Kern, Patricia

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Kern, Patricia

Kern, Patricia, Welsh mezzo-soprano; b. Swansea, July 4, 1927. She was a student at the Guildhall School of Music in London of Parry Jones (1949–52). In 1952 she made her operatic debut in Cenerentola with London’s Opera for All group, remaining with it until 1955. In 1959 she made her first appearance with the Sadler’s Wells Opera in London as Rusalka, singing there regularly for 10 seasons. In 1967 she made her debut at London’s Covent Garden as Zerlina. She made her first appearance in the U.S. in 1969 in Washington, D.C. She also made guest appearances in Glyndebourne, Stockholm, Spoleto, N.Y., Chicago, Dallas, and other operatic centers. Among her esteemed roles were Cherubino, Marcellina, Dorabella, Rosina, Ottone, and Isabella.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire

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