Risë Stevens

Composers

Biography

Born: June 11, 1913; New York, NY   Died: March 20, 2013; New York, NY  
Mezzo-soprano Risë Stevens was one of the most prominent American opera stars during World War II and for nearly two decades afterwards. She was of Norwegian descent; her original name was Risë Steenberg. She showed early promise as a singer and studied with a teacher named Orry Prado. After graduating from high school, she landed a job with the New York Little Theater Opera Company. After that company went bankrupt, she became a dress Read more model.

Anna Schoen-René, a voice teacher at the Juilliard School, offered her free singing lessons. Risë received a tempting job offer from the Metropolitan Opera Company but judged she was not ready and declined it. Instead, she went to Europe to hone the various crafts of an opera singer. These included classes in stagecraft with Herbert Graf and continued voice training with Marie Gutheil-Schoder at the Salzburg Mozarteum.

In 1936 she accepted conductor Georg Szell's offer of a contract with the Prague Opera, where she was listed as a contralto. There she was coached in standard contralto and mezzo repertory by Herbert Graf, and appeared in Prague, Vienna, and in Cairo, Egypt (where she traveled as part of a Viennese-based opera group. She traveled to the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, continuing to mature and to draw increasing attention. She finally sang with the Met in one of its appearances in Philadelphia, as Octavian in Der Rosenkavalier, received a contract with the company, and made her New York Met debut on December 17, 1938, as Mignon.

In 1939, she married Walter Surovy, a Czech actor, who managed her career. She debuted at Glyndebourne in 1939, and in 1940 at the San Francisco Opera. In 1941 she sang opposite Nelson Eddy in the Hollywood film The Chocolate Soldier, and appeared in Bing Crosby's film Going My Way (1944), in which she sang the Habañera from Carmen. This led to her first actual stage performance as Carmen at the Met, December 28, 1945. For some time she virtually owned the role at the Met and sang it there 75 times. She debuted at Milan's La Scala in 1954.

Stevens retired from the Metropolitan in 1961, and retired altogether from singing in 1964. Shortly after her resignation from the Met, the company went through one of the worst crises in its history. General Director Rudolf Bing cancelled the entire 1961-1962 season after the company's major unions reached an impasse. Stevens sent a telegram to President John F. Kennedy outlining the importance of the Metropolitan to the United States and the world, and requested his intervention. The president honored her request, and personally persuaded the sides to accept the Secretary of Labor, Arthur Goldberg, to arbitrate their disputes. The season was saved.

Stevens' mezzo-voice quality was unusual: it was warm, light, and lyrical. This suited her to many of the important "trouser" roles. In addition to Octavian, she sang Mozart's Cherubino and Prince Orlovsky in Fledermaus. Other of her favorite roles were Dorabella, Delilah, Orpheus, Laura (La Gioconda), and Carmen, her most famous role.

After she retired from the Met stage, she became director of the company's new Metropolitan Opera National Company, a touring group providing opportunities for young singers and conductors, as well as designers and directors to participate in opera on a steady professional level. She was appointed to the faculty of the Juilliard School of Music in 1975, and was president of the Mannes College of Music in New York (1975-1978). She was again associated with the Metropolitan from 1980 to 1988 as director of its National Council Auditions. Read less
Browse 1-25 of 37 Available Recordings
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  • 1.
    Singers Of The Century - 40 Greats Of The 20th Century
    Singers Of The Century - 40 Greats Of The 20th Century
    Label: Regis   Catalog: 2078 Release Date: 01/29/2013   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Giuseppe Verdi,  Giacomo Puccini,  Pietro Mascagni,  Umberto Giordano  ... 
    Performer:  Ettore Bastianini,  Giuseppe Taddei,  Richard Tucker,  Mario Del Monaco  ... 
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  • 2.
    Broadway In A Box: The Essential Broadway Musicals Collection
    Broadway In A Box: The Essential Broadway Musicals Collection
    Label: Sony   Catalog: 541695 Release Date: 09/11/2012   Number of Discs: 25
    Composer:  Charles Strouse,  Cole Porter,  John Kander,  Frederick Loewe  ... 
    Performer:  Reid Shelton,  Dorothy Loudon,  Andrea McArdle,  Patti LuPone  ... 
    Conductor:  Harold Hastings,  Franz Allers,  Donald Pippin,  Milton Greene  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Orchestra,  Studio Orchestra,  Oklahoma! Pit Orchestra  ... 
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  • 3.
    Bizet: Carmen / Reiner, Stevens, Tucker, Silveri, Conner
    Bizet: Carmen / Reiner, Stevens, Tucker, Silveri, Conner
    Label: Sony   Catalog: 7961892 Release Date: 11/01/2011   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Georges Bizet
    Performer:  Risë Stevens,  Richard Tucker,  Paolo Silveri,  Nadine Conner
    Conductor:  Fritz Reiner
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Metropolitan Opera Chorus,  Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
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  • 4.
    Offenbach: Les Contes D’hoffmann / Monteux, Stevens, Tucker, Peters
    Offenbach: Les Contes D’hoffmann / Monteux, Stevens, Tucker, Peters
    Label: Sony   Catalog: 7961902 Release Date: 11/01/2011   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Jacques Offenbach
    Performer:  Martial Singher,  Richard Tucker,  Lucine Amara,  Risë Stevens  ... 
    Conductor:  Pierre Monteux
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Metropolitan Opera Chorus
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  • 5.
    Thomas: Mignon / Pelletier, Stevens, Pinza, Benzell, Melton
    Thomas: Mignon / Pelletier, Stevens, Pinza, Benzell, Melton
    Label: Sony   Catalog: 7961922 Release Date: 11/01/2011   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Ambroise Thomas
    Performer:  Ezio Pinza,  Risë Stevens,  James Melton,  Mimi Benzell
    Conductor:  Wilfrid Pelletier
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Metropolitan Opera Chorus,  Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
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  • 6.
    John Raitt - Bell Telephone Hour, 1959-1966
    John Raitt - Bell Telephone Hour, 1959-1966
    Label: Video Artists International   Catalog: 4542 Release Date: 09/13/2011   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Various
    Performer:  John Raitt,  Risë Stevens
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  • 7.
    Gluck: Orfeo Ed Euridice / Monteux, Stevens, Della Casa
    Gluck: Orfeo Ed Euridice / Monteux, Stevens, Della Casa
    Label: Urania   Catalog: 106 Release Date: 01/25/2011   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Christoph W. Gluck
    Performer:  Risë Stevens,  Lisa Della Casa,  Roberta Peters
    Conductor:  Pierre Monteux
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Rome Opera House Orchestra,  Rome Opera House Chorus
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  • 8.
    The Chocolate Soldier / Stevens, Merrill
    The Chocolate Soldier / Stevens, Merrill
    Label: Rca   Catalog: 81364 Release Date: 11/16/2010   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Oscar Straus
    Performer:  Sadie Mccollum,  Jo Sullivan Loesser,  Robert Merrill,  Risë Stevens  ... 
    Conductor:  Lehman Engel
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Orchestra
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  • 9.
    The King And I / 1964 Lincoln Center Cast Recording
    The King And I / 1964 Lincoln Center Cast Recording
    Label: Sony   Catalog: 50134 Release Date: 05/19/2009   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Richard Rodgers
    Performer:  Patrice Munsel,  Tony Martin,  Dinah Shore,  Robert Merrill  ... 
    Conductor:  Franz Allers
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Studio Orchestra
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  • 10.
    Strauss: Die Fledermaus / Danon, Leigh, London, Stevens, Kunz, Rothenberger, Wiener Staatsoper
    Strauss: Die Fledermaus / Danon, Leigh, London, Stevens, Kunz, Rothenberger, Wiener Staatsoper
    Label: Rca   Catalog: 746984 Release Date: 03/10/2009   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Johann Strauss Jr.
    Performer:  Risë Stevens,  George London,  Eberhard Wächter,  Adele Leigh  ... 
    Conductor:  Oskar Danon
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Vienna State Opera Orchestra,  Vienna State Opera Chorus
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  • 11.
    Mozart: Le Nozze Di Figaro, Symphonies 38 & 39 / Gui
    Mozart: Le Nozze Di Figaro, Symphonies 38 & 39 / Gui
    Label: Emi Great Recordings Of The Century   Catalog: 12955 Release Date: 10/14/2008   Number of Discs: 3
    Composer:  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
    Performer:  Jeanette Sinclair,  Franco Calabrese,  Risë Stevens,  Graziella Sciutti  ... 
    Conductor:  Vittorio Gui
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra,  Glyndebourne Festival Chorus
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  • 12.
    Mozart: Le Nozze Di Figaro / Gui, Jurinac, Sciutti, Et Al
    Mozart: Le Nozze Di Figaro / Gui, Jurinac, Sciutti, Et Al
    Label: Emi Classics For Pleasure   Catalog: 67710 Release Date: 01/23/2007   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
    Performer:  Ian Wallace,  Jeanette Sinclair,  Gwyn Griffiths,  Risë Stevens  ... 
    Conductor:  Vittorio Gui
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra,  Glyndebourne Festival Chorus
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  • 13.
    Lebendige Vergangenheit - Ezio Pinza Vol 4
    Lebendige Vergangenheit - Ezio Pinza Vol 4
    Label: Preiser Records   Catalog: 89660 Release Date: 01/02/2007   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,  Gioachino Rossini,  Giuseppe Verdi,  Charles Gounod  ... 
    Performer:  Ezio Pinza,  Risë Stevens,  Gibner King
    Conductor:  Alfred Wallenstein,  Erich Leinsdorf,  Fausto Cleva
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra,  Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
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  • 14.
    Risë Stevens In Opera & Song
    Risë Stevens In Opera & Song
    Label: Kultur Video   Catalog: 4052 Release Date: 03/28/2006   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Arthur Schwartz,  Georges Bizet,  Irving Berlin,  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart  ... 
    Performer:  Risë Stevens
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  • 15.
    Mozart: Le Nozze Di Figaro / Gui, Jurinac, Sciutti, Et Al
    Mozart: Le Nozze Di Figaro / Gui, Jurinac, Sciutti, Et Al
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 76942 Release Date: 02/21/2006   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
    Performer:  Sesto Bruscantini,  Sena Jurinac,  Graziella Sciutti,  Jeanette Sinclair  ... 
    Conductor:  Vittorio Gui
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra,  Glyndebourne Festival Chorus
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  • 16.
    Carnegie Hall
    Carnegie Hall
    Label: Bel Canto Society   Catalog: 791 Release Date: 11/08/2005   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky,  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,  Giuseppe Verdi,  Eduardo Di Capua  ... 
    Performer:  Jascha Heifetz,  Ezio Pinza,  Jan Peerce,  Artur Rubinstein  ... 
    Conductor:  Fritz Reiner,  Artur Rodzinski,  Bruno Walter,  Leopold Stokowski
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  New York Philharmonic
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  • 17.
    Saint-Saens: Samson And Delila Highlights; Tchaikovsky / Stokowski, Nbc
    Saint-Saens: Samson And Delila Highlights; Tchaikovsky / Stokowski, Nbc
    Label: Cala Records   Catalog: 540 Release Date: 05/31/2005   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Camille Saint-Saëns,  Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
    Performer:  Risë Stevens,  Jan Peerce,  Robert Merrill
    Conductor:  Leopold Stokowski
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Robert Shaw Chorale,  NBC Symphony Orchestra,  Leopold Stokowski Orchestra
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  • 18.
    San Francisco Opera Gems Volume 2 / Merola, Et Al
    San Francisco Opera Gems Volume 2 / Merola, Et Al
    Label: Guild   Catalog: 2287/89 Release Date: 02/22/2005   Number of Discs: 3
    Composer:  Georges Bizet,  Richard Strauss,  Ruggero Leoncavallo,  Umberto Giordano  ... 
    Performer:  Eleanor Steber,  Alessio De Paolis,  John Garris,  Mack Harrell  ... 
    Conductor:  Georges Sebastian,  Kurt Herbert Adler,  Gaetano Merola
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  San Francisco Opera Orchestra,  San Francisco Opera Chorus
    CD: $29.99
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  • 19.
    Lebendige Vergangenheit - Robert Merrill Vol 3
    Lebendige Vergangenheit - Robert Merrill Vol 3
    Label: Preiser Records   Catalog: 89592 Release Date: 08/31/2004   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  George Monro,  Traditional,  Anonymous,  Jay Livingston  ... 
    Performer:  Robert Merrill,  Leila Edwards,  Roberta Peters,  Dorothy Kirsten  ... 
    Conductor:  Hugo Winterhalter,  Henri René,  Charles Sanford,  H. Leopold Spitalny  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Hugo Winterhalter & His Orchestra,  Henri René Orchestra,  Orchestra  ... 
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  • 20.
    Producers' Showcase - Festival Of Music Volume 1
    Producers' Showcase - Festival Of Music Volume 1
    Label: Video Artists International   Catalog: 4244 Release Date: 09/30/2003   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Giacomo Puccini,  Georges Bizet,  Various Artists,  Carl Maria von Weber  ... 
    Performer:  Renata Tebaldi,  Jussi Björling,  Risë Stevens,  Marian Anderson  ... 
    Conductor:  Max Rudolf
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Showcase Symphony Orchestra
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  • 21.
    San Francisco Opera Gems Vol 1 - Verdi, Wagner, Mozart, Etc
    San Francisco Opera Gems Vol 1 - Verdi, Wagner, Mozart, Etc
    Label: Guild   Catalog: 2238/40 Release Date: 08/26/2003   Number of Discs: 3
    Composer:  Richard Wagner,  Giuseppe Verdi,  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,  Georges Bizet  ... 
    Performer:  Lotte Lehmann,  Kirsten Flagstad,  Lauritz Melchior,  Friedrich Schorr  ... 
    Conductor:  Fritz Reiner,  Gennaro Papi,  Erich Leinsdorf,  Gaetano Merola
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  • 22.
    Lebendige Vergangenheit - Risë Stevens
    Lebendige Vergangenheit - Risë Stevens
    Label: Preiser Records   Catalog: 89556 Release Date: 07/30/2002   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Richard Strauss,  Georges Bizet,  Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky,  Ambroise Thomas  ... 
    Performer:  Erna Berger,  Risë Stevens,  Raoul Jobin
    Conductor:  Fritz Reiner,  Georges Sebastian,  Erich Leinsdorf,  Frieder Weissmann
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Metropolitan Opera Orchestra,  Orchestra
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  • 23.
    Carnegie Hall (1947)
    Carnegie Hall (1947)
    Label: Kino Video (Dvd)   Catalog: 1992 Release Date: 08/14/2001  
    Composer:  Various Artists
    Performer:  Jascha Heifetz,  Jan Peerce,  Artur Rubinstein,  Risë Stevens  ... 
    Conductor:  Artur Rodzinski,  Fritz Reiner,  Bruno Walter
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  New York Philharmonic
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  • 24.
    Lebendige Vergangenheit - Raoul Jobin
    Lebendige Vergangenheit - Raoul Jobin
    Label: Preiser Records   Catalog: 89517 Release Date: 04/24/2001   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Richard Wagner,  Giacomo Puccini,  Jules Massenet,  Jacques Offenbach  ... 
    Performer:  Raoul Jobin,  Géori Boué,  Risë Stevens
    Conductor:  Louis Fourestier,  André Cluytens,  Georges Sebastian,  Wilfrid Pelletier
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Paris Opéra Comique Orchestra,  Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
    CD: $18.99
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  • 25.
    Escape Through Opera - World's Best Collection Of Opera
    Escape Through Opera - World's Best Collection Of Opera
    Label: Sony   Catalog: 89370 Release Date: 03/06/2001   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Engelbert Humperdinck,  Giacomo Puccini,  Richard Wagner,  Gustave Charpentier  ... 
    Performer:  Ileana Cotrubas,  Frederica Von Stade,  Luciano Pavarotti,  Boje Skovhus  ... 
    Conductor:  John Pritchard,  Emerson Buckley,  James Conlon,  Georges Prêtre  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Cologne Children's Choir,  Cologne Gürzenich Orchestra,  Emilia Romagna Arturo Toscanini Symphony Orchestra  ... 
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