Patricia Kern

Patricia Kern (14 July 1927 – 19 October 2015) was a British mezzo-soprano and voice teacher.

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 5, wearing top hat and tails. During the Depression, Patricia became the family’s chief breadwinner when father lost his job.

From 1949 to 1952 she studied with Gwynn Parry Jones at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London. She began her career with Opera for All (1952–55). In 1959 she joined Sadler’s Wells, making her début in Rusalka; for ten seasons she was a member of the company, her most notable achievement being her interpretations of La Cenerentola, Rosina (The Barber of Seville), Isolier (Le comte Ory) and Isabella (L'italiana in Algeri). Her other roles included Iolanthe, Hänsel, 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. Her American début was at Washington, DC, in 1969 and in 1987 she sang Marcellina in Chicago. In the early part of her career she was a noted oratorio singer – especially Handel.

She made her debut with Scottish Opera in 1969 in Rossini’s La Cenerentola, a production by Colin Graham – the cast also included the baritone Ian Wallace. Her performance was well received and captured the essence of the character and she delivered the final taxing aria with a flamboyant ease.