Patrice Munsel

[1][2] An only child, Patrice Beverly Munsil (she later changed the spelling of her surname)[3] was born and raised until age 15 in Spokane, Washington.

[4][5][6] She attended Lewis and Clark High School before leaving at age fifteen, accompanied by her mother, to study in New York City,[3][7][8][9] coached by Giacomo Spadoni (1884–1960).

[11] She made her official Metropolitan debut on December 4, 1943, aged 18, singing Philine in Mignon, for which she won popular praise but poor critical reviews.

[10] Perhaps best known for the roles of Adele in Die Fledermaus and Despina in Così fan tutte, Munsel sang 225 times at the Metropolitan Opera.

[9][13] Her husband Robert C. Schuler 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.

[19] She appeared on stage as a guest during the 1966 Gala Farewell to the old opera house at Broadway and 39th Street, despite never performing at the new met location on Lincoln center.

Munsel on the cover of Life magazine, Philippe Halsman’s photo (February 21, 1944)