Search - Jules Massenet, New Philharmonia Orchestra, Ambrosian Opera Chorus :: Manon / Beverly Sills, Gedda, Souzay, Bacquier; Rudel

Beverly Sills In An Unforgettable Performance

Tracy L. Powell | 08/17/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Beverly Sill's vocal talents were full of variety. She was just at home in the Italian bel canto operas of Donizetti as she was in the French operas (she sang as the three heroines of Offenbach's Tales Of Hoffman and in the other Massenet opera Thais). Jules Massenet composed fine French operas at a time when the "grand opera" style was diminishing in popularity. He even composed a successful "grand opera" himself, despite the already antiquated form when he composed "Le Cid". French opera is made up of beautiful melodies, romantic duets, elegant arias, dramatic ensembles and choruses, and a melodramatic plot. "Manon" (pronounced ma- no) is based on the novel by Andre Prevost, generally regarded as the first French novel. Manon deals with a flaky, seductive and materialistic young woman who falls for a handsome but dangerous man only to marry another for the sake of money. Eventually, she is reunited with her old and true love and dies in his arms. The melodrama is enhanced by fine music of many subtle tones- romance without being too buttery (and if it is too sentimental so what ? It's opera!) and the waltz-like, festive atmosphere of Paris, especially the glittering casinos are gorgeously expressed. Manon and Des Grieux join the ranks of the great opera lovers- at times this even resonates with touches of Verdi's La Traviata (another opera which Beverly Sills successfully mastered).Back to Beverly Sills. Beverly's Manon is considered her finest hour, second only to her towering portrayal of Queen Elizabeth in "Roberto Devereaux" which landed her a cover in Time Magazine in 1971. Manon was a role Beverly Sills flourished in with easy grace and great singing prowess. The role calls for lyric soprano, some coloratura and a lot of romantic dramatic styling. She sings French so easily and without flaw that one would think Beverly is not American but a native French lady. According to Sills, Manon was one of those operas she dedicated herself to singing with gusto. She recalls having to cook for her family and then singing Manon, stating it was the longest day of her life. She loved the theatre and found a great vehicle for expression through opera. Beverly made opera accessible to everyone, even those who would'nt be caught dead in an opera house. She made opera seem fun and very American, despite the continuing prejudice that opera is high-class foreign entertainment. Beverly's French diction is superb. It is rhythmic, flowing and highly musical. Her voice far exceeds that of Joan Sutherland and in acting ability she matches the drama diva Maria Callas. Beverly Sills will always be America's greatest soprano. Now in her seventies, she works for the Metropolitan Opera as chairman. When Manon was first released on LP in the 80's, fans of Beverly were buying the LP's and even bootlegs with as much enthusiasm and fervor as raving fans of The Grateful Dead. America embraces opera and its as American baseball and Church. Opera is now a household name. And all thanks to the first class human being Beverly Sills."

A sparkling Manon

Michel | Montreal, Quebec | 06/21/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Some singers, it seems, are born to sing together. Beverly Sills and Nicolai Gedda are amongst them. Their voices blend together beautifully and they are on the same artistic wave-lenght. Sill s silvery soprano is ideal for Manon. She paints a complete portrait, from girlish awe to manipulative seductress, and her superd technique allows her to shine in the more showy passages. Gedda, as des Grieux, is elegant, refined, and quite smitten by his Manon. Their first act duet - Nous vivrons tous les deux a Paris - is delightful and revealing of their character, her frivolity, his idealism. They get excellent support from Gerard Souzay and Gabriel Bacquier. The comprimarios, important in this opera, are also very well done. Chorus and orchestra are excellent and Julius Rudel s conducting lively. My only little complaint about this brilliant set is the boomy sound."