Patrice Munsel
Encyclopedia
Patrice Munsel is an American coloratura
soprano
, the youngest singer who ever starred at the Metropolitan Opera
, nicknamed "Princess Pat".
Munsel studied in New York
, and was coached by Giacomo Spadoni. She 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 the role of Adele in Die Fledermaus
, she performed 225 times at the Metropolitan. Sir Rudolf Bing called her a "superb soubrette
", and implied that she was the world's best. Her opera roles included Rosina in The Barber of Seville
, and Despina in Cosi fan Tutte
.
In 1952 Munsel married Robert C. Schuler
, an advertising and public-relations executive, producer and writer. The two were married for fifty-five years and had four children together: Heidi, Rhett, Scott and Nicole. Their marriage ended upon Schuler's death in 2007. Schuler notably conceived and produced the ABC-TV primetime variety series The Patrice Munsel Show, which of course starred his wife. The program was broadcast on ABC from 1956-1957. He also wrote a 2005 memoir of his life with his wife entitled, The Diva & I.
Munsel appeared on many other TV shows during her career, including appearing in the role of Marietta (Countess d'Altena) in the January 15, 1955 live telecast
of the operetta "Naughty Marietta
". She also portrayed the title role in the 1953 film Melba
which chronicled the life of the great opera singer, Dame Nellie Melba
. Miss Munsel made frequent television appearances on the Bell Telephone Hour.
In 1958 she ended her career as an opera singer, and began to perform in musical comedies.
A personal letter from her father states that her name was originally spelled Munsil.
Coloratura
Coloratura has several meanings. The word is originally from Italian, literally meaning "coloring", and derives from the Latin word colorare . When used in English, the term specifically refers to elaborate melody, particularly in vocal music and especially in operatic singing of the 18th and...
soprano
Soprano
A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
, the youngest singer who ever starred at the Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
, nicknamed "Princess Pat".
Munsel studied in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, and was coached by Giacomo Spadoni. She 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
Mignon
Mignon is an opéra comique in three acts by Ambroise Thomas. The original French libretto was by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré, based on Goethe's novel Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre. The Italian version was translated by Giuseppe Zaffira. The opera is mentioned in James Joyce's The Dead,...
. Perhaps best known for the role of Adele in Die Fledermaus
Die Fledermaus
Die Fledermaus is an operetta composed by Johann Strauss II to a German libretto by Karl Haffner and Richard Genée.- Literary sources :...
, she performed 225 times at the Metropolitan. Sir Rudolf Bing called her a "superb soubrette
Soubrette
A soubrette is a female stock character in opera and theatre. The term arrived in English from Provençal via French, and means "conceited" or "coy".-Theater:...
", and implied that she was the world's best. Her opera roles included Rosina in The Barber of Seville
The Barber of Seville
The Barber of Seville, or The Futile Precaution is an opera buffa in two acts by Gioachino Rossini with a libretto by Cesare Sterbini. The libretto was based on Pierre Beaumarchais's comedy Le Barbier de Séville , which was originally an opéra comique, or a mixture of spoken play with music...
, and Despina in Cosi fan Tutte
Così fan tutte
Così fan tutte, ossia La scuola degli amanti K. 588, is an opera buffa by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart first performed in 1790. The libretto was written by Lorenzo Da Ponte....
.
In 1952 Munsel married Robert C. Schuler
Robert C. Schuler
Robert Charles Schuler was an American advertising and public-relations executive, television producer, and writer. He is best known for creating and producing the ABC-TV primetime variety series The Patrice Munsel Show. Schuler was married to Munsel for more than five decades.-Biography:Born in...
, an advertising and public-relations executive, producer and writer. The two were married for fifty-five years and had four children together: Heidi, Rhett, Scott and Nicole. Their marriage ended upon Schuler's death in 2007. Schuler notably conceived and produced the ABC-TV primetime variety series The Patrice Munsel Show, which of course starred his wife. The program was broadcast on ABC from 1956-1957. He also wrote a 2005 memoir of his life with his wife entitled, The Diva & I.
Munsel appeared on many other TV shows during her career, including appearing in the role of Marietta (Countess d'Altena) in the January 15, 1955 live telecast
Naughty Marietta (television)
Naughty Marietta is a television version of the operetta "Naughty Marietta". The music for the operetta was composed by Victor Herbert. The book and the lyrics were written by Rida Johnson Young....
of the operetta "Naughty Marietta
Naughty Marietta (operetta)
Naughty Marietta is an operetta in two acts, with libretto by Rida Johnson Young and music by Victor Herbert. Set in New Orleans in 1780, it tells how Captain Richard Warrington is commissioned to unmask and capture a notorious French pirate calling himself "Bras Priqué" – and how he is helped and...
". She also portrayed the title role in the 1953 film Melba
Melba (film)
Melba is a 1953 musical biographical drama film of the life of Australian-born soprano Nellie Melba, written by Harry Kurnitz and directed by Lewis Milestone for Horizon Pictures, marking the film debut of the Metropolitan Opera's Patrice Munsel....
which chronicled the life of the great opera singer, Dame Nellie Melba
Nellie Melba
Dame Nellie Melba GBE , born Helen "Nellie" Porter Mitchell, was an Australian operatic soprano. She became one of the most famous singers of the late Victorian Era and the early 20th century...
. Miss Munsel made frequent television appearances on the Bell Telephone Hour.
In 1958 she ended her career as an opera singer, and began to perform in musical comedies.
A personal letter from her father states that her name was originally spelled Munsil.