Opera Scotland

Patricia Kern

Born Swansea, 4 July 1927.

Welsh mezzo-soprano.

She studied in London at the Guildhall under Parry Jones. Her professional debut, touring with Opera for All, came in 1952. She also worked with both Welsh National and Dublin Grand. Her debut at Sadler's Wells followed in 1959 as the witch Ježibaba in Rusalka. Early roles at Sadler's Wells included Hansel, Iolanthe, Pitti-Sing, Jill-all-alone, Orestes, Cherubino, Dorabella, and the Messenger in Monteverdi's Orfeo. She had a particular reputation for Rossini roles, including Cinderella, Rosina, Isolier, Pippo and Isabella. She created the part of Josephine in The Violins of Saint-Jacques (Williamson 1966)

Her appearances with the Royal Opera included Zerlina, Suzuki and Cherubino. She also sang at Spoleto, Dallas, Washington DC, New York City Opera, and in Canada. She did not reach Scottish Opera until she sang Cinderella in 1969, but she returned regularly thereafter, as Hermia, Ottavia, Rosina, Lucretia, Mrs Grose and Geneviève. She created Aurelia in The Catiline Conspiracy (Hamilton 1974) and Kirstie in Hermiston (Orr 1975).