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New York circa 1919. The Metropolitan Opera soprano Rosa Ponselle, pensive. 5x7 glass negative, George Grantham Bain Collection. View full size.
I listened to a recording of her singing Bizet's Carmen and it gave me goose bumps! An amazing voice and an amazing ability to add dynamics and emotion to it. That is a combination that is hard to find!
I suspect your shot was taken in the '30s (judging by her dress style).
Here she is in an autographed publicity shot. I don't know her age when this was taken, but she was about sixty years old when she signed it. The legendary Diva was discovered by Caruso when she was singing in vaudeville c.1918. Ms Ponselle died in 1981, at age 84.
Thanks for the interview, eTraxx, it was very interesting. And Root 66, I worked with Marty Feldman and there is no similarity, whatsoever!
She is even holding a photo of herself being pensive.
I can't tell if she looks more like Peter Lorre or Marty Feldman!
I'm in total agreement with Jeeper, though. She does have a winning smile.
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