Here is the biography of Lily Pons:
Born in 1898 near Cannes, France, Lily Pons was an operatic soprano of Italian and French ancestry. She began studying piano at a young age and entered the Paris Conservatoire at 13. When World War I broke out in 1914, she moved to Cannes and began playing piano and singing for French troops.
In 1925, Pons's singing skills surpassed her piano talents, and she began studying with opera singer and entrepreneur Alberto de Gorostiaga and French soprano Alice Zeppilli. She made her professional debut in the title role of "Lakme" in 1928 and went on to sing at Paris opera houses, building up her repertoire with roles such as Gilda in "Rigoletto," Violetta in "La Traviata," and Rosina in "The Barber of Seville."
Pons debuted at the Met in 1931 and was an instant success, known for her beauty, charm, range, and glamour. She specialized in French and Italian coloratura parts and became a durable figure at the Met, remaining with the company for nearly three decades.
Pons also had a successful career in Hollywood, starring in three vehicle films: "I Dream Too Much" (1935),"That Girl from Paris" (1936),and "Hitting a New High" (1937). She retired from the screen in the late 1930s and focused on her concert career, becoming one of the highest-paid performers in history.
In 1938, Pons married Russian-American conductor Andre Kostelanetz, and they collaborated on concert performances for over three decades. Although they divorced in 1958, they continued to appear together professionally.
Pons remained an enduring favorite on radio and television, entertaining troops during World War II and making numerous appearances on variety shows in the 1950s. She took her final opera curtain call as Lucia di Lammermoor in 1962 and continued to perform in concert until 1972. She died of pancreatic cancer on February 13, 1976, at the age of 77.
