Patti Russell was an Australian soprano singer, playing in

grand opera Grand opera is a genre of 19th-century opera generally in four or five acts, characterized by large-scale casts and Orchestra, orchestras. The original productions consisted of spectacular design and stage effects with plots normally based on o ...

and

Gilbert and Sullivan Gilbert and Sullivan refers to the Victorian-era theatrical partnership of the dramatist W. S. Gilbert (1836–1911) and the composer Arthur Sullivan (1842–1900) and to the works they jointly created. The two men collaborated on fourteen com ...

for nine years (1919–1928) to universal acclaim. Little is known of her early life, or any subsequent activities. Russell was born of Scottish ancestry in Sydney and, with help from a Government scholarship, trained at the State Conservatorium of Music under Mrs Haffenden Smith and Madame Slapoffski. While still a student, she was chosen at a NSW State Orchestra concert, to sing Schubert's aria ''

The Shepherd on the Rock "The Shepherd on the Rock" (), Otto Erich Deutsch, D. 965, is a Lied for soprano, clarinet, and piano by Franz Schubert. It was composed in 1828 in music, 1828 during the final months of his life. Lyrics Of the seven verses, the first four and th ...

''. In 1918, against her parents' wishes, she joined

Frank Rigo Frank Rigo (c. 1868 – 5 August 1936) was an American director of grand opera who had a substantial career in Australia, where he died penniless, leaving an orphaned daughter. History Rigo was born in America and grew up in New York, where he de ...

's Grand Opera Company (taken over by J. C. Williamson in 1919), winning praise for her Nedda in ''

Pagliacci ''Pagliacci'' (; literal translation, 'Clowns') is an Italian opera in a prologue and two acts, with music and libretto by Ruggero Leoncavallo. The opera tells the tale of Canio, actor and leader of a commedia dell'arte theatrical company, who mu ...

'' and Marguerita in ''

Faust Faust ( , ) is the protagonist of a classic German folklore, German legend based on the historical Johann Georg Faust (). The erudite Faust is highly successful yet dissatisfied with his life, which leads him to make a deal with the Devil at a ...

''. She came to public attention for the way she replaced

Amy Castles Amy Eliza Castles (25 July 1880 – 19 November 1951), was an Australian dramatic soprano. Family The daughter of Joseph Castles (1849-1933), and Mary Ellen Castles (1855-1937), née Fallon, Amy Eliza Castles was born in Melbourne, Australia on 2 ...

as Mimi in ''

La bohème ''La bohème'' ( , ) is an opera in four acts,Puccini called the divisions '':wikt:quadro, quadri'', ''wikt:tableau, tableaux'' or "images", rather than ''atti'' (acts). composed by Giacomo Puccini between 1893 and 1895 to an Italian libretto b ...

'' at

Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney, Australia, refers to three theatres of the same name none of which remain standing. They were located in central Sydney on either Pitt Street or Quay Street. History First theatre (1887–1933) The original Her M ...

on 29 September 1919, with no opportunity of rehearsal. She also stepped in for

Strella Wilson Austral Groves "Strella" Wilson (19 December 1894 – 10 February 1989) was an Australian soprano, World War II troop entertainer, and radio personality. She was not only a favorite in Australia, but also performed in North America, England, Hon ...

as Elsie Maynard in ''

The Yeomen of the Guard ''The Yeomen of the Guard; or, The Merryman and His Maid'', is a Savoy Opera, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. It premiered at the Savoy Theatre on 3 October 1888 and ran for 423 performances. This was the eleventh ...

''. Other favorite roles were Antonia in ''

The Tales of Hoffmann ''The Tales of Hoffmann'' (French: ) is an by Jacques Offenbach. The French libretto was written by Jules Barbier, based on three short stories by E. T. A. Hoffmann, who is the protagonist of the story. It was Offenbach's final work; he died in ...

'', Phyllis in ''

Iolanthe ''Iolanthe; or, The Peer and the Peri'' () is a comic opera with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert, first performed in 1882. It is one of the Savoy operas and is the seventh of fourteen operatic collaborations by Gilbert ...

'', Lili in '' Lilac Time'', Mad Margaret in ''

Ruddigore ''Ruddigore; or, The Witch's Curse'', originally called ''Ruddygore'', is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. It is one of the Savoy Operas and the tenth of fourteen comic operas written tog ...

'', and Yum Yum in ''

The Mikado ''The Mikado; or, The Town of Titipu'' is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert, their ninth of fourteen Gilbert and Sullivan, operatic collaborations. It opened on 14 March 1885, in London, whe ...

'', perhaps her last role in Australia. The star of so many performances did not appear again in newspaper advertisements or reviews. There was no benefit for her, no farewell, just the occasional historical reference. A less flattering critic was A. L. Kelly:

Miss Patti Russell does unequal work; sometimes singing well, but frequently showing limitations of style and vocal resource. She looked well and did her best work as Phyllis in ''Iolanthe''.

In January 1936 someone reported she had been seen in England.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Russell, Patti Date of birth missing Date of death missing 20th-century Australian women opera singers