Risë Stevens Dies: ‘Carmen’ Star, Met Soprano Passes At 99

Risë Stevens died Wednesday at her home in New York City. She was 99. Born Risë Steenberg, the mezzo-soprano is likely known best for her titular role as Carmen at the Metropolitan Opera House. She first performed the role in 1951 and returned to the Met stage over 100 times.

Risë Stevens began her opera career in 1938 in Prague, Czech Republic after studying at the renowned Julliard School in New York. By 1944, she had returned to the United States and starred in Bing Crosby's musical "Going My Way" alongside the "White Christmas" star.

Stevens often remarked how much she loved performing at the Met.

"Ever since I first stepped onto the stage of the Old Met, singing Mignon with Ezio Pinza, the Metropolitan Opera has been part of my life," she wrote on the hall's website.

In 1939, Stevens married Austrian actor Walter Szurovy. They had one son, Nicolas.

Stevens is also well-known for lending her talents to vinyl classics in addition to her onstage performances. The Firestone tire company released a number of holiday LP's in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

She, notably, in a number of the annual releases, including the 1963 compilation in which she sang solo "O Come O Come Emmanuel" and with the Columbus Boys Choir with fellow opera singer Brian Sullivan for a number of Christmas favorites including a notable rendition of Georg Frideric Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus." The compilations were never officially released on subsequent recording media, but their popularity has led to a number of companies marketing dubbed CD's online in recent years.