Patricia Kern was born in Swansea, Wales, the only daughter of a master shipwright, Clifford James Kern, and Doris Hilday (née Boyle). Patricia started her music career as a child star in cabarets and concerts at the age of five, wearing top hats and tails. During the Great Depression, Patricia became the family's chief breadwinner when her father lost his job.[1]
Kern’s voice was light but crystal clear with a fine capacity, especially for coloratura roles and arias. Kern once remarked:
"I really was a contralto. I started to exercise the voice a little more floridly, and the voice really started to travel up very easily. As a result, most of my time was spent in the higher, lighter mezzo range."[2]
Kern's stage personality was described as 'engaging and sympathetic'.[3]
She made several recordings, including Massenet's Manon (1990) and Monteverdi's Madrigals (1998).
Kern died at a palliative care facility in Toronto on 19 October 2015 at the age of 88.[1][2]
Referencesedit
^ abcdefNeil Crory (18 November 2015). "Gifted mezzo-soprano Patricia Kern became an exacting teacher". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
^ abcdefAlasdair Stevens (23 October 2015). "Obituary: Patricia Kern, mezzo soprano". The Scotsman. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
^Alan Blyth, Patricia Kern, Grove Music Online, Oxford University Press 2007
^"UofT Opera | Peter McGillivray, UofT Opera Alumni returning to star as Frank Maurrant in Street Scene". Retrieved 12 November 2023.
External linksedit
Interview with Patricia Kern by Bruce Duffie, 5 November 1987
List of recordings by Patricia Kern
January 01, 1970
patricia, kern, july, 1927, october, 2015, british, mezzo, soprano, voice, teacher, born, 1927, july, 1927swansea, walesdied19, october, 2015, 2015, aged, toronto, ontariooccupation, mezzo, soprano, voice, teacherspousedavid, smuklerparent, clifford, james, ke. Patricia Kern 14 July 1927 19 October 2015 was a British mezzo soprano and voice teacher Patricia KernBornPatricia Kern 1927 07 14 14 July 1927Swansea WalesDied19 October 2015 2015 10 19 aged 88 Toronto OntarioOccupation s mezzo soprano and voice teacherSpouseDavid SmuklerParent s Clifford James Kern Doris Hilday nee Boyle Contents 1 Early years 2 Singing career 3 Teaching career 4 Death 5 References 6 External linksEarly years editPatricia Kern was born in Swansea Wales the only daughter of a master shipwright Clifford James Kern and Doris Hilday nee Boyle Patricia started her music career as a child star in cabarets and concerts at the age of five wearing top hats and tails During the Great Depression Patricia became the family s chief breadwinner when her father lost his job 1 Singing career editFrom 1949 to 1952 Kern studied with Gwynn Parry Jones at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama London She began her career with Opera for All 1952 1955 In 1959 Kern joined Sadler s Wells making her debut in Rusalka and remained as a member of the company for ten seasons She was noted for interpretations of La Cenerentola Rosina The Barber of Seville Isolier Le comte Ory and Isabella L italiana in Algeri 1 Her other roles included Iolanthe Hansel Cherubino Pippo and Josephine in the premiere of Malcolm Williamson s The Violins of Saint Jacques 1966 She made her Covent Garden debut in 1967 as Zerlina 2 Her American debut was at Washington DC in 1969 and in 1987 she sang Marcellina in Chicago 2 1 In the early part of her career she was a noted oratorio singer especially Handel 2 Kern made her debut with Scottish Opera in 1969 in Rossini s La Cenerentola a production by Colin Graham whose cast included the baritone Ian Wallace 2 She made her Canadian Opera Company debut in 1973 in Rossini s The Barber of Seville This was followed by Claudio Monteverdi s L incoronazione di Poppea in 1983 and Benjamin Britten s Albert Herring in 1991 1 Kern s voice was light but crystal clear with a fine capacity especially for coloratura roles and arias Kern once remarked I really was a contralto I started to exercise the voice a little more floridly and the voice really started to travel up very easily As a result most of my time was spent in the higher lighter mezzo range 2 Kern s stage personality was described as engaging and sympathetic 3 She made several recordings including Massenet s Manon 1990 and Monteverdi s Madrigals 1998 Teaching career editIn 1980 Kern was appointed adjunct professor of voice at the University of Toronto s Faculty of Music where she taught for more than 20 years Her pupils included James Westman Russell Braun Brett Polegato Jean Stilwell and Kimberly Barber 1 as well as Phillip Addis 4 and Peter McGillivray 5 Death editKern died at a palliative care facility in Toronto on 19 October 2015 at the age of 88 1 2 References edit a b c d e f Neil Crory 18 November 2015 Gifted mezzo soprano Patricia Kern became an exacting teacher The Globe and Mail Retrieved 21 November 2015 a b c d e f Alasdair Stevens 23 October 2015 Obituary Patricia Kern mezzo soprano The Scotsman Retrieved 21 November 2015 Alan Blyth Patricia Kern Grove Music Online Oxford University Press 2007 Phillip Addis amp Michele Losier Werther amp Charlotte www scena org Retrieved 12 November 2023 UofT Opera Peter McGillivray UofT Opera Alumni returning to star as Frank Maurrant in Street Scene Retrieved 12 November 2023 External links editInterview with Patricia Kern by Bruce Duffie 5 November 1987 List of recordings by Patricia Kern Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Patricia Kern amp oldid 1217992420, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
