This is so amazing considering that she was almost 75. Al lot of singers loose their voices much earlier. She was exceptional! Thanks for sharing. RIP LILY!
WOw, this is amazing! She'd lost none of her fantastic range at 76, and even if the timbre had changed, her voice was no less beautiful for it. What a document! Thank you, Doug!
Rather charming and a wonderful effort from someone in their 70s. I confess that Pons was never a favourite here. - the voice too white and coloratura breathy with too many intrusive Hs. She was lovely to look at of course which is important. My top favourite Estrellita is by the soprano for whom it was written. Namely Nina Koshetz. The 78 of this should be played at 76 rpm which gets it correctly in key and sounding even more wonderful. Thank you for letting me hear this all the same.
I grew up listening to Lily Pons on my mother's 78 rpm recordings. She was and is a phenomenon in the history of opera. Didn't Lily's popularity actually help to save the Met during tough times?
I can't get over the musicality of her voice at 76. Bravo, Lily.
@coloraturasopran0154 Actually, I thought Lily Pons was one of the artists early in the Depression years of the Gatti regime who did NOT take a cut in salary--not sure if she refused, like Gigli, or Gatti-Casazza wanted to keep her, or both. I think it was Lucrezia Bori who worked to save the Met and Flagstad who filled the House. But I'm sure the fame and popularity of Pons--as well as the talent--also helped.
Doug thank you for this. Little Lily could still support her voice. Tthe last note is held beautifully and steady as a rock. This should be required listening for singing students.
It is definitely Lily Pos. She was always a wonderful singer. Her training was obviously good. She does things here that would cripple a much younger singer. Brava Lily.
Is this from the Merv Griffin show? It is truly beautiful singing no matter how old she is. Her vibrato is certainly a little wider than when she was young, but this is hardly a "wobble."
@melbapatti I agree. One thing Lily Pons NEVER had was a wobble. Intonation problems later in her career, as well as aspirated runs and occasional tremulousness, yes, but always a pleasing vibrato, tonal beauty, accurate high notes, and cartloads of charm.
She gets better towards the end. I have a bootleg tape of her 1972 concert. For the first half the voice wobbles badly but towards the end she gets it together and soars.
Amazing recording! Recorded two years before her death....what a tug on the heartstrings! The Bb is still there! God bless her. What a singer she was! How clever of you to find this!
Not bad for the age of 76! The lovely tone is still there, and Pons' voice sounds much the same as it did 30 years earlier, when she made her commercial recording of Estrellita. Thanks, Doug.
Thanks to the recent ingenious improvements so carefully introduced by the YouTube administration and technical staff, my browser is now unsupported by the YT system.
I did manage, however, to hear enough of this recording of Madame Pons to hear how splendidly she had preserved her voice over the many decades of her long career and was still able to please the audience members in her final public appearance.
A most interesting and enjoyable video. Thanks for posting it.
This is so amazing considering that she was almost 75. Al lot of singers loose their voices much earlier. She was exceptional! Thanks for sharing. RIP LILY!
billyfuryfan64 3 months ago
This is astonishing!
fpngan 5 months ago
WOw, this is amazing! She'd lost none of her fantastic range at 76, and even if the timbre had changed, her voice was no less beautiful for it. What a document! Thank you, Doug!
unpodimusica1 11 months ago
unbelievable!
jovi1715 1 year ago
Wow! I've waited soo long to hear this again. Love it. Love Lily.
StuartLou 1 year ago
Doug, thank you again. Maya
mayatatyana1 1 year ago
I remember watching this episode of the "Merv Griffin Show".
We owe him a debt of gratitude for featuring many great artists on his program.
A remarkabke performance!
skatesindreams 1 year ago
@skatesindreams
Thank YOU... very much!
CurzonRoad 1 year ago
Doug, I have loved this song since childhood. Thank you very much. Maya
mayatatyana1 1 year ago
Astounding voice at 76! Thank you very much for this wonderful recording. Maya
mayatatyana1 1 year ago
Rather charming and a wonderful effort from someone in their 70s. I confess that Pons was never a favourite here. - the voice too white and coloratura breathy with too many intrusive Hs. She was lovely to look at of course which is important. My top favourite Estrellita is by the soprano for whom it was written. Namely Nina Koshetz. The 78 of this should be played at 76 rpm which gets it correctly in key and sounding even more wonderful. Thank you for letting me hear this all the same.
Vivian
stuartliff 1 year ago 2
I grew up listening to Lily Pons on my mother's 78 rpm recordings. She was and is a phenomenon in the history of opera. Didn't Lily's popularity actually help to save the Met during tough times?
I can't get over the musicality of her voice at 76. Bravo, Lily.
coloraturasopran0154 1 year ago 3
@coloraturasopran0154 Actually, I thought Lily Pons was one of the artists early in the Depression years of the Gatti regime who did NOT take a cut in salary--not sure if she refused, like Gigli, or Gatti-Casazza wanted to keep her, or both. I think it was Lucrezia Bori who worked to save the Met and Flagstad who filled the House. But I'm sure the fame and popularity of Pons--as well as the talent--also helped.
meltzerboy 1 year ago 3
Beautifully supported tone, just lovely. Imagine, age 76. And what charm! Thanks, Doug.
opertutto 1 year ago 3
Just amazing! 76? The voice was so well preserved and it sounds like the voice from the singer in her 30s! Very very beautiful voice.
Daug, thank you very much for sharing this amazing recording / singer...
Straight into my playlist again!vf
Best regards
Satoko
fairlytaleofnewyork 1 year ago 2
Gershwin was writing a song for her. How sweet. I enjoyed this nice music.
-----------Ellen
Shabannie 1 year ago 3
Doug,
This was incredible! Thank you!!
SpringtimeSkies129 1 year ago
Very nice! Just be careful of Bourne Music Group. They're on the hunt for anything they hold a copyright to that's posted on YT.
althazarr 1 year ago 2
DOUG ~
You've done it again ~ absolutely entrancing!
~ ANDY
andyrawn 1 year ago 4
She sings astonishingly well for a soprano of seven decades. In point of fact,
were we not to know her age at the time of this recording, we'd probably never
guess she was nearly 75. Thanks for this post.
gmmix 1 year ago 6
What charm and warmth.
.
Doug thank you for this. Little Lily could still support her voice. Tthe last note is held beautifully and steady as a rock. This should be required listening for singing students.
Regards-John
65attila 1 year ago 3
Inspirational. Thank you.
sospello 1 year ago 2
It is definitely Lily Pos. She was always a wonderful singer. Her training was obviously good. She does things here that would cripple a much younger singer. Brava Lily.
Bivolari 1 year ago 2
Is this from the Merv Griffin show? It is truly beautiful singing no matter how old she is. Her vibrato is certainly a little wider than when she was young, but this is hardly a "wobble."
melbapatti 1 year ago 2
@melbapatti I agree. One thing Lily Pons NEVER had was a wobble. Intonation problems later in her career, as well as aspirated runs and occasional tremulousness, yes, but always a pleasing vibrato, tonal beauty, accurate high notes, and cartloads of charm.
meltzerboy 1 year ago 2
She gets better towards the end. I have a bootleg tape of her 1972 concert. For the first half the voice wobbles badly but towards the end she gets it together and soars.
merrihew 1 year ago 3
Amazing recording! Recorded two years before her death....what a tug on the heartstrings! The Bb is still there! God bless her. What a singer she was! How clever of you to find this!
EdmundStAustell 1 year ago 3
Not bad for the age of 76! The lovely tone is still there, and Pons' voice sounds much the same as it did 30 years earlier, when she made her commercial recording of Estrellita. Thanks, Doug.
meltzerboy 1 year ago 2
Doug,
One of your most BEAUTIFUL posts.
She was Incredible.
Merci.
genia106 1 year ago 3
Amazing for the age.
Glenmed 1 year ago 2
Thanks to the recent ingenious improvements so carefully introduced by the YouTube administration and technical staff, my browser is now unsupported by the YT system.
I did manage, however, to hear enough of this recording of Madame Pons to hear how splendidly she had preserved her voice over the many decades of her long career and was still able to please the audience members in her final public appearance.
A most interesting and enjoyable video. Thanks for posting it.
rupepill 1 year ago 3
Oh, My, God! I never knew this exists! Thanks so much for posting this.
transformingArt 1 year ago 3