Officially-issued Video Recordings

Donizetti, Gaetano (1797 – 1848)

La 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)

Roberto 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)

Hin 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)

Manon
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)

Il 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)

Ariadne 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)

La 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

Beverly 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

Great 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

The 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.

ABC 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

Charlie 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)

Charlie 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.

Charlie 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

The 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.