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(1929-2007)
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Beverly Sills ("Bubbles"), the opera diva, died of cancer. She was the charismatic soprana who said, "So long as it doesn't get to the point where you don't remember whose opera you're listening to, I'm willing to experiment."
Shown below are some facts/trivia/quotes about "Bubbles."
"aktrise" (actress)
Ms. Sills earned recognition as a fine actress in such roles as Cleopatra in
Handel's Julius Caesar and as Violetta in
Verdi's La Traviata.
"arbet" (work)
"
I have often said I've never considered
myself a happy woman. How could I, with
all that's happened to me. But I'm a
cheerful women. Work kept me going."
"breyt shmeykhlen" (to grin)
"
I really do believe I can accomplish a great
deal with a big grin. I know some people
find that disconcerting, but that doesn't
matter."
"broygez" (angry)
"
My dear brothers, take note of this:
Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to
speak and slow to become angry, for man's
anger does not bring about the righteous
life that God desires."
"Bubbala" (Dear) - darling, sweet, sweetie Julius Rudel convinced Ms. Sills to go back to work. He felt it would help her cope with her childrens' health problems. He sent her letters addressed to "Dear Bubbala."
"bukh" (book)
"Beverly: An Autobiography" (1987)
Chairman of the March of Dimes Ms. Sills was Chair of the March of Dimes' Mothers' March on Birth Defects. She helped raise over $70 "milyon" in 10 years.
"doktor" (doctor)
One of Ms. Sills's brothers was a well-known obstetrician. Someone once
remarked to her that he did not attend
many of her performances. "Why should
he? she replied. "I don't attend his
deliveries."
"DuBrow's "restoran" (cafeteria)
When Beverly Sills was attending Erasmus Hall High School (Brooklyn), her father
would drive her to DuBrow's cafeteria,
located right next door to Erasmus. They would arrive before seven o'clock
with copies of four morning newspapers, and feast on almond horns and coffee.
They would read the papers and her father would ask her questions about some
of the day's new stories. He'd leave her at
DuBrow's until it was time to go to school.
(Source: "I Remember Brooklyn" by
Ralph Monti)
"freylekh" (cheerful)
"A happy woman is one who has no cares
at all; a cheerful woman is one who has
cares but doesn't let them get her down."
"kaas" (anger)
"Anger begins with folly, and ends with
repentance."
"kinder" (children)
Ms Sills is survived by two children--Muffy
and Peter. At age 2, Muffy was diagnosed
as suffering from acute hearing loss.
Several months later, Peter was diagnosed
as mentally retarded. Her two children
survive her, as well as children from her
husband's first marriage.
"man" (husband)
Beverly Sills was married to Peter
Greenough in 1956. He was a financial
columnist at the Boston Globs from 1961 to
1969. He passed away in 2006.
"shtime" (voice)
"My voice had a long, nonstop career. It
deserves to be put to bed with quiet and
dignity, not yanked out every once in a
while to see if it can still do what it used
to do."
In 1978 Ms. Sills announced that she would retire in 1980. She said, "I'll put my voice to bed and go quietly and with pride."
"skhires" (salary)
In 1994, Ms. Sills was elected chairwoman
of LIncoln Center, a $1-a-year, part-time
job.
"mentsh"
"A mentsh tracht un Got lacht."
In 2005, Ms. Sills told a New York Times
reporter, "Man plans and God laughs."
"muzik" education
Beverly Sills once told Phish guitarist, Trey
Anastasio that America probably couldn't
produce another Beverly Sills right now.
The problem is, music education has just
been plundered in school systems. The
pool of musically schooled adults is "so low, everyone wants to be like
Britney (Spears). "Anastasio says, "Who
can listen to opera? It's the dumbing down of America."
"nomen" (name)
Beverly Sills was born Belle Miriam
Silverman. She was known as "Bubbles." Her mother said that she emerged
from "di trakht" (the womb) with bubbles
in her "moyl." In 1926 she changed her
name to Beverly Sills.
"opfal" (garbage)
"I lived through the garbage. I might as
well dine on the caviar."
Our Gal Sunday
During the golden days of radio, there was
a soap opera named, "Our Gal Sunday." It
was the story of an orphan girl named
Sunday from the little mining town of
Silver Creek, CO, who in young womanhood
married England's richest, most handsome
lord, Lord Henry Brinthrope The story
asks the question: Can this girl from the
little mining town in the West find
happiness as the wife of a wealthy and
titled Englishman? Ms. Sills appeared in
36 episodes of the soap opera.
siblings
Ms. Sills has two brothers: Sidney and
Stanley.
"tate-mame" (parents)
Shirley and Morris Silverman were the
parents of Beverly Sills. Her "tate" worked
as an assistant manager for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. Each time
he would land a very big client, they would
move. Her "mame" was a stage mother who thought that her "tokhter" could
become a Jewish Shirley Temple.
"televisye" (television)
Ms. Sills, the relaxed, red-haired diva,
appeared frequently on "The Tonight Show,"and "The Muppet Show." She
sang
with her "fraynd," Carol Burnett.
"veynen" (cry, weep)
In 2002 Ms. Sills was asked by a Newsday
reporter how she was keeping busy. She
said, "I stay home all day and play my
records and I cry. Well, I don't stay home.
I don't listen to my records, and I don't cry."
Victrola
Beverly Sills said that her "Victrola" was
kept in the kitchen, along with the crystal
radio sets that her grandfather built.
White House
In 1971, Ms. Sills performed at the White
House at invitation of President Richard
Nixon.
Bubbles, we'll miss you.
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