R.I.P. Beverly Sills

Brian B makes, I think, an excellent observation:

I remember watching and enjoying her on the Muppet Show as a kid. She made opera enjoyable, and entertaining, without cheapening it. In many ways she reminded me of Julia Child -- a sharp mind, a humble graciousness, and blazingly gifted. She will be missed.

Indeed. I've probably mentioned before that although I am a great fan of classickal musick in general, I've no real love for a fairly intense impatience of any opera beyond the great Mozart/DaPonte collaborations and a few choice others. Nonetheless, I always admired Sills. As Brian notes, she put an approachable face on opera in much the same way that Child did with French cuisine, bringing out its qualities with style and without resorting to cheap tricks, gimmicks and dumbing-down.