Patrice Munsel as Melba

This is the 1953 soundtrack to a sanitized version of the life story of famous soprano Nellie Melba. True to form, Hollywood cast young singer Patrice Munsel, who was much better looking than Melba, and made her version of the diva into a sweet character, whereas the real thing was a pain in the larynx region.

Munsel did very well in the role, on the aural evidence. Her attractive soprano and forthright approach suited the familiar arias and songs nicely, and she was well accompanied by Covent Garden forces under Muir Mathieson and Warwick Braithwaite.

Patrice Munsel as a glamorized Nellie Melba

This 10-inch LP consists almost entirely of popular opera arias, from Gounod, Puccini, Mozart, Rossini, Donizetti and Verdi, salted with the usual chestnuts (now there's a mixed culinary metaphor): the Bach-Gounod "Ave Maria," Mendelssohn's "On Wings of Song," and, be it ever so humble, "Home Sweet Home."

Munsel pushes Melba toast

What it does not include are the songs written for the film by Mischa Spoliansky and lyricist Norman Newell. This is an odd omission because RCA Victor recorded the two songs with Munsel and an orchestra conducted by Henri René, and issued them as a single. For this revised (2021) post, I've included these numbers, which although delightful are somewhat similar waltzes, via an HMV pressing. Completing the package is Victor Young's instrumental recording of the "Melba Waltz."

Melba was Munsel's only starring role in film, although she often appeared on American television, either as a talk show or musical variety guest, and occasionally as an actor in roles that generally involved singing. She had her own television show in 1957-58. One of her TV roles was in The Stingiest Man in Town, which has appeared here.

Munsel was in the Met company from 1943, when she was just 18, until 1958. She continued appearing in opera and eventually musical comedy until 1981. She died in 2006.

Back then, opera stars often appeared in ads. Above, Munsel endorses Old London brand Melba toast. Below, she does away with "fingertip monotony." And in common with many singers, she also appeared in cigarette ads.

The download includes more ephemera, including a Life magazine article on Melba.