As singing star, as administrator, as fundraiser, as public spokesperson, the late Beverly Sills had an extraordinary impact on New York City Opera, the Metropolitan Opera and Lincoln Center. All three organizations are joining forces to present "A Tribute to Beverly Sills," a free event at 5 p.m. on Sunday, September 16 at the Metropolitan Opera House.

Sopranos Natalie Dessay and Anna Netrebko and baritone Nathan Gunn (winner of the inaugural Beverly Sills Award) will sing at the event, with Met music director James Levine at the piano.

Among the speakers honoring Sills will be the comedienne Carol Burnett (a longtime friend and occasional television co-star of Sills), Met general manager Peter Gelb, conductor and former City Opera general director Julius Rudel, tenor and administrator Plбcido Domingo (once a colleague of Sills at both companies), former Lincoln Center president Nathan Leventhal, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Henry Kissinger and Barbara Walters.

Free tickets to "A Tribute to Beverly Sills" will be at the Metropolitan Opera box office on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 12 noon on the day of the event (limit two tickets per person). The program will be broadcast live on the Metropolitan Opera channel on Sirius Satellite Radio and streamed live via RealNetworks at www.metopera.org.

By Matthew Westphal