Patrice Munsel

Patrice Munsel

Munsel in 1962
Born Patrice Beverly Munsil
(1925-05-14) May 14, 1925
Spokane, Washington, U.S.
Nationality United States
Occupation singer
Known for Opera; coloratura soprano
Spouse(s) Robert Schuler (1917–2007)
(m. 1952–2007, his death)
Children 2 sons, 2 daughters
Parent(s) Dr. Audley J. Munsil
Eunice A. Munsil

Patrice Beverly Munsel (born May 14, 1925) is an American coloratura soprano, the youngest singer who ever starred at the Metropolitan Opera, nicknamed "Princess Pat".[1][2]

Munsel on the cover of Life magazine (February 21, 1944)

Early years

An only child, Patrice Munsel was born and raised in Spokane, Washington. Her father, Audley J. Munsil, was a local dentist.[3][4][5] She attended Lewis and Clark High School before leaving at age fifteen, accompanied by her mother, to study in New York City,[6][7][8][9] coached by Giacomo Spadoni (1884–1960).[10] Her surname at birth was spelled "Munsil."[7]

Career

Munsel first sang at the Metropolitan at age 17, in March 1943.[11] She made her official Metropolitan debut on December 4, 1943, at the age of 18, singing Philine in Mignon.[12] Her first opera contract was for three years at $40,000 per year; with other appearances she was making around $100,000 annually.[10]

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[13] and Despina in Cosi fan Tutte.[9]

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 also 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 camp fire (join the Camp Fire Girls)", aired in the mid-1960s.

Munsel ended her career as an opera singer in 1981, and began to perform in musical comedies.

Personal

In 1952, Munsel married Robert C. Schuler, an advertising and public-relations executive, producer, and writer.[14][15] They were married for 55 years, until his death at age 90 in 2007,[16] and had four children: Heidi (b. 1953), Rhett (1955–2005),[16] Scott (b. 1958), and Nicole (b. 1959).[8][17] The younger two children were born prematurely.[18][19][20] Munsel and Schuler co-wrote a 2005 memoir of Schuler's life entitled The Diva & I.

Video

References

  1. ↑ Harrison, Gwen (November 1, 1944). "Pat Munsel was opera star at 17". Miami Daily News. p. 1-B.
  2. ↑ Watrous, Mabel (June 6, 1946). "Home city good to Princess Pat". Spokesman-Review. p. 6.
  3. ↑ "Patrice Munsel gets welcome". Spokane Daily Chronicle. December 7, 1949. p. 5.
  4. ↑ "Patrice thrilled at prospect of two weeks in home town". Spokane Daily Chronicle. May 27, 1947. p. 8.
  5. ↑ "Patrice and family launch new 'package' production". Spokane Daily Chronicle. July 24, 1953. p. 3.
  6. ↑ Long, Frances (November 13, 1943). "Patrice Munsel has busy times". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Associated Press. p. 13.
  7. 1 2 "Patrice Munsel, Metropolitan star, tells betrothal to Eugene officer". Eugene Register-Guard. October 28, 1945. p. 15.
  8. 1 2 Parsons, OJ (May 25, 1968). "More musicals ahead for Patrice Munsel". Spokesman-Review. p. 8.
  9. 1 2 The Dictionary of Opera, Charles Osborne, Macdonald & Co., London, England ISBN 0-356-09700-5
  10. 1 2 Monfried, Walter (March 11, 1945). "At 20 she earns $100,000 a year". Milwaukee Journal. p. 14, Screen and Radio.
  11. ↑ "Patrice Munsel wins high praise". Spokane Daily Chronicle. April 6, 1943. p. 7.
  12. ↑ "Metropolitan Opera debut of Patrice Munsel tonight". Spokane Daily Chronicle. December 4, 1943. p. 1.
  13. ↑ Shaw, Eleanor (September 24, 1944). "Patrice real American girl". Spokesman-Review. p. 3, part 3.
  14. ↑ "Miss Munsel to be bride". Spokane Daily Chronicle. February 4, 1952. p. 10.
  15. ↑ Shaw, Eleanor (April 20, 1952). "Patrice Munsel reals plans for June wedding". Spokesman-Review. p. 4.
  16. 1 2 Munsel, Patrice (January 1, 2008). "Deaths: Schuler, Robert Charles". The New York Times. Retrieved September 22, 2014.
  17. ↑ Connor, Harriet J. (June 7, 1967). "Chroniscope: Patrice Munsel stars as mother". Spokane Daily Chronicle. p. 17.
  18. ↑ "Happy pair". Spokesman-Review. Associated Press photo. October 27, 1958. p. 14.
  19. ↑ Munsel, Patrice (January 25, 1959). "The miracle that saved my premature baby". Milwaukee Sentinel. (The American Weekly). p. 19.
  20. ↑ "Patrice Munsel has tiny child". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Associated Press. July 29, 1959. p. 1.

External links

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