Munsel, Patrice (Beverly)

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Munsel, Patrice (Beverly)

Munsel, Patrice (Beverly), American soprano; b. Spokane, Wash., May 14, 1925. She studied in N.Y. with William Herman and Renato Bellini. She won an audition at the Metropolitan Opera and made a successful debut there on Dec. 4, 1943, in the role of Philine in Thomas’s Mignon, being the youngest singer to appear there to that time; she remained on the staff until 1958, excepting the 1945–46 season. She subsequently made several European tours. Her best roles were Gilda, Lucia, Rosina, Violetta, and Lakme. She portrayed Melba in a film of Melba’s life (1953); also made successful appearances in operetta and in Broadway musicals.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis Mclntire