Last night I fired up the old VCR and watched a video of Patrice Munsel's early TV appearances, mainly from "The Voice of Firestone.". The Fledermaus Laughing Song was televised as early as 1952 or 1953, since the announcer made reference to her just playing the role at the Metropolitan Opera.
While I loved her singing, which was glorious, I found the musical staging for everything a lot of kitsch and silliness. Her Jaspanese drag for "Un bel di" from Madama Butterfly was so silly I couldn't watch. Following that, she and Richard Tucker, both in evening clothes, sang the Butterfly finale to Act One, and it was just glorious. I'd like this broadcast a lot more if it were on CD and could only listen to her.
