Beverly Sills proves (live with piano) she is a dazzling Manon

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 this rare item that is not currently posted on KZbin. Manon was one of Sills' best roles -- she sang the complete role many times and programed arias in concerts and recitals regularly. Here she is singing the glittering Cours-la-reine scene in a recital at CW Post College (Long Island University) in 1972 given as a March of Dimes benefit. Roland Gagnon was her accompanist.
THE MUSIC: Jules Massenet's "Manon" premiered in Paris in 1884 and soon became a world-wild success. The music and setting -- the French libretto by Henri Meilhac and Philippe Gille was based on the 1731 novel "L'histoire du chevalier des Grieux et de Manon Lescaut" by the Abbé Prévost -- make it arguably the quintessential French opera (Bizet's "Carmen" is set in Spain, Offenbach's "Les contes d'Hoffmann" is set in Germany to stories by a German writer, as is Gounod's "Faust." And, of course, Gounod's "Romeo et Juliette" is based on an English play of an Italian love story). “Manon” is one of my very favorite operas! Manon Lescaut, the impetuous, socially ambitious convent girl turned exquisitely glamorous courtesan and doomed lover, is a remarkable role for a lyric-coloratura soprano, and a long one with five arias (or more depending on how you count them) across a wide variety of moods, four duets, an extended death scene, and a few ensembles. Manon's pinnacle of glamour comes in Act 3's Cours-la-reine scene where her charisma is on full display in a two-part aria, each section ending on a High D.

[@wotan10950]

I saw her in this role at the NYC Opera. Her voice was spectacular, but somehow she also conveyed a charm and elan that I’ve never encountered subsequently by Vaness, Malfitano, Dessay, or Fleming. I think you’re just born with that charisma.

[@bogofusion]

Charisma, acting ability and also musical genius. I had seen La Traviata with other singers but found myself sobbing with her dramatic ability.

[@magicmonkichi]

I've always loved hearing singers with just piano. Thank you for sharing, she brought such joy and lightness to the role of Manon.

[@pianoronald]

I saw Beverly Sills as Manon in 1968 at NY City Opera. Spiro Malas gave me his ticket - it was his debut as old Des Grieux. Michele Molese was the (excellent) tenor.

[@songbirdwatcher]

Amazing that you saw her in that peak period in that role!

[@pabloperdomo5174]

A real Queen of Opera, far beyond the customary Bel Canto roles. R.I.P.

[@smtaz7631]

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏