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Alice Joséphine Pons, known professionally as Lily Pons, was born on April 12, 1898, in Draguignan, France. She studied piano at the Conservatoire de Paris and later discovered her soprano coloratura voice under Alberto di Gorostiaga. Pons made her operatic debut in November 1927 as Lakmé in Lakmé by Léo Delibes. Her breakthrough came with her American debut on January 3, 1931, at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, performing Lucia di Lammermoor. Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, Pons performed extensively in operas such as "Gilda" from Rigoletto and "Rosina" from The Barber of Seville. She also appeared in films like La Femme en cage (1937) and recorded numerous titles for the Victor Talking Machine Company. During World War II, Pons entertained Allied troops. Her final performance was in 1962 at Fort Worth, Texas. Lily Pons passed away on February 13, 1976, in Dallas, Texas.
