Opera singer Risë Stevens died this week at the age of 99. Stevens was best known for her title role in the opera Carmen during the 1950s.

According to her New York Times obituary, Stevens died at her home in Manhattan on March 20.

Stevens was born in New York City in 1913. She later attended the Julliard School for three years before being trained by opera singers in Vienna, Austria. After developing her voice in the Vienna State Opera, Stevens joined the Metropolitan Opera (Met), where she was the company’s lead mezzo-soprano for 22 years, from 1938 until 1961. The Met has stated that Stevens sand 337 performances at the met, 124 of which were in the role of Carmen.

After her retirement from opera singing, Stevens went on to be the general manager of the Metropolitan Opera National Company for several years during the 60s. She also continued to coach younger singers at the Met.