Beverly Sills at Eight Years Old!

[@LisetteOropesaSoprano]

If only there was talent like this again on television talent shows these days. Why don't people showcase this type of voice any more?

[@marcysoprano]

This makes me smile. Her smile, the joy in her eyes, her gestures, her cute little head movements, all a promise of the beautiful artist that was to come. Warms my heart. Some people just have it.

[@LiveFaustDieJung]

Yes, at that age children should maintain a childlike tone. Too many children are trying to sound like 30 years olds these days and are blowing their voices. Her teachers were kind to her voice and therefore, she flourished. :)

[@sharky-os2lm]

Brava! It's amazing how many gestures used here at 7 would show up over the next 40+ years!

[@chevychase]

This is the most adorable thing I ever saw. It made me cry and cry. She had those charming eyes all her life.

[@grotondo2007]

A great talent and person. And her passing is a great loss. RIP.

[@caninbar]

Amazingly confident and talented at such an early age...and she kept those hand movements into adulthood! The one and only! A legend!

[@mconesa52]

She was charming and lovely. It is amazing that at the age of 8 she was not simply singing quite well, but also giving emotion and character in to her performance, which makes a big difference than simply having a good voice with big resources.

[@loloi]

Simply adorable, a far-cry from those poor children these days who are forced to belt and destroy their voices by imitating what people call "divas" of today.

[@voltape]

Just unbelievable - I'd never believe a child could sing like that. She is just charming

[@aarontenor]

She was already better at 8 than most undergrad sopranos.

[@violinthief]

I just came across this one. Interestingly enough, Deanna Durbin sang this same song in her first movie, Three Smart Girls, also in 1936. It's hard to compare them though - Durbin was 14. But she was good enough that the Met asked her to audition at age 15. She chose to concentrate on her movie career instead, and Sills became a great opera star. But they both could have gone either way. Incredible talents.

[@marksmail2]

Absolutely charming. Thanks for posting.

[@bcfms1]

She was remarkable. May she rest in peace!

[@richiedrr]

I think that there is talent like this out there -- it's just that the mass media ignore it in favor of crap like Star Search and American Idol, and so it goes undiscovered..

[@GermanOperaSinger]

She was known as 'Bubbles Silverman' at the time. Quite well known in the States.

[@NYvideoUS]

Lovely to hear this again

[@RossiniSoprano]

@Scotsbell This young lady made this film in 1937 or thereabouts, and went on to become the world-famous opera singer Beverly Sills. Check out some of her videos her as an adult, and be amazed!

[@hollabelle]

some people are so used to hearing little girls singing in manipulated, unhealthy voices!! This is what a healthy and talented child is SUPOSED to sound like. A seven year old girl should never sound like a 30 year old, and if she does it is not healthy and her voice will not last.

[@bellasong75]

very cute! I love Deanna Durbin's version of this song as well.

[@fortissimo25]

sheez adorable!

[@markeli613]

very cute! nice high notes!

[@fer1179]

The born of a great Diva!

[@LjubljanaSI]

Amazing!!!

[@ogkeedah]

GOODNESS GRACIOUS!!!!!!!

[@snarldarl]

brava Bubbles!

[@jkircher314]

She had it, even then. An amazing child - her mother must have been kvelling. Can you imagine how entertaining it would be, and thrilling, to have a child like that?

[@renzo0510]

WOW! and she was 8? I am beggining to hear her performances and i can't believe it...

[@richiedrr]

AMEN AMEN AMEN AMEN. AND AMEN

[@Rephrat]

i agree !!!! goes for conductors too....

[@elenatroncone]

So nice!

[@foxyzzzzz]

Does anyone have clips from "Sills and (Carol) Burnett at the Met"?

[@LiveFaustDieJung]

I'm almost 24 hehe I'm learning Il Bacio. It's an easy song, but singing properly in itself is a lot of work.

[@joosangbai]

reminds me Shirly Temple, and Judy Garland, they died of drug abuse. Beverley is beatiful her late retired life, god bless Bevely!

[@elenatroncone]

Il buon giorno si vede dal mattino! El sol no se puede tapar con un dedo...and so on in the other languages hehehehe

[@kajaDenmark]

great voice for a seven year old ..

[@catchersmitt0]

Yes - this is what really means to be gifted instead of merely talented.

[@ScialomRoland]

Insteresting to watch the early talent of a future diva. Beverly grew up in a place where there is ground to develop one's skills. In many other countries, she would have probably become a good singer, but not the prima donna she became by living in USA.

[@vickersman]

even at 8 the colorutura talent was on the way...BTW Uncle Sol is a scream...what the hell accent is that anyway ? lol

[@louie1a]

you dan say that again!!!!

[@joosangbai]

rich; i agee 100%

[@richiedrr]

Judy yes -- died a typical Hollywood druggie. Shirly Temple no -- became Ambassador to Ghana!! The world of classical music is much less harmvul than pop Diva-dom.