Past Auction

Doyle New York Auctioned the Estate of Famed Soprano Beverly Sills

Wed, Oct 07, 2009 at 10am EDT |
New York
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With a Standing-Room-Only Crowd, the Sale Totaled a Strong $519,075 --Well Over the Pre-Sale Estimate of $252,860-378,365.

  • With a Standing-Room-Only Crowd, the Sale Totaled a Strong $519,075 --Well Over the Pre-Sale Estimate of $252,860-378,365.
  • Over 460 Lots of Furniture, Decorations, Paintings, Jewelry, Accessories, Costume Designs and Memorabilia

Image removed.On Wednesday, October 7, 2009, Doyle New York held the auction of the Estate of Beverly Sills to a standing-room-only crowd of her fans from around the world. One of the world's greatest coloratura sopranos, Beverly Sills was also a tireless champion for the arts, an advocate for people with disabilities, a much beloved New Yorker, and a devoted wife and mother. With her tremendous talent and generosity, vitality and charm, she won the hearts of the American public and opera lovers worldwide. Beverly Sills' remarkably diverse collection comprised over 460 lots of fine art, furniture, decorations, jewelry, Judith Leiber handbags, photographs, costume designs and opera memorabilia from her home overlooking New York's Central Park.

With an international audience in the salesroom competing against bidders on the telephones and via the Internet, as well as absentee bidders, the auction totaled $519,075 -- well over the pre-sale estimate of $252,860-378,365.

On Thursday, October 1, Doyle New York and New York City Opera co-hosted an opening night reception within th exhbition of the Estate of Beverly Sills. View Party Pics! . View Party Pics!

BEVERLY SILLS (1929-2007)

Born in Brooklyn, Beverly Sills began singing on CBS Radio at the age of 7. During the 1950s and 60s, she sang with the Philadelphia Civic Opera, the San Francisco Opera, and the Opera Company of Boston before being catapulted into international stardom singing Cleopatra in New York City Opera’s landmark 1966 production of Handel’s Julius Caesar. Acknowledged as "America’s Queen of Opera," she appeared on the cover of Newsweek in 1969 and Time in 1971, and traveled to the world’s leading opera houses as an ambassador for American talent. In 1975, she made a triumphal Metropolitan Opera debut as Pamina in Rossini’s The Siege of Corinth, receiving an 18-minute ovation. Retiring from singing, she became Director of the New York City Opera (1979-1989), then Chairman of Lincoln Center (1994-2002), and finally Chairman of the Metropolitan Opera (2002-2005). She made numerous television appearances, sharing her love of opera with millions of people. She was also Chairman of the Multiple Sclerosis Society and National Chairman of the March of Dimes Foundation, where she helped to raise over $80 million for combating childhood disabilities.

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  • The Estate of Beverly Sills

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