Rise Stevens n'est pas seulement crédible musicalement, mais elle y va - de l'œillade hollywoodienne au déhanchement latin.... On est loin de la version compassée de Teresa Berganza (qui fut un temps la the Carmen, politiquement si correcte et insoupçonnable, mais si ennuyeuse!)
She is alive at age 97 and I think this is from the Firestone TV show that had opera singers on every week and many other American Singers plus greats from Europe. She was the greatest Carmen of her time and one of the greatest ever!
Just to clarify, PBS didn't exist in 1951 (it was created in 1970) and was previously known as National Education Television when launched in 1952. Not sure where this clip comes from. But it's still great!!
Rise Stevens: a gorgeous mezzo soprano whose Carmen is legendary. Excellent technique and she's one of my favorite old-time opera singers of the 20th century. Thanks for posting.
Rise Stevens went to my high school and returned to address the school assembly. She was elegant, covered in fur and jewels...not bad for a girl from Queens NY! My fellow students didn't know what to make of her -- she was like an exotic bird floating into our lives. Her advice to us: always learn, and travel as much of the world as you can! Brava, Dame Stevens, your voice and beauty will live on forever! Long live the mezzo of all mezzos!
@ircmaster: Yes, Gene Simmons! Here are a few others: Carol O'Conner, the actor. Estee Lauder (really Esther Mentzer Lauter) attended it. And editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics Joe Quesada. LOVED going there...
My voice teacher in high school told me Rise was, in her opinion, the best soprano ever. And did you see how she exposed one shoulder? She was the first soprano in modern times to take risks with Carmen's character and make her risque. To make Carmen sensual like that was groundbreaking.
Fantastic! So nice to know these clips. She was one of the all time greats in this role. I wish more young singers would watch these and LEARN from them!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yea, there was a serious typo in what i was saying but the fact remains. Spaniards are not Latinos. They are European. No Spanish person considers themselves to be "Hispanic", "Latin" or any of the other descriptors used by "Latinos". I am hispanic so please don't accuse me of racism. Furthermore Carmen was a Gypsy (or was written as). Gypsies have more in common racially with Eastern Europeans than anything else. .
Yes, Rise Stevens will be 96 in June. She is still active with Met fundraising activities and is on the Board of the Metropolitan Opera Guild. She's been associated with the company for 70 years!
Rise Stevens n'est pas seulement crédible musicalement, mais elle y va - de l'œillade hollywoodienne au déhanchement latin.... On est loin de la version compassée de Teresa Berganza (qui fut un temps la the Carmen, politiquement si correcte et insoupçonnable, mais si ennuyeuse!)
baladindesiles 7 months ago
She is alive at age 97 and I think this is from the Firestone TV show that had opera singers on every week and many other American Singers plus greats from Europe. She was the greatest Carmen of her time and one of the greatest ever!
SHICOFF1 11 months ago
Rise Stevens was the first opera superstar to crosssover into regular acting and singing. She was and is a treasure.
bigjoetube 1 year ago
Wouldn't mind a translation of the lyrics...although you can kind of tell from the body language what it's about.
BlackeBird 1 year ago
Happy Birthday
Rise ..June 11, 1913
97 now hope you get to 100+.
Your voice made me an opera fan when I was 6 years old back in 1966.
rollsroyce59 1 year ago
She must have inspired Beverly Sills.
Geostrum2 1 year ago
Just to clarify, PBS didn't exist in 1951 (it was created in 1970) and was previously known as National Education Television when launched in 1952. Not sure where this clip comes from. But it's still great!!
steve10185000 1 year ago
I'm impressed with her diction. Regardless of what language she sings the words are always effortlessly clear.
dorjenne 2 years ago
Rise Stevens: a gorgeous mezzo soprano whose Carmen is legendary. Excellent technique and she's one of my favorite old-time opera singers of the 20th century. Thanks for posting.
MastersoftheOpera 2 years ago
Rise Stevens went to my high school and returned to address the school assembly. She was elegant, covered in fur and jewels...not bad for a girl from Queens NY! My fellow students didn't know what to make of her -- she was like an exotic bird floating into our lives. Her advice to us: always learn, and travel as much of the world as you can! Brava, Dame Stevens, your voice and beauty will live on forever! Long live the mezzo of all mezzos!
islandofgrass 2 years ago
I go to the same high school right now ;D
It's great to see how many interesting people went to Newtown.
Did you know Gene Simmons (from the band Kiss) went to Newtown High School
ircmaster 2 years ago
@ircmaster: Yes, Gene Simmons! Here are a few others: Carol O'Conner, the actor. Estee Lauder (really Esther Mentzer Lauter) attended it. And editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics Joe Quesada. LOVED going there...
islandofgrass 2 years ago
My voice teacher in high school told me Rise was, in her opinion, the best soprano ever. And did you see how she exposed one shoulder? She was the first soprano in modern times to take risks with Carmen's character and make her risque. To make Carmen sensual like that was groundbreaking.
xander7ful 2 years ago
Brava, Rise! Now THERE's a real operatic voice for you! Thanks for sharing.
erzbet07 2 years ago
Fantastic! So nice to know these clips. She was one of the all time greats in this role. I wish more young singers would watch these and LEARN from them!!!!!!!!!!!!
cleanears 2 years ago
One of her best roles. Concerning national and ethnic issues, as my mother used to say... La estupidez no tiene límites.
InBoccaChiusa 2 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Whats up with all these whiteys masquerading as latinos?
bahaha
the 50s suck.
racist mofos
:P
mpanda2124 2 years ago
Comment removed
Antoniac123 2 years ago 2
do you actually know what your saying?
mazztermike 2 years ago
Yea, there was a serious typo in what i was saying but the fact remains. Spaniards are not Latinos. They are European. No Spanish person considers themselves to be "Hispanic", "Latin" or any of the other descriptors used by "Latinos". I am hispanic so please don't accuse me of racism. Furthermore Carmen was a Gypsy (or was written as). Gypsies have more in common racially with Eastern Europeans than anything else. .
Antoniac123 2 years ago
Fantasic singing but a very funny clip in so many ways...are those yanks!! Apparently she is still alive.
cybertopc 3 years ago
Yes, Rise Stevens will be 96 in June. She is still active with Met fundraising activities and is on the Board of the Metropolitan Opera Guild. She's been associated with the company for 70 years!
Danzig987 2 years ago
Aah!! Rise Stevens was the quintessential Carmen. In voice and seductiveness, no one could compare.....never before, never after.
bernweis 3 years ago
Rise Stevens is excellent as Carmen. Thank you.
tHEnOOSEsWINGS 3 years ago 5