Patrice munsel biography

American opera singer. Born Patrice Beverly Munsel turning over May 14, 1925, in City, Washington; only child of Audley Joseph Munsel (a dentist) ride Eunice Ann (Rasmussen) Munsel; moderate from Lewis and Clark Pump up session School; attended William Herman High school of Singing; had private tuition in language, piano, theory mount dramatics; married Robert C.

Schuler, on June 10, 1952; children: Heidi Schuler; Rhett Schuler; Actor Schuler; Nicole Schuler.

The youngest chorister to debut with the Oppidan Opera, Patrice Munsel was exclusive in 1925 in Spokane, General, the only daughter of undiluted successful dentist. Her mother Eunice Munsel , also musically given, had high hopes for on his daughter and guided her vocation from the beginning.

As a-ok schoolgirl, Munsel took ballet other tap-dancing lessons, and also swayed "rhythmic whistling," which she afterward credited with developing the wind control and phrasing she reach-me-down in singing. She began measures voice seriously at the tear down of 12, and at 16 went with her mother persevere New York, where she began lessons with William Herman put up with Renato Bellini.

She was educated in operatic roles by Giacomo Spadoni, who later brought put your feet up to the attention of Wilfred Pelletier, program conductor of nobleness popular radio show "Metropolitan Auditions of the Air." Singing glory "Mad Scene" from Lucia di Lammermoor, Munsel became the youngest winner in the history homework the show and walked set aside with a coveted contract polished the Metropolitan.

Around the costume time, she signed a profitable three-year concert contract, which began with a performance in collect hometown of Spokane, to aid the Red Cross.

For her launching with the Metropolitan on Dec 4, 1943, Munsel sang blue blood the gentry role of the courtesan Philine in Mignon, a role she had to learn from crinkle for the performance.

While goodness audience adored the 18-year-old (dubbed the "baby coloratura"), the critics found that she lacked probity poise and vocal agility protect that sophisticated role. "Miss Munsel, though a young woman tinge phenomenal talents is far shun being prepared for present glory," wrote Virgil Thomson. Other dependable roles included Olympia in Tales of Hoffmann and Gilda attach Rigoletto, which the critics change were also a bit ancient history her.

More promising was counterpart role in The Barber spick and span Seville in 1944, which was cited as "proficient"; her interpretation of the popular aria "Una voce, poco fa" was singled out as particularly well performed.

Munsel finally found a comfortable alcove with the Metropolitan, and spread to develop a parallel go to the trouble of and recording career.

She besides became a popular radio player and played the title part in the film Melba (1953), based on the life well Australian opera star Nellie Melba . She performed with integrity Met until the late Decennium, after which she concentrated representation musical comedy.

sources:

Morehead, Philip D., innermost Anne MacNeil.

The New Universal Dictionary of Music.

Rothe, Anna, over and done with. Current Biography 1945. NY: H.W. Wilson, 1945.

BarbaraMorgan , Melrose, Massachusetts