Lily Pons : A Centennial Portrait

By Kristin Beall Ludecke and James A. Drake

The popular opera star Lily Pons (1898-1976) was the reigning coloratura at the Metropolitan Opera from 1931 to 1959, and her career included several Hollywood films. She was as beautiful and charming as she was talented - a combination that made her a true celebrity. This collection brings together the impressions of colleagues, critics and scholars about this much-beloved diva, with more than 100 rare photographs from Lily Pons' own archives, largely owned by Ludecke and her family. HARDCOVER.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1574670476
• ISBN13: 9781574670479
• Release Date: March 2003
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA
• Length: 318 Pages
• Weight: 0.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 1.0" x 1.0"

Customer Reviews

"Hitting another High Note with Lily Pons"

I purchased this book to give to one of my vocal students. Lily Pons was a personal friend of mine for over 30 years. I started writing to her when I was in high school. When I moved to California, she invited me to her home in Palm Springs for a visit. I later saw and spent time with her as the years passed. I was her guest at her concert in Palm Springs and also at her appearance on the Merv Griffin Show in Hollywood. Unfortunately, this book is NOT a true biography as we know the word. It is a collection of stories and public relations items collected. However, the photographs in the book are outstanding! I have a huge scrapbook on Pons and these photographs were not in my collection. The photos alone are worth the price of the book! She has always been my favorite singer; I adored the artist!

excellent ribute to a great artist

Rather than a straight biography, this excellently compiled volume of writings and photos (many reproduced here for the first time) is an eloquent tribute to a truly great artist who graced the stage of the Metropolitan during the not-too-distant past when "the Met" really did hold the standard of greatness. One very amusing photo taken in Pons' dressing room shows her entertaining a group of young students, one of which is an enthralled Bernie Schwartz (later known as Tony Curtis). Highly recommended.