Stevens, Risë (1913-2013).

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American mezzo-soprano.

From the description of Interview conducted by Oliver Daniel, July 12, 1978 [sound recording]. (University of Pennsylvania Library). WorldCat record id: 155861600

American mezzo soprano.

From the description of Typewritten letter signed, dated : [n.p.], 2 January 1962, to Mr. [Joseph] Chouinard, 1962 Jan. 2. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270962262

Risë Stevens, 1913-2013

Risë Stevens was born in New York City on June 11, 1913. She studied at Julliard and Mozarteum, Salzburg, working with Anna Schoen-Rane and Vera Schwartz. She had her debut in Prague and returned to the US for her first appearance at the Metropolitan Opera in 1938. She married Walter Surovy in 1939 and had one son, Nicholas. Until her retirement in 1961, "she virtually owned many of the great mezzo[-soprano] roles" in classic opera. During World War II, she traveled with the Hollywood Victory Caravan. She was a regular performer on both radio and television and recorded for both Columbia and RCA Victor. After her 1961 retirement from performing, Stevens continued her involvement in opera as director of the Met's National Company, "dedicating to taking opera to hundreds of American cities where opera was not available." She later served as president of Mannes College of Music (1975- 78) and returned to the Met as director of its National Council Auditions (1980-88). She established the Risë Stevens scholarship at Adelphi College. Risë Stevens has been honored many times over her long career including honorary degrees from Russell Sage (H.H. D.), Hobart, and Smith Colleges (Mus. D.). Stevens passed away on March 20, 2013.

From the guide to the Rise Stevens Papers MS 154., 1962-1975, (Sophia Smith Collection)

Opera singer; director, Metropolitan Opera National Company.

Rise Stevens was born in New York City June 11, 1913. She studied at Julliard and Mozarteum, Salzburg, working with Anna Schoen-Rane and Vera Schwartz. She had her debut in Prague and returned to the US for her first appearance at the Metropolitan Opera in 1938. She married Walter Surovy in 1939 and had one son, Nicholas. Until her retirement in 1961, "she virtually owned many of the great mezzo[-soprano] roles" in classic opera. During World War II, she traveled with the Hollywood Victory Caravan. She was a regular performer on both radio and television and recorded for both Columbia and RCA Victor. After her 1961 retirement from performing, Stevens continued her involvement in opera as director of the Met's National Company, "dedicating to taking opera to hundreds of American cities where opera was not available." She later served as president of Mannes College of Music (1975-78) and returned to the Met as director of its National Council Auditions (1980-88). She established the Rise Stevens scholarship at Adelphi College. Rise Stevens has been honored many times over her long career including honorary degrees from Russell Sage (H.H.D.), Hobart, and Smith Colleges (Mus. D.).

From the description of Papers, 1962-1975. (Smith College). WorldCat record id: 51671533

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn ARS Audiotape Collection, 1900-1991 Archive of Recorded Sound
creatorOf Armed Forces Radio Service. Command performance [sound recording]. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Stevens, Risë, 1913-. Typewritten letter signed, dated : [n.p.], 2 January 1962, to Mr. [Joseph] Chouinard, 1962 Jan. 2. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Rise Stevens Papers MS 154., 1962-1975 Sophia Smith Collection
creatorOf Berlin, Irving, 1888-1989. The Railroad hour, radio program [sound recording], 1948-1954. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Let's go to the opera radio broadcast collection [sound recording] The New York Public Library. Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound.
referencedIn William Schuman papers and records, 1933-1986 The New York Public Library. Music Division.
creatorOf Guelph Spring Festival Archives. Letters from People of Note - response to requests made by M.H.MacKinnon to become an honorary patron of the Guelph Spring Festival, 1968-1973. University of Guelph. McLaughlin Library
referencedIn Biographical files, [ca. 1920]-1987. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn The Bell Telephone Hour collection of sound recordings [sound recording], 1940-1968 The New York Public Library. Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound.
creatorOf Bowman, Robert. Collection of music recordings from radio broadcasts [sound recording], 1952-1963. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Horowitz, Vladimir, 1903-1989. The papers of Vladimir and Wanda Toscanini Horowitz, 1784-1991 (inclusive). Yale University, Music Library
referencedIn John Eldon Thayer collection of motion picture memorabilia, 1916-1979. Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
referencedIn Wilkerson, Albert Carey, d. 1996. Albert C. Wilkerson photograph archive [graphic], ca.1938-1958. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Altman, Leonard, 1920-1996. Leonard Altman papers, 1930-1995. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Jan Peerce collection of sound recordings, 1932-1983 The New York Public Library. Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound.
referencedIn Leonard Altman Papers, 1930-1995 Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Sage Colleges. Archives. Honorary degree recipient for 1960, Risë Stevens. The Sage Colleges Libraries
referencedIn Robert Bowman collection of music recordings from radio broadcasts [sound recording], 1952-1963 The New York Public Library. Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound.
creatorOf Schuman, William, 1910-1992. Papers and records, 1933-1986. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf University of Michigan. University Musical Society. Correspondence with Eugene Ormandy, 1977-1984. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
creatorOf Bowman, Robert, 1925-. Robert Bowman collection of music recordings from radio broadcasts [sound recording], 1952-1963. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Richard Rodgers collection of musicals and interviews [sound recording], 1926-1980 The New York Public Library. Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound.
referencedIn The Railroad hour, radio program [sound recording], 1948-1954 The New York Public Library. Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound.
referencedIn Photographs of the Metropolitan Opera [graphic] / Harry G. Schumer, ca. 1945-1965 The New York Public Library. Music Division.
creatorOf Stevens, Risë, 1913-. Papers, 1962-1975. Smith College, Neilson Library
referencedIn Scrapbook on opera and theater, 1938-1940. Museum of Performance & Design
creatorOf Stevens, Risë, 1913-,. Interview conducted by Oliver Daniel, July 12, 1978 [sound recording]. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn The Papers of Vladimir and Wanda Toscanini Horowitz., 1784-1991 Irving S. Gilmore Music Library
creatorOf Cooper, Betty Miller,. Betty Miller Cooper photograph collection, [1932-1986]. Museum of Performance & Design
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Altman, Leonard, 1920-1996. person
associatedWith Armed Forces Radio Service. corporateBody
associatedWith Bowman, Robert. person
associatedWith Chouinard, Joseph, person
associatedWith Cooper, Betty Miller, person
associatedWith Daniel, Oliver, person
associatedWith Gluck, Christoph Willibald, Ritter von, 1714-1787. person
associatedWith Guelph Spring Festival Archives. corporateBody
associatedWith Horowitz, Vladimir, 1903-1989. person
associatedWith Horowitz, Wanda Toscanini. person
associatedWith Juilliard School. corporateBody
associatedWith Let's Go to the Opera (Radio program). person
associatedWith Metropolitan Opera (New York, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith National Endowment for the Arts corporateBody
associatedWith Peerce, Jan, 1904-1984 person
associatedWith Railroad Hour Radio Program corporateBody
associatedWith Rodgers, Richard, 1902-1979 person
associatedWith Saint-Saëns, Camille, 1835-1921. person
associatedWith Schuman, William, 1910-1992. person
associatedWith Schumer, Harry G person
associatedWith Sciltian, Gregorio. person
associatedWith Thayer, John Eldon, 1899-1980 person
associatedWith University of Michigan. University Musical Society. corporateBody
associatedWith Wilkerson, Albert Carey, d. 1996. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
United States
Subject
Opera
Opera
Sopranos (Singers)
Sopranos (Singers)
Women singers
Women singers
Occupation
Performer
Vocalists
Activity

Person

Birth 1913-06-11

Death 2013-03-20

Americans

Information

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SNAC ID: 41946438