC/Westminster Records
Note –
This album has not been issued complete on CD. The Huguenots “O beau pays” has only been issued as the aria, but not including the choral middle section or the cabaletta . The Manon “Je marche” found on all compilation sets is taken from the complete 1970 EMI recording. This 1969 version has only been issued on CD in a 40-CD box set from Deutsche Grammophon, “Westminster Legacy” (UPC 0028947923435)

Cover of recording Up in Central ParkUp in Central Park: Duets from Operetta & Musical Comedy
Artists – Beverly Sills & Sherrill Milnes
Conductor – Julius Rudel
Orchestra – New York City Opera Orchestra
Date & Location –
1978; New York City
Label & Catalog numbers
CD CDC-7 47203 2 – EMI Angel
LP S-37323 – Angel Records

Cover of recording Welcome to ViennaWelcome to Vienna
Conductor – Julius Rudel
Orchestra – London Philharmonic
Date & Location –
May 1971, Fairfield Halls, Croyden, England
Label & Catalog numbers
CD CDM 0777 7 64424 2 6 – EMI Angel
LP AV-34037 – Angel Records
LP WST-20009 – ABC Records

Sony


Cover of recording of Plaisir D'AmourPlaisir D’Amour
Conductor – Andre Koselanetz
Orchestra – Columbia Symphony
Date & Location
Tracks 1-9: October 1-2 & 21, 1975; Columbia 30th St. Studio, New York City
Tracks 10-13: February 8, 1961; Manhattan Center, New York City
Label & Catalog numbers
CD SMK 60576 – Sony Classical
LP M 33933 – Columbia
(did not include the four 1961 items)
LP P2S 5720 –
Columbia Musical Treasury
LP DMS 6223 –
Columbia Musical Treasury

Note –
In the Sony CD liner notes, Sills says she didn’t remember recording the three Spanish numbers or for what purpose. Columbia issued only the Granados and the Ponce items in the early 1970s twice – on a 2-LP set “Romantic Music of Spain” (P2S 5720), a compilations of various orchestras and conductors; and, more strangely, on the LP “Puccini for Orchestra” (DMS 622), which had “guest artist Beverly Sills” on side one with the two Spanish numbers, and six Puccini arias for orchestra only conducted by Kostelanetz on side two.

Miscellaneous



Cover of recording Mozart Concert and Opera AriasMozart Concert and Opera Arias
Artists – Boston Symphony Orchestra
Conductor – Erich Leinsdorf
Orchestra – New York City Opera Orchestra
Date & Location
July 6, 1968; Tanglewood Festival, Lenox, Massachusetts(live radio broadcast)
Label & Catalog numbers
Digital Media BSO Classics (no catalog # – was downloadable from the BSO website shop for a short time)

Note –
This all-Mozart program included four vocal works:
Exsultate, jubilate “Ruhe sanft, mein holdes Leben” from Zaide
“Ah se in ciel, benigne stelle,” Concert aria
“Martern aller Arten” from Die Entführung aus dem Serail
(The BSO download was just these four and did not include the orchestra-only selections on the program)


Cover of recording Mozart's "Exsultate, jubilate"Mozart’s “Exsultate, jubilate”
Artists – Phildadelphia Orchestra
Conductor – Eugene Ormandy
Orchestra – New York City Opera Orchestra
Date & Location
April 25, 1974; Academy of Music, Philadelphia, PA (live radio broadcast)
Label & Catalog numbers
CD Philadelphia Orchestra Association (no catalog # – this selection was the only one issued from the full April 25 concert. It was included on Disc 9 of a 12-CD set issued by the orchestra called “The Centennial Collection,’ available for a while directly from the orchestra).


Cover of recording Beverly Sills sings Songs for ChristmasBeverly Sills sings Songs for Christmas
Organ Accompanist – Howard Kubik
Date & Location
1955; location unknown
Label & Catalog number
LP WOR 94919 – Fordyce & Hamby
Note –
This is a 10 inch LP pressed on one side only. The architectural firm Fordyce & Hamby had this album made as a Christmas gift for clients.

Cover of recording of Mahler's Symphony No. 2 "Resurrection"Mahler – Symphony No. 2 “Resurrection”
Artists – Beverly Sills, soprano soloist, Florence Kopleff, contralto soloist
Conductor – Maurice Abravenel
Orchestra – Utah Symphony Orchestra
Date & Location
1967; Mormon Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Utah
Label & Catalog numbers
CD ATM 1212 – Artemis Classics
(issued 2003 – coupled with Sym. No. 4)
CD OVC 2030 – Vanguard Classics
(complete Mahler symphonies, 9 cds)
CD OVC 4004 – Vanguard Classics
(issued 1994)
LP VCS 10003-10004 –
Vanguard Cardinal Series
LP SRV 330-343 – Vanguard
(complete Mahler symphonies, 14-Lps)

Cover of recording The Sullivan YearsThe Sullivan Years
Artists – Beverly Sills (and Robert Merrill, Richard Tucker, Joan Sutherland, Franco Corelli, Dorothy Kirsten, Roberta Peters, Jan Peerce, Maria Callas, Marilyn Horne, Eleanor Steber), CBS Orchestra
Conductor – Ray Block
Date & Location
May 4, 1969; Ed Sullivan Theater, New York City
Label & Catalog number
TVT 9449-2 – 1001 Sundays/TVT Records
Note –
This is a compilation of opera arias and duets from the Ed Sullivan Show on CBS-TV. Sills is represented by “O luce di quest’anima” sung without the recitative at the beginning (cut because Sullivan demanded that the opera segments be no more than 4 minutes long). This recording is the audio from the same performances on the Kultur DVD “Great Moments in Opera from the Ed Sullivan Show” (see this listing in this Discography’s Video section)

Compilations from Previous Albums

EMI Group


Cover of recording Art of Beverly Sills volume oneThe Art of Beverly Sills
Release Date – original release 1985,
re-released 1992
Label & Catalog numbers
CD CDM 0777 7 64425 2 5 – EMI Classics (1992)
CD SDB 028545 – EMI Angel (1985)

Cover of recording of Art of Beverly Sills volume twoThe Art of Beverly Sills, Album 2
Release Date – 1985
Label & Catalog numbers
CD CDC-7 47332 2 – EMI Angel
LP AV-34081 – Angel Records

Note –
The LP did not have the two Verdi selections

Cover of recording The Very Best of Beverly SillsThe Very Best of Beverly Sills
Release Date – May 2005
Label & Catalog numbers
CD 5 86317 2 – EMI Classics

Decca


Cover of recording The Singers: Beverly SillsThe Singers: Beverly Sills
Release Date – 2001
Label & Catalog numbers
CD 289 467 906-2 – Decca

Note –
The booklet with this album unbelievably gets most of the recording dates wrong, incorrectly listing the tracks 1 and 2 as 1974, tracks 8 and 9 as 1969, and tracks 10 and 11 as 1964.)

Deutsche Grammophon


Cover of recording The Art of Beverly SillsThe Art of Beverly Sills
Release Date – November 2002
Label & Catalog numbers
CD 289 471 766-2 – Deutsche Grammophon
Note –
The DG booklet and back cover incorrectly list the second part of #3 track on CD 1 as “Obéssons quand leur voix” which is the traditional “Gavotte” of the Cours-la-Reine scene. What is actually on the CD is the alternate Fabliau “Oui dans les bois” which Sills recorded as an appendix to the complete recording. DG has corrected the error on its website.

Cover of recording Beverly Sills: The Great RecordingsBeverly Sills – The Great Recordings
Release Date – May 2004
Label & Catalog numbers
CD B0002469-2 – Deutsche Grammophon (initial release)
CD 0 289 474 947-2 – Deutsche Grammophon (later numbering)

Cover of recording Beverly Sills and FriendsBeverly Sills and Friends
Release Date – October 10 2006
Label & Catalog number
CD 477-630-4 Deutsche Grammophon