Bubbles: a Self-Portrait

by Beverly Sills

First Printing Hardcover 1976. Dust jacket has some smudged from bookshelf storage. Book and pages are in new condition. Previous owner's name is handwritten on the top of the front page. Fabulous shape

Genres: Biography, Music, Memoir, Autobiography, Nonfiction, Biography Memoir

Paperback

First published January 1, 1976

About the author

Beverly Sills was a Jewish American operatic soprano who enjoyed a successful career during the 1950s through the 1970s. Although she sang a wide repertoire that encompassed everything from Handel and Mozart to Puccini, Massenet, Wagner, and Verdi, she was particularly famous for her performances in coloratura soprano roles in operas around the world and on recordings. Sills was largely associated with the operas of Gaetano Donizetti, of which she performed and recorded many roles. Her signature roles include the title role in Lucia di Lammermoor, the title role in Manon, Marie in La Fille du Régiment, the three heroines in Les contes d'Hoffmann, Rosina in The Barber of Seville, and Violetta in La Traviata.

After retiring from singing in 1980, she became the general manager of the New York City Opera. In 1994, she became the Chairman of Lincoln Center and then, in 2002, of the Metropolitan Opera, stepping down in 2005. Sills lent her celebrity to further her charity work for the prevention and treatment of birth defects.

Reviews

[Mary Mendenhall · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED this book. I'm not sure it would be so intriguing to a non-singer, but I ate it up. It's amazing how much the world of opera has changed, since Beverly Sills had her start. It's become such a trendy, popular form of entertainment now. Her mother made all of her costumes and she went around and sang at every venue she could find. She had the incredible fortune of pairing up with an outstanding teacher (Estelle Leibling), with whom she coached with- at least for the first half of her career. She met and worked with so many famous singers. The thing that I found so amazing about her was the amount of repertoire she could readily sing. She began memorizing arias at the ripe age of 3. She learned Italian and French by ear and then gradually took lessons and learned to speak fluently. In the peak of her career, Sills knew ~100 operas by heart and could be called to sing the soprano rolls at the drop of a hat. I have always enjoyed listening to Bevely Sills and trying to model after her...but it is just amazing the circumstances that made her the great opera singer that she was. It just shows that it takes a lot more than raw talent. She had such a pashion for opera and appeared to be a very organized lady. I actually met this lady when she spoke at a WFU convocation years ago. The concert choir performed right behind her. She was older and had stopped singing by that point...but it's amazing that I was so close to such a legend. Obviously...I am pretty impressed by it all. Anyway....I would definitely read this one again. My grandmother loved this book....and she was not a musician.

[Bryan King · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful woman, an amazing musician, and a very unique life. You will love her!

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I was in high school, I was fortunate enough to attend several operas at the Lyric Opera, in Chicago, including The Barber of Seville, featuring Beverly Sills. At the time, I didn't realize how fortunate I was to have heard Ms. Sills. Her generosity of spirit was evident even on that huge stage, and I have never forgotten the performance.

Ms. Sills love of opera and her desire to share that love and educate others is what this autobiography is all about. As the child of immigrants from Odessa, "Bubbles" (a childhood nickname that stuck) was on the fast track to a career in singing. At the start, she wore home-sewn dresses and sang at every opportunity. She spoke multiple languages and taught herself more, and also learned many operas by heart. She was talented but she was also an incredibly hard worker.

She was a tireless fundraising for children with disabilities; two of her own children were born with disabilities. She lived a long, full life, supporting opera throughout all of her years.

I am not a big fan of biographies but I enjoyed this effervescent telling of a life that was not without hardship. Having that brief experience seeing Ms. Sills live was my motivating factor, but her story is inspiring for anyone who has a dream.

[Christy · Rating 3 out of 5]

An autobiography of Beverly Sills, the famous coloratura soprano of the 70's and 80's. I love books like this because I always want to know how famous performers have made it to the top. Just in the last few months I’ve read about Dolly Parton, Lindsey Stirling, and Loretta Lynn, and the story is always the same. Start with a lot of talent, and then work really really hard. Their stories aren’t very relevant to my own life, but I’m fascinated, just the same.

[Donna Krebs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though I know next to nothing about opera, I've always liked Beverly Sills. She seemed like a very outgoing and amusing person. She also did a lot to draw none opera fans to it. The book told how difficult becoming an opera singer is. This short book is also full of interesting stories and pictures from her long career. It made me want to see many of the operas mentioned in the book!

[Karina Henson · Rating 4 out of 5]

read this knowing hardly anything about opera and now i need to go see an opera desperately. a truly delightful celebrity memoir, with lots of pictures of the wonderful costuming and stage presence that she describes. it’s also really interesting to read an autobiography that was written before her career ended, and then to read her wikipedia page to fill everything else in.

[Mary Hemenway · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting autobiography, especially if you recognize the operas she mentions. Lots of great photographs.

[Kaleigh C · Rating 2 out of 5]

Is it possible to overdose on proper nouns?

[Aaron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Certainly a descriptive read. I learned much about Beverly Sills. As an autobiography though, I can imagine that there are pieces and bits left out...