Beverly Sills, the acclaimed Brooklyn-born coloratura soprano who was more popular with the American public than any opera singer since Enrico Caruso, even among people who never set foot in an opera house, died last night at her home in Manhattan. She was 78.

We'll miss you, Bev. Thanks.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/03/arts/music/03sills.html?ex=1341201600&en=a73fea7c4b2f22f6&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

Heard this on the radio this AM... she seemed young (ageless) to me. Apparently she'd been quite recently diagnosed with lung cancer. Very sad.

Yep, heard it on NPR this morning. She was indeed the girl next door who just happened to become an opera-diva. She and Carol Burnett used to cut up and sing together too and was an enjoyable guest on many Tonight Shows with Johnny Carson. Rest in peace darlin'.

A great artist and proud ambassador for the arts and, of course, opera in particular. RIP, Beverly, we will miss you.

Heard it last nite on the radio. Hated it, she always seemed like a classy lady. Didn't she have a daughter who was profoundly retarded/deaf or otherwise disabled?

Her son was/is retarded, her daughter was/is deaf, so she never heard her Mother sing. Never smoked a day in her life, where's the justice. Born the year before I was.

One of the few people in opera who never took themselves too seriously AND had a sense of humour. RIP

Ray

There's a very good 4-page writeup in the NYT online today.

There's a very good 4-page writeup in the NYT online today.

Just to save a little time searching, see link in first post.

whoops, missed that... I thought you had a link to the Yahoo article. Sorry.

Heard her comments on the Met broadcasts last winter/spring. Always sounded young and enthused. She'll be missed.