Patrice Munsel
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Patrice Munsel (born May 14, 1925) is an American coloratura soprano, the youngest singer who ever starred at the Metropolitan Opera, nicknamed "Princess Pat".
She was born in Spokane, Washington. Munsel was coached by Giacomo Spadoni, and first sang at the Metropolitan at age 17, in March 1943. She made her official Metropolitan debut on December 4, 1943 at the age of 18, singing "Philine" in Mignon. Perhaps best known for Die Fledermaus, she performed 225 times at the Metropolitan. Sir Rudolph Bing called her a "superb soubrette", and implied that she was the world's best, though Lily Pons performed the role of Adele in the 1950 recording of the Met production.
Munsel played the title role of Nellie Melba in the 1953 film Melba. She also had her own TV series, The Patrice Munsel Show, in 1956–57, and she appeared in many other TV shows.
In 1958 she ended her career as an opera singer, and began to perform in musicals.
She is married to Robert C. Schuler, with whom she had four children.
[edit] External links
- Cover of Life magazine, February 21, 1944
- Cover of Time magazine, December 3, 1951
- Article in Time magazine, December 3, 1951
- Cover of Life magazine, March 3, 1952
- Metropolitan Opera's "Opera News Online"
- Patrice Munsel personal website
