2007年VOA标准英语-Opera Legend Beverly Sills Considered the Peopl

By Liz Giegerich
New York
06 July 2007

American opera legend Beverly Sills, who died July 2 at 78, was viewed by much of the American public as the girl next door who happened to sing brilliant high D's in the world's most famed opera houses. Sills' stardom stretched from the highbrow world of the Metropolitan¹ Opera to the playful world of the Muppets on television. From VOA's New York Bureau correspondent Barbara Schoetzau has an appreciation² written by Liz Giegerich.

Sills began her career early in Brooklyn, New York, performing on local radio stations and in laundry soap commercials. By seven years of age she was singing at ladies luncheons³ and at community parties, on the radio and in a short film.

Beverly Sills (1969 file photo)

Sills opera career took off in 1947 with the Philadelphia Civic⁴ Opera. In 1955, she joined the New York City Opera, singing almost 90 roles and establishing an international reputation.

As her operatic success mounted, Beverly Sills accomplished⁵ the seemingly impossible: demystifying the world of opera for average Americans. She became a familiar face on popular television shows like the Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson and the international television puppet show, The Muppets.

Sill's sense of humor fit into prime time television as easily as her vibrato fit on the stage. Brian Kellow is a reporter with Opera News, a monthly, New York-based opera magazine. He explains why Beverly Sills became America's beloved diva.

"She gave the appearance of being an average, warm, funny, gregarious⁶ lady from Brooklyn," he said. "I think it helped the general public see that opera singers weren't necessarily completely a breed apart."

Beverly Sills (2006 file photo)

Sills passion for the arts never faded, even after her retirement⁷ from the stage in 1980. She became one of the most influential⁸ and successful leaders in the arts world serving as the head of New York's biggest arts complex, the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts Center, and later, the Metropolitan Opera.

"She was a champion fundraiser," said Kellow. "She was such an impassioned advocate for her own company. And of course, she had a great performing background to back it up and people wanted to help her. People wanted to give her money that she asked for"

Sills donated generous amounts of time, money and compassion⁹ to charitable causes outside of the arts as well. As the mother of two children afflicted¹⁰ with serious birth defects, she became a public voice for children's charities. Few artists have bridged opera and the Muppets with elegance¹¹ and charm.

Beverly Sills is remembered as a woman who brightened the faces of children in their living rooms, music lovers in majestic¹² opera houses and millions of ordinary Americans.

1 metropolitan   

adj.大城市的，大都会的

参考例句：

• Metropolitan buildings become taller than ever.大城市的建筑变得比以前更高。
• Metropolitan residents are used to fast rhythm.大都市的居民习惯于快节奏。

2 appreciation   

n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨

参考例句：

• I would like to express my appreciation and thanks to you all.我想对你们所有人表达我的感激和谢意。
• I'll be sending them a donation in appreciation of their help.我将送给他们一笔捐款以感谢他们的帮助。

3 luncheons   

n.午餐，午宴( luncheon的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Edith Helm was not invited to these intimate luncheons. 伊迪丝·赫尔姆没有被邀请出度反映亲密关系的午餐会。
• The weekly luncheons became a regular institution. 这每周一次午餐变成了一种经常的制度。

4 civic   

adj.城市的，都市的，市民的，公民的

参考例句：

• I feel it is my civic duty to vote.我认为投票选举是我作为公民的义务。
• The civic leaders helped to forward the project.市政府领导者协助促进工程的进展。

5 accomplished   

adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的

参考例句：

• Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。
• Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。

6 gregarious   

adj.群居的，喜好群居的

参考例句：

• These animals are highly gregarious.这些动物非常喜欢群居。
• They are gregarious birds and feed in flocks.它们是群居鸟类，会集群觅食。

7 retirement   

n.退休，退职

参考例句：

• She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
• I have to put everything away for my retirement.我必须把一切都积蓄起来以便退休后用。

8 influential   

adj.有影响的，有权势的

参考例句：

• He always tries to get in with the most influential people.他总是试图巴结最有影响的人物。
• He is a very influential man in the government.他在政府中是个很有影响的人物。

9 compassion   

n.同情，怜悯

参考例句：

• He could not help having compassion for the poor creature.他情不自禁地怜悯起那个可怜的人来。
• Her heart was filled with compassion for the motherless children.她对于没有母亲的孩子们充满了怜悯心。

10 afflicted   

使受痛苦，折磨( afflict的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• About 40% of the country's population is afflicted with the disease. 全国40%左右的人口患有这种疾病。
• A terrible restlessness that was like to hunger afflicted Martin Eden. 一阵可怕的、跟饥饿差不多的不安情绪折磨着马丁·伊登。

11 elegance   

n.优雅；优美，雅致；精致，巧妙

参考例句：

• The furnishings in the room imparted an air of elegance.这个房间的家具带给这房间一种优雅的气氛。
• John has been known for his sartorial elegance.约翰因为衣着讲究而出名。

12 majestic   

adj.雄伟的，壮丽的，庄严的，威严的，崇高的

参考例句：

• In the distance rose the majestic Alps.远处耸立着雄伟的阿尔卑斯山。
• He looks majestic in uniform.他穿上军装显得很威风。