'Tribute to Beverly Sills' Held at the Met, Sept. 16

Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, the Metropolitan Opera, and New York City Opera will present "A Tribute to Beverly Sills," a free public event dedicated to the memory of the great soprano, on September 16, 2007 at 5:00 p.m. at the Metropolitan Opera. Ms. Sills, one of the most popular figures in the history of opera and a champion of the performing arts, died on July 2, 2007 at the age of 78.

Artists scheduled to perform at the event include sopranos Natalie Dessay and Anna Netrebko, along with baritone Nathan Gunn, winner of the first annual Beverly Sills Award. Met Music Director James Levine will play the piano.

Speakers at the event will include Susan Baker, Chairman of the Board of New York City Opera; Frank A. Bennack, Jr., Chairman of Lincoln Center; Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg; Carol Burnett; Plácido Domingo; Peter Gelb, General Manager of the Metropolitan Opera; Henry Kissinger; Nathan Leventhal, former President of Lincoln Center; Julius Rudel, conductor and former General Director of New York City Opera; Stanley Sills, brother of Ms. Sills; and Barbara Walters.

Tickets to "A Tribute to Beverly Sills" will be free of charge and available at the Metropolitan Opera box office on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 12 noon on September 16 (limit two tickets per person). The program will be broadcast live on Metropolitan Opera Radio on Sirius, the 24-hour satellite radio channel, and streamed live via RealNetworks at www.metopera.org.

A renowned coloratura soprano and a popular media personality in America, Beverly Sills lent her fame, energy, and business acumen to promote the cause of opera and the performing arts following her celebrated singing career. Among other prominent roles, she served as General Director of the New York City Opera; Chairman of Lincoln Center; and Managing Director, Chairman, and Chairman Emerita of the Board of the Directors of the Metropolitan Opera.

Visit www.lincolncenter.org for more on Lincoln Center, www.nycopera.org for more on New York City Opera and www.metoperafamily.org/metopera for more on The Met.