Julian Patrick

Julian Patrick (October 26, 1927 – May 8, 2009) was an American operatic baritone, Broadway performer, and voice teacher. Born in Meridian, Mississippi, he grew up in Birmingham, Alabama, where he sang as a member of the Apollo Boys Choir. He later attended the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, and after graduating pursued additional private vocal study in New York City with Cornelius L. Reid.

Patrick launched his professional career in musical theatre during the 1950s, accumulating five Broadway credits between 1954 and 1959. His first Broadway appearance came in the original production of The Golden Apple in 1954. He subsequently appeared in Bells Are Ringing in 1956, followed by three productions in 1959: Juno, Once Upon a Mattress, and Fiorello!

Following his Broadway years, Patrick transitioned primarily to opera, performing at major houses across the United States and Europe. His operatic engagements included the Metropolitan Opera, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Houston Grand Opera, the San Francisco Opera, the Dallas Opera, the Vienna Volksoper, the Welsh National Opera, the Grand Théâtre de Genève, the De Nederlandse Opera, and the Opéra national du Rhin, among others. In 1968 he took on the role of Private Don Hanwell in the world premiere of Hugo Weisgall's Nine Rivers from Jordan at the New York City Opera.

Patrick developed a particularly close association with the Seattle Opera, where he created the role of George Milton in the world premiere of Carlisle Floyd's Of Mice and Men in 1970. He also performed the role of Alberich in the Seattle Opera's productions of Wagner's Ring of the Nibelung, and Seattle Opera General Director Speight Jenkins declared him the world's greatest living Alberich. Alongside his performing career, Patrick served on the music faculty of the University of Washington for many years as a voice teacher.

Patrick died on May 8, 2009, at the age of 81 while on vacation in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He was survived by his life partner of 56 years, Donn Talenti.