...like today's birthday girl, the lovely coloratura soprano Lily Pons!
Facts about Lily:
- Born in Cannes, France, she began her long career playing the piano and singing for soldiers during WW1, before taking formal training as an opera singer.
- Between her engagement with the company in 1931 and her retirement in 1960, Mlle Pons was one of the New York Metropolitan Opera's most enduring sopranos, performing there more than 300 times.
- She was widely used in advertising, becoming the "face" for Lockheed airplanes, Knox gelatin and Libby’s tomato juice.
- For a while (until it became too much to handle) she had a pet ocelot.
- In 1955 Mlle Pons topped the bill for the first broadcast of the long-running TV series Sunday Night at the London Palladium.
- She was awarded the Croix de Lorraine and the Légion d’honneur by the Government of France.
Wow.
beautiful woman!
ReplyDeleteIndeed - even as an old broad... Jx
DeleteWOW! YES!
DeleteAn inspiration to us all. Jx
DeleteI think it's a little too cold to bare one's midriff, but as long as you're not outside doing the garden you should be OK (and look fabulous).
ReplyDeleteI prefer the fur matinee jacket for gardening in. Jx
DeleteA worthy addition to the Museum of Camp me thinks
ReplyDeleteVery worthy! Jx
DeleteLovely!
ReplyDeleteColoratura sopranos rule the stage.
XoXo
They do indeed! Jx
Delete