The role of Marcellina in LE NOZZE DI FIGARO is probably one of the most underrated in the entire operatic repertoire: to play it credibly on stage, you need not only style and voice, but also a stage presence that can convey sex appeal and maternal feelings with equal measures of casualness and humour. It is no coincidence that this role, of all things, was to accompany Patricia Johnson throughout her entire stage career. She appeared as Marcellina on the stage of the Deutsche Oper Berlin for a total of 157 evenings, and embodied Figaro's mother here in three different productions – first, soon after her house debut as Carmen, under Ferenc Fricsay 1962, directed by Carl Ebert, then in the version by Gustav Rudolf Sellner and finally, until shortly before her departure from the house in 1995, in Götz Friedrich's production. During these 33 years, Patricia Johnson was one of the ensemble's most influential singers, helping to establish the international reputation of the Deutsche Oper Berlin: she appeared on stage here on a total of 921 evenings in 45 different roles, playing Wagner's Fricka as well as Verdi's Eboli and Azucena, Rossini's Cenerentola and Janáček's Kostelnička, but she also displayed her charisma as a singer and actress in contemporary operas such as von Einem's THE VISIT OF THE OLD LADY, for which the critics attested that her interpretation of the title role was ‘at once human and inhuman, and thus a pleasure to watch and, above all, to listen to’. In addition to her work at her home company, guest performances took Patricia Johnson to the Vienna State Opera, the Glyndebourne Festival, the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden and to Salzburg, where, of course, her Marcellina was also in demand.

As has only now been revealed, Patricia Johnson, about whose date of birth different information is circulating, in keeping with the old custom of singers, died in her apartment on 16 December 2024.

Her voice can be heard on several recordings, including Purcell's DIDO AND AENEAS, Bizet's CARMEN, Henze's DER JUNGE LORD and LE NOZZE DI FIGARO.

Deutsche Oper Berlin mourns the loss of a great singer and actress and will honour her memory.