Patrice Munsel

Biography

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 Na…

Movies & TV Shows

1. The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) — Self
2. The Wild Wild West (1965)
3. What's My Line? (1950) — Self
4. The Colgate Comedy Hour (1950) — Self
5. The Merv Griffin Show (1962) — Self
6. The Mike Douglas Show (1961) — Self
7. The Steve Allen Show (1956) — Self
8. Your Show of Shows (1950)
9. The Bell Telephone Hour (1959) — Self
10. Miss USA (1963) — Self - Judge
11. The George Gobel Show (1954) — Self
12. The Stingiest Man in Town (1956) — Belle
13. Melba (1953) — Nellie Melba
14. The Great Waltz (1955) — Resi Eberstäter
15. Naughty Marietta (1955) — Marietta d'Altena
16. America Applauds: An Evening for Richard Rodgers (1951)
17. The Big Party (1959) — Self
18. The Ezio Pinza Show (1951) — Self