This coloratura soprano made her name both on stage and behind the scenes of the opera world.
One of the hallmarks of opera is the coloratura soprano, the lady with the shimmering high notes. These singers typically have brighter sounds, narrower vibrato, and lighter voices, which enables them to sing impressively high notes and fast, technical passages. One of the most beloved coloratura soprano of the 20th century was Beverly Sills.
The American diva had an agile voice, an impressive repertoire, and from her beginning as a child prodigy to her tenure as manager of a major opera company, Sills had a profound influence on the opera world.
Bubbles Silverman
The soprano was born as Belle Miriam Silverman in Brooklyn to Jewish immigrant parents in 1929. As a child, she was known as Bubbles Silverman. Her singing career began at age 3 when she won a “Miss Beautiful Baby” contest, in which she sang “The Wedding of Jack and Jill.” She turned professional the next year when she started singing on “Rainbow House,” a Saturday morning radio program. At age 7, Sills started taking private voice lessons with renowned soprano Estelle Liebling. She continued regular lessons with Liebling until her beloved teacher died at the age of 90 in 1970.
