Born on this day in 1748 composer William Shield. On this day in 1856 the second Royal Opera House Covent Garden theatre was destroyed by fire.
Almost a century later . . .On this day in 1868 Arrigo Boito’s Mefistofele premiered in Milan.Born on this day in 1887 composer Heitor Villa-Lobos.Born on this day in 1893 tenor Alessio De Paolis.Born on this day in 1900 tenor Josip Gostic.Born on this day in 1903 soprano Gitta Alpar.Born on this day in 1929 soprano Sylvia Stahlman.Happy 86th birthday composer Anthony Hedges.Happy 79th birthday bass Dimiter Petkov.
Never brought to mind
Born on this day in 1748 composer William Shield.
WindyCityOperaman
Dan Soda (Windy City Operaman) is a Chicago native whose first visit to opera was at age 17 and Massenet’s Werther with Troyanos and Kraus. Nothing was ever the same. Opera and concert performances, recordings and video are an obsession. He prepares Parterre Box’s daily birthday and anniversary tributes. He also enjoys concerts, live theater and movies.
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Tell us: What was the best of 2025?
Parterre Box concludes the thrilling first year of Talk of the Town by inviting your lightning rod opinions on several more categories of operatic argumentation.
