Can’t Get a Rise Out of Her

The fat lady has sung for the remarkably svelte Risë Stevens, an international singing star when the world cared more about opera than glorified karaoke competitions, at the age of 99. The mezzo-soprano owned the role of Carmen during the 1940s and ‘50s during her 23-year career at the Metropolitan Opera. A rare opera star who was something other than a soprano or tenor, Stevens expanded her audience beyond the long glove, tiny binocular set with appearances on radio, TV and in movies. Other roles included Octavian in “Der Rosenkavalier,” Dalila in “Samson et Dalila,” Cherubino in “Marriage of Figaro”; Prince Orlofsky in “Die Fledermaus,” and the title role in “Mignon.” Though if any of that means anything to you, it’s unlikely you’d be friends with a cheesesteak and baseball guy like me. She appeared with Bing Crosby in Going My Way, on Broadway as Anna in The King and I and matched her big voice with The Big Mouth as a guest on The Martha Raye Show.