February 11, 2026

MSM is deeply saddened by the loss of retired faculty members Rhoda Levine and Francis Patrelle, whose collective service to MSM spanned 66 years.

Rhoda Levine (1932–2026)

Rhoda Levine, a groundbreaking opera director who made a name for herself starting in the 1970s in a field dominated by men. She brought a true theatrical sensibility to her productions; as the New York Times proclaimed in its January 17 obituary, she was “part of the first generation of American directors who brought true theatrical acting into opera.” She worked with MSM Director of Orchestral Activities George Manahan (BM ’73, MM ’76) at New York City Opera during his time as Musical Director, notably in 2003 on a production of Mark Adamo’s Little Women in 2003.

Rhoda Levine, a groundbreaking opera director who made a name for herself starting in the 1970s in a field dominated by men. She brought a true theatrical sensibility to her productions; as the New York Times proclaimed in its January 17 obituary, she was “part of the first generation of American directors who brought true theatrical acting into opera.” She worked with MSM Director of Orchestral Activities George Manahan (BM ’73, MM ’76) at New York City Opera during his time as Musical Director, notably in 2003 on a production of Mark Adamo’s Little Women in 2003.

Her superb work as a stage director at companies like City Opera and Netherlands Opera was only equaled by her sensitivity and skill as an educator. Remarkably, Rhoda also found time for a writing career, having written opera libretti and seven children’s books, several of which were illustrated by Edward Gorey.

Rhoda joined the MSM Opera Studies faculty in 1992, retiring in 2019. At MSM, she was stage director of such critically acclaimed productions as a double-bill of Kurt Weill’s Mahagonny Songspiel and The Tsar Has His Photograph Taken (December 1993), William Mayer’s A Death in the Family (December 1999), and a Ralph Vaughan Williams/Lennox Berkeley double-bill of Riders to the Sea and A Dinner Engagement (December 2005).

She is the subject of An Uncommon Woman, a soon-to-be-released documentary by filmmaker David Williams. MSM will be announcing news of the film’s release date and select upcoming screenings as this news becomes available.

Francis Patrelle (1947–2025)

MSM is deeply saddened to learn of the recent passing of retired faculty member Francis Patrelle. Francis — or “Uncle Frankie,” as he was affectionately known — joined the Related Voice Studies faculty at Manhattan School of Music in 1982 and taught Movement for Singers until his retirement in 2021. The New York Times’s published obituary can be viewed here.

During his decades at the School, Francis choreographed several critically acclaimed MSM Opera Theatre productions, including The Mother of Us All (Virgil Thomson) in December 2013; Street Scene (Kurt Weill) in May 2008; Two Widows (Bedřich Smetana) in April 1998; a Donizetti double-bill in April 1996; The Merry Wives of Windsor (Otto Nicolai) in 1995; Une éducation manquée (Emmanuel Chabrier) in 1994; Iphigénie en Tauride (Christoph Willibald Gluck) in April 1993; and Chérubin (Jules Massenet), which starred then-MSM student Susan Graham in the title role, in March 1987.

In 1999, he assisted two current students in creating their new one-act operas, giving the first performances of Christian McLeer’s House of Comedy and Patrick Soluri’s Inferno with the company he founded in 1988, Dances Patrelle. A professional dance instructor since the 1970s, Francis mentored generations of dancers across New York City and beyond. At Dances Patrelle, he choreographed more than 50 original ballets — including the company’s popular annual Yorkville Nutcracker — and created dances with luminaries like Cynthia Gregory, Marcelo Gomes, Jenifer Ringer, and James Fayette. He later became resident choreographer for St. Louis Ballet.