People

By Howard G. Chua-Eoan

It may not seem that way, but Diva Beverly Sills is the retiring type. At twelve, she was the girl on the Rinso White radio commercials. Then she retired. By 32, she had come back and was a leading singer at the New York City Opera. Then she retired. By 49, she had not only returned but was also the company's prima donna. Again she retired. Last week the brilliant coloratura soprano announced that next January she will once more retire, this time from her incarnation as director of City Opera. "So far," says Sills, "I have been lucky to know the right time to leave. Ten years is a long time." She plans to vacation with her husband Peter Greenough and "see if he can remember what my first name is."