Beverly Sills in her prime performs four operetta arias live

THE SONGBIRD: Beverly Sills (1929 - 2007) was my first diva and the reason I became infatuated with coloratura sopranos and started collecting vocal music. Sills holds a special place in my musical life to this day so I'm happy to share these items that are not currently posted on YouTube. Sills sang in operetta productions mostly at the beginning and end her career, but often included arias from light opera in her concerts, including this 1971 recital. She won a Grammy award for her 1975 recording of Victor Herbert pieces and there was also a late-career disc of operetta bits with baritone Sherrill Milnes.

SELECTIONS
00:00 Herbert: MLLE. MODISTE - Kiss Me Again
02:07 Lehar: THE MERRY WIDOW - Vilia
05:35 Romberg: NEW MOON - One Kiss
08:34 Herbert: NAUGHTY MARIETTA - Italian Street Song