Page 20 - Wallingford Magazine Issue 46 Winter 2024

Patricia Corbett

A Woman of Expression: Artist and Opera Singer

by Beverly Sniegnowski Her mother was an artist and
seamstress hoping to be a
Getting to know Patricia has famous designer someday. But
been a joy. She is gracious, kind, having to raise her family was a
extremely dedicated which prompts mother’s calling. So, she created
her to extend her hand and heart clothing for her children including
to others who appreciate the view Patricia’s wedding and bridal
either from an ancient terra-cotta party gowns. She also sewed
worn terrace in Italy or on a stage several gowns for her concert
balcony on Broadway. Artist and performances.
Songbird, the art of color, the art of Her father was a nurse
singing. practitioner and worked in a local
Having a background in opera hospital. Having such a large
and concert brought her to heights of family, his skills became his
recognition in the music world. Her nursing duties at home as well.
talent had given her the opportunity Children getting sick, skinned
to travel beyond our borders. She shins, splinters and spider bites.
traveled to Mexico in 1968 for a Yes, they were always loving and
concert tour. After attending college devoted parents.
with a degree in voice she continued Her dad’s cousins would Nike Wings Bridge
her opera study at the UCLA opera department. She often visit from Montana when she was young. Patricia Sonata by Beethoven that the course of her life and verse. Mary Corita was truly ahead of her time
is fluent in Spanish, Italian, French and German, a had hours of fun, dancing, singing, playing in make changed dramatically. It was meant to “inspire” the especially in the eyes of her peers. She was bold and
must for such a diverse background in opera and believe settings for the family. They would gather up artists to “go out and make art.” But instead, Patricia brave with her art expression. Patricia admired her
the concert stage. She performed with several opera pots and pans banging and singing in the backyard immediately walked across the campus and signed up tenacity, her talent and respected her boldness to say
companies in such roles as Verdi’s Rigoletto, Rossini’s while neighbors secretly peered through knotholes in for her first voice class. She now had two loves going and paint what she felt in life itself. Mary Corita died
Barber of Seville and Humperdinck’s Hansel & Gretel the fence. The neighbors didn’t seem to mind at all, on simultaneously. She continued studying art along at an early age while living on Cape Cod at the height
at the Los Angeles Opera Guild. Her capabilities to and instead encouraged them to keep in step! Patricia with her new found love for singing and at the end of of her recognition in the art world. You can still see
reach high E-flat and high-F established her as a was the oldest and dreamt of being a “somewhat three years, quit her full-time job after receiving a full her works in the New Britain Museum of American Art
sought-after performer. Patricia was what you refer to famous artist or perhaps singer” someday. Music was scholarship into a 4-year music college and switching here in Connecticut and around the globe.
as a “lyric coloratura” soprano. A soprano that sings in the home from the very beginning. The wonderful her major to music and minor to art! Patricia slowly Early in Patricia’s singing career she was asked by
high, light and fast notes and has the highest voice film Dancing At Lughnasa starring Meryl Streep began to excel in art winning awards in competitions her brother to sing at a special church dinner honoring
of all. This is also how she made her operatic debut reminded her of her role as the oldest such a large with her now qualified and very gifted voice. She her parents for their dedication to their children.
in Mozart’s The Magic Flute singing the role as The family. It depicted the spirit of an unforgettable time would love listening to Joan Sutherland and other lyric The congregation wanted to recognize the joy and
Queen of the Night. I was enlightened and surprised of dance, love and music and at the same time the coloraturas like Maria Callas and Roberta Peters for commitment her parents had, wanting and loving so
when she broke out in song with a few brief melodic overwhelming responsibility of being the oldest! These inspiration. many joyful souls. Patricia had twelve siblings. It was
notes during our interview. How special! heartwarming memories still remain with her today. Patricia eventually was accepted into the opera a wonderful night she would never forget and she was
As a child growing up in Los Angeles, she knew When she graduated high school, she went to department for graduate work at UCLA. It was during proud to have been asked to sing and gladly gave her
from a very young age she wanted to create art. work full time as a secretary. She not only wanted this time she met Sister Mary Corita, well-known in all.
She found solace and inspiration from the quiet to support herself but help her parents as well. She the art world for her themes in social justice. Her The next day, on an unseasonably cold morning
she discovered in her backyard. She spent a good continued her study in art taking night classes at contemporary style of art was based on positive Patricia’s parents suffered a fatal auto accident on
portion of her youth honing her child-like love of a nearby junior college. It was during an art class views and bold colors, a bit of an Andy Warhol blend the Bakersfield grapevine. At the time Patricia had
art and singing surrounded by stillness and nature. one night when the teacher played The Moonlight of deep thoughts, love, life’s journeys using abstract been married for 5 years and etching out a career in

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