Patrice Munsel
American coloratura soprano Patrice Munsel was born in Spokane, Washington on 14 May 1925. She was coached in New York City by Giacomo Spadoni, chorus master at New York Metropolitan Opera from the age of fifteen, for two years.
At seventeen, she became the youngest singer ever to appear at the Metropolitan Opera. She was probably best known as Adele in Die Fledermaus, a role she sang 255 times at Metropolitan Opera, but also sang many other roles, and Rudolf Bing called her 'the world's greatest soubrette'. She also appeared on American Radio and TV, including in her own TV show.
She retired from performing in 2008 and died on 4 August 2016 at her home in Schroon Lake, New York, aged ninety-one.