Biography
Risë Stevens was an American operatic mezzo-soprano and actress. Born Risë Gus Steenberg on 11 June 1913 in the Bronx, New York, she made her Metropolitan Opera début in 1938 and sang with the company until 1961. She was particularly noted for her performances as Carmen.
She appeared in feature films as Maria Lanyi in The Chocolate Soldier (1941) and as Genevieve Linden in Going My Way (1944). Stevens also performed on television and provided the voice of Glinda in the animated film Journey Back to Oz (1974). She was married to actor Walter Surovy from 1939 until his death in 2001; their son Nicolas Surovy became an actor.
After retiring from the operatic stage, Stevens held administrative posts including co-director of the Metropolitan Opera National Company and president of the Mannes College of Music. She died on 20 March 2013 in Manhattan.
