Role

:

Conductor  

Country

:

France

Birth

:

April 12, 1898 in Draguignan, France

Death

:

February 13, 1976 in Dallas, TX

Genre

:

Opera

 

 

Vocal

 

Lily Pons was a French-American coloratura soprano who was born on April 12, 1898, in Draguignan, France. She was the daughter of a French father and an Italian mother. Her father was a teacher of singing and her mother was a pianist. Pons showed an early interest in music and began taking piano lessons at the age of four. She later studied singing with her father and made her public debut at the age of six. Pons continued her musical studies in Paris, where she studied with Lucien Fugère and Amédée-Landély Hettich. She made her professional debut in 1917 at the Théâtre des Arts in Paris, singing the role of Lucia in Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor. She quickly gained a reputation as a talented coloratura soprano and began performing in opera houses throughout Europe. In 1931, Pons made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, singing the role of Lucia. She was an instant success and became one of the most popular singers at the Met. She also performed in other major opera houses in the United States, including the San Francisco Opera and the Chicago Opera. Pons was known for her beautiful voice, her impeccable technique, and her stunning stage presence. She was particularly renowned for her performances of the coloratura roles in operas by Donizetti, Bellini, and Mozart. She was also a popular concert singer and performed in recitals throughout the world. In addition to her singing career, Pons was also a successful actress. She appeared in several films, including I Dream Too Much (1935) and That Girl from Paris (1936). She also appeared on television and radio programs, including The Ed Sullivan Show and The Bell Telephone Hour. Pons received many honors and awards throughout her career. In 1936, she was awarded the Legion of Honor by the French government. She also received the Order of the Star of Romania and the Order of the Crown of Italy. In 1958, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Pons retired from singing in 1958 and moved to Dallas, Texas, where she lived until her death in 1976. She was married twice, first to conductor André Kostelanetz and later to industrialist Homer Samuels. She had no children. Lily Pons was a trailblazer for women in classical music. She was one of the first female singers to achieve international fame and success, and she paved the way for future generations of female opera singers. Her legacy lives on through her recordings and her influence on the world of classical music.

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