Lily Pons (April 12, 1898 – February 13, 1976) was an American operatic soprano and actress who had an active career from the late 1920s through the early 1970s. As an opera singer she specialized in the coloratura soprano repertoire and was particularly associated with the title roles in Lakmé and Lucia di Lammermoor. In addition to appearing as a guest artist with many opera houses internationally, Pons enjoyed a long association with the Metropolitan Opera in New York City where she performed nearly 300 times between 1931 and 1960.She also had a successful and lucrative career as a concert singer which continued until her retirement from performance in 1973. From 1935-37 she made three musical films for RKO Pictures. She also made numerous appearances on radio and on television, performing on variety programs like The Ed Sullivan Show, The Colgate Comedy Hour, and The Dave Garroway Show among others. In 1955 she topped the bill for the first broadcast of what became an iconic television series, Sunday Night at the London Palladium. She made dozens of records; recording both classical and popular music. She was awarded the Croix de Lorraine and the Légion d'honneur by the Government of France.Pons was also savvy at making herself into a marketable cultural icon. Her opinions on fashion and home decorating were frequently reported in women's magazines, and she appeared as the face for Lockheed airplanes, Knox gelatin and Libby's tomato juice advertisements. A town in Maryland named itself after her, and thereafter the singer contrived to have all her Christmas cards posted from Lilypons, Maryland. Opera News wrote, "Pons promoted herself with a kind of marketing savvy that no singer ever had shown before, and very few have since; only Luciano Pavarotti was quite so successful at exploiting the mass media."
Delibes's "Bell Song", in which she could reach the high F!
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Fact
1
She was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 7006 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
2
A community in Maryland was named Lilypons in her honor. Its main street is "Lilypons Road." A contemporary rock group also named themselves after her.
3
An unknown when she came to the United States to audition for the Met, timing was on her side when the coloratura position became vacant due to illness. Pons became an overnight success and is credited with saving the Met from bankruptcy during the Depression.
4
Known for her 22-inch waist.
5
Awarded the Legion of Honor in 1938 by the French.
6
Her last public appearance was at a Promenade concert, of the New York Philharmonic, with famed ex-husband Andre Kostelanetz conducting, in May of 1972.
7
Pictured on one of a set of four 32¢ US commemorative postage stamps in the Legends of American Music series, issued 10 September 1997, celebrating opera singers. Other singers honored in this issue are Rosa Ponselle, Lawrence Tibbett, and Richard Tucker.
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
$9.99
2008
performer: "Die Zauberflote, Ach Ich Fuhl's"
Oro, plata, mata
1982
performer: "Mignon: Act II, Polonaise"
The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show
1960
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall
1958
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Carnegie Hall
1947
performer: "Vocalise", "Bell Song L'Air des clochettes", "Ah !... Par les dieux inspirés... Où va la jeune indoue" - uncredited
Hitting a New High
1937
performer: "I Hit a New High" 1937, "This Never Happened Before" 1937, "Let's Give Love Another Chance" 1937, "The Nightingale's Song Air du Rossignol" 1902, "Je suis Titania" 1866, "Mad Scene" 1835
That Girl from Paris
1936
performer: "The Call to Arms" 1936, "Seal It with a Kiss" 1936, "The Blue Danube Waltz, Opus 314" 1867 uncredited, "Una voce poco fa" 1816 uncredited
I Dream Too Much
1935
performer: "I Dream Too Much" 1935 uncredited, "The Jockey on the Carousel" 1935 uncredited, "I Got Love" 1935 uncredited, "I'm the Echo You're the Song That I Love" 1935 uncredited, "Bell Song" from the opera "Lakmé" 1881-82
Actress
Title
Year
Status
Character
Carnegie Hall
1947
Lily Pons
Hitting a New High
1937
Suzette, aka Oogahunga, the Bird-Girl
That Girl from Paris
1936
Nicole 'Nikki' Martin
I Dream Too Much
1935
Annette Monard
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show
1960
TV Series
Herself - Coloratura Soprano
The Eddie Fisher Show
1958
TV Series
Herself
Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall
1958
TV Series
Herself
Val Parnell's Sunday Night at the London Palladium