Beverly Sills - Manon Gavotte Scene (1971)

[@MrAndredekock]

There is just no other Manon! Ms Sills has been my heroine since 1970 when I first heard her voice on record singing Violetta and I think she is the absolute benchmark as far as Manon is concerned. Her commercial recording with Nicolai Gedda as Des Grieux is absolutely electrifying and I doubt that it will EVER be surpassed. This is just as superb and a live performance to boot. Bravissima Ms Sills, we miss you terribly.

[@doperasinger]

My goodness!! Words will never be enough to explain this woman's greatness! Her singing was divine. She was a coloratura soprano, but her talent was so great that she was able to pull off roles that naturally didn't belong to her voice type. She was one of the GREATEST and should always be remembered as such. God bless her and may others follow her example,that you must not only be a great singer, but a great person as well

[@kgarmaker123]

She makes such a wonderful Manon.. though.. she really understands this music.. She was a wonderful musician and I love her tone... she sang down into her voice on the bottom. With a dark, velvety quality and brilliance on top.

[@kgarmaker123]

I wish there were a category for ADORE, rather than like.. She is just stunning and her voice... so full in the bottom and middle, rich, dark, round tones.. brilliance on top.. and ease. She is so convincing in this role.

[@kc55mo]

After having heard the gavotte sung by a contemporary diva (and dully, I might add) it reaffirms Sills' standing as a thrilling singer of Massenet's greatest work.

[@tamerlano]

I think the head turning was simply a mannerism...she always did it. She also did a funny thing with her hands on the high notes. She sort of spread her fingers out and thrust her hands in front of her. Hard to explain, but definitely a Sillsy thing. She also was known to bounce in the coloratura. Love her.

[@jglass54]

To me, she still owns the role of Manon hands down over Netrebko, Moffo, Dessay and Fleming.

[@Josmery16]

has anyone else noticed that Beverly would always turn her head to the right to reach the really high notes? Interesting... Watch any of her videos. She does it in all of them.

[@SeansLipSyncingSock]

Some mannerisms can be distracting, but if they're more "side effect" than "necessity" I've no complaints. Does that sound derisive?

[@eminflowmusic]

not sure why "doit" and "pas" and "voix" sounds so spread - she doesn't do it on any other type of vowel just where she does "a". Please don't send me hate mail for critquing her technique - her technique is solid all the way. I think she's spreading on those vowels to be funny, interpreting Manon as care free - how could you spread only on that vowel and not anywhere else if you don't know what you're doing? She knew what she was doing - overall the best Manon around! :)