Patrice Munsel, Opera Star Who Crossed Over Into Musical Theatre, Dies at 91

Spokane, Washington's The Spokesman-Review reports that one of its city's legendary natives, opera star Patrice Munsel, died last Thursday in her New York Adirondacks home after a brief illness. She was 91.

The coloratura soprano achieved remarkable notoriety when in 1943, at age 18, she became the youngest singer ever to debut at New York's Metropolitan Opera House. The opportunity came when she was heard on the nationally-broadcast radio program, "Metropolitan Opera Auditions of the Air."

She was best known for playing the soubrette role of Adele in DIE FLEDERMAUS, a character she essayed 225 times at The Met. Other frequent roles included Rosina in THE BARBER OF SEVILLE and Despina in COSI FAN TUTTE.

While she never starred on Broadway, Munsel appeared in many regional productions of musicals, including THE KING AND I, THE SOUND OF MUSIC, APPLAUSE, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, MY FAIR LADY and one of her favorites, MAME.

In the 2001 performance below she sings "As If We Never Said Goodbye" from SUNSET BOULEVARD.

Click here for the full obituary.