LILY PONS IS A NOTABLE FIRST

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 440, 22 May 1937, Page 3

LILY PONS IS A NOTABLE FIRST

Lily Pons, the. tiny .French* songstress, who will appear in her second vehicle, “That Girl from Paris,” (Plaza next Wednesday and Thursday), with Gene Raymond: and Jack Oiakie, has an impressive list of “firsts” .'to her credit. Not only does she rank first among the world’s.' leading coloratura soprano voices, but she is also the: First foreign singer to gain Initial recognition as a grand opera star in America. First singer *o be equally outstanding in the quadruple field cf grand opera, concert ringing, radio work and, 'motion pictures. First opera star to fly across the Atlantic. First opera star to have been successively a brilliant pianist and la the. atrical favourite before taking up tinging. First European soprano to win stardom in American films. The diminutive diva’g, glorious voice has made her the almost unanimous choice of critics throughout the world las the foremost coloratura of the day, although it was not until she made hei- American debut at the Me. tropolitan six ‘ years ago that she attained: Trial recognition In the musical firmament. Her trans_Atlantic flight w.as made two years ago when, rathei than postpone a charity concert in France when her South American engagaments were extended, she boarded the Graf Zeppelin in Brazil and flew to Europe in time to appear.