Image of Patrice Munsel

Patrice Munsel

Patrice Munsel (born Patrice Beverly Munsil) was an American coloratura soprano. Nicknamed "Princess Pat", she was the youngest singer ever to star at the Metropolitan Opera. Munsel first sang at the Metropolitan at age 17 in March 1943. She made her official Metropolitan debut on December 4, 1943, aged 18, singing Philine in Mignon, for which won popular praise but poor critical reviews. Her first opera contract was for three years at $40,000 per year; with other appearances she was making around $100,000 annually. Perhaps best known for the roles of Adele in Die Fledermaus and Despina in Cosi Fan Tutte, Munsel sang 225 times at the Metropolitan Opera. Sir Rudolf Bing called her a "superb soubrette" and implied that she was the world's best. Her opera roles also included Rosina in The Barber of Seville and Gilda in Rigoletto. Her husband Robert C. Schuler (1917–2007) conceived and produced the ABC-TV primetime variety series The Patrice Munsel Show, which starred his wife, and was broadcast in the 1957–1958 season. Munsel appeared on many other TV shows during her career, including the role of Marietta (Countess d'Altena) in the January 15, 1955 live telecast of the operetta Naughty Marietta. She portrayed the title role in the 1953 film Melba, which chronicled the life of the great opera singer, Dame Nellie Melba. Munsel made frequent television appearances on The Bell Telephone Hour, and was the central singer in the Camp Fire Girls' famous TV commercial and song "Sing Around the Campfire (Join the Camp Fire Girls)", aired in the mid-1960s. A former Camp Fire Girl herself, she was also a spokeswoman for the organization. Munsel made her final performance for the Metropolitan Opera on January 28, 1958, in the title role in La Périchole. She appeared on stage as a guest during the 1966 Gala Farewell to the old opera house at Broadway and 39th Street. Munsel ended her career as an opera singer in 1981, and began to perform in musical comedies. She retired from performing in 2008.


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Born:
May 4, 1925 In Spokane, Washington, USA
Movie/TV Credits:
8
First Appeared:
In the series What's My Line? 1950-02-02
Latest Project:
Series The Wild Wild West 1965-09-17
Known For
Poster of The Merv Griffin Show
Poster of The Stingiest Man in Town
Poster of Melba
Poster of What's My Line?
Filmography
Series The Wild Wild West Unknown 1965-09-17
Series The Merv Griffin Show Self 1962-10-01
Series The Steve Allen Show Unknown 1956-06-24
Movie The Stingiest Man in Town Belle 1956-12-23
Movie Melba Nellie Melba 1953-08-07
Series What's My Line? Self - Mystery Guest 1950-02-02
Series The Colgate Comedy Hour Unknown 1950-09-10
Series Your Show of Shows Unknown 1950-02-25