Risë Stevens(1913-2013)
- Actress
- Soundtrack
One of the great voices of the Metropolitan Opera, New York-born
mezzo-soprano Rise (pronounced REE-za) Stevens made her debut with the
company in 1939 as Octavian in Richard Strauss's "Der Rosenkavalier" in
a tour performance in Philadelphia. Her other notable roles in 21 years
with the company included the two characterizations most associated
with her, the title role in Bizet's "Carmen" and Dalila in
Saint-Saens's "Samson et Dalila," Laura in Ponchielli's "La Gioconda,"
Marfa in Mussorgsky's "Khovanschina," Prince Orlofsky in Johann
Strauss's "Die Fledermaus," and Hansel in Humperdinck's "Hansel und
Gretel." A great beauty as well as a great singer, she enjoyed one of
the more successful careers of the many opera singers who made films,
most notably in "The Chocolate Soldier" opposite
Nelson Eddy and "Going My Way" with
Bing Crosby and
Barry Fitzgerald. She was also
something of a fixture on early TV, appearing frequently on such
programs as "The Bell Telephone Hour" and "The Voice of Firestone,"
where she sang both operatic arias and popular songs. She also appeared
on one of the first telecasts from the Met, in 1954, singing Carmen
opposite one of her most frequent Don Joses,
Richard Tucker.
Since her retirement from opera in 1960, she has continued to play a very active role in the New York fine arts scene. In 1964, she inaugurated the Music Theater of Lincoln Center as Anna Leonowens in a well-received revival of "The King and I," produced by Richard Rodgers, opposite Darren McGavin 's King. Also that year, she became director of the Metropolitan Opera National Company, a touring company which served as a training ground for promising young singers and conductors, many of whom (Marilyn Niska, Ron Boettcher) became members of the regular company. She held this job for three years, until the company ceased operations when the Met could no longer afford to finance it. Since then, she has remained active with the Met as a long-time official of the Metropolitan Opera Guild.
Married to actor Walter Szurovy from 1939 until his death in 2001, their only child is the actor Nicolas Surovy. She continues to live in New York, as active and charming as ever.
Since her retirement from opera in 1960, she has continued to play a very active role in the New York fine arts scene. In 1964, she inaugurated the Music Theater of Lincoln Center as Anna Leonowens in a well-received revival of "The King and I," produced by Richard Rodgers, opposite Darren McGavin 's King. Also that year, she became director of the Metropolitan Opera National Company, a touring company which served as a training ground for promising young singers and conductors, many of whom (Marilyn Niska, Ron Boettcher) became members of the regular company. She held this job for three years, until the company ceased operations when the Met could no longer afford to finance it. Since then, she has remained active with the Met as a long-time official of the Metropolitan Opera Guild.
Married to actor Walter Szurovy from 1939 until his death in 2001, their only child is the actor Nicolas Surovy. She continues to live in New York, as active and charming as ever.
