Janet Pavek

Janet Pavek (August 12, 1936 – January 6, 2009) was an American soprano and musical theatre actress whose career spanned Broadway, opera, television, and concert performance. She was born and raised in Bronxville, New York and began vocal studies at the age of eleven. In 1953, at sixteen, she won the Miss Eastchester pageant.

Pavek's Broadway career began in 1953 as a member of the ensemble in Rodgers and Hammerstein's Me and Juliet, which opened on May 28 of that year and ran for more than 300 performances. In early 1955 she returned to Broadway, stepping into the title role of Harold Rome's Fanny as a replacement for Florence Henderson, before departing the production in April 1955 to join the cast of Ankles Aweigh. The following year she took on the role of Fanny once more in the original West End production of the show, appearing alongside Robert Morley and Kevin Scott. In 1960 she originated the role of Sita Roy in the Broadway production of Sammy Fain's Christine. Her final Broadway appearance came in 1962, when she assumed the role of Guenevere in Lerner and Loewe's Camelot, taking over from Patricia Bredin, who had herself replaced Julie Andrews in the part.

In 1961 Pavek married musical theatre actor Joe Cusanelli, and that same year made her operatic debut with the New York City Opera. On November 9, 1963, she made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera, singing Musetta in Giacomo Puccini's La bohème, a production that featured John Alexander as Rodolfo, Nicoletta Panni as Mimì, Calvin Marsh as Marcello, and Fausto Cleva conducting. She reprised the role of Musetta for her debut with the San Francisco Opera in 1964. Her operatic engagements during the 1960s and 1970s also included appearances with the Pittsburgh Opera, Fort Worth Opera, and Cincinnati Opera. Her repertoire encompassed the title role in Puccini's Manon Lescaut, Liu in Puccini's Turandot, Nedda in Pagliacci, and Rosalinda in Die Fledermaus, among other leading soprano roles.

Beyond the operatic stage, Pavek performed in concert and recital throughout the United States, Europe, Israel, and South America. Her television credits included appearances on The Bell Telephone Hour, The Tonight Show, and The Ed Sullivan Show. After retiring from performance, she taught singing from a private studio. Pavek died in New Port Richey, Florida, from complications of liver failure at the age of 72.