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Tears This Year: A Tribute to Two Opera Greatsby Cheryl Warfield
As 2007 draws to a close, its' time to reflect on the loss of two operatic greats: soprano Beverly Sills and tenor Luciano Pavarotti. Years may pass before opera lovers have the opportunity to hear or benefit from the artistry and accomplishments of comparable talents. Their contributions to the opera world are immeasurable. I greatly admired the Brooklyn-born Sills' work in arts administration, especially the last year or so of her tenure as general director of the New York City Opera. She was an important role model to me in that she was the first female opera impresario I was aware of. I had my own aspirations to produce opera, and Sills gave me hope. Her willingness and dedication to make contributions to her art form — and to aspiring singers after her retirement from the stage — was commendable. Her fund-raising activities for the opera company that led her to stardom are also impressive. In saying good-bye to her, I quote an excerpt about Sills from the book "Great Singers on Great Singing" by Metropolitan Opera bass Jerome Hines. "Beverly: No one will ever be able to think of you in the past tense. You're always with it, no matter what it may be. Godspeed." Indeed the contributions of her legacy remain in present tense — perfect. Just two months after the loss of Sills came word of the death of Pavarotti, who had the voice of an angel. I was stunned, and I found myself in an emotional state from this loss. . In the mid-nineties, I had the opportunity to perform onstage at Carnegie Hall with the Metropolitan Opera chorus, orchestra, and the great Luciano Pavarotti as the tenor soloist in Verdi's Requiem . When Pavarotti died, I wrote down the following phrase in Latin: Lacrimosa dies illa. (That day of tears.) September 6, 2007 is embedded in my heart. Not until that day could I conceive of the shock and loss experienced by those who heard Caruso sing live. Now I know the effect of the silencing of a celestial voice. Yet I find comfort in that I still hear his voice from beyond in all its glory; a heavenly sound — forever.
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