On this day in 1973 baritone Ingvar Wixell made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Rigoletto. 

Ingvar Wixell, Swedish baritone, whose reputation in great theaters of Europe and the San Francisco Opera had preceded him, made his Met debut in the title role. His large, bright baritone sounded as if its vibration potential were limitless. He was a malevolent father-figure and he contributed a lot to the excitement. He was evil and tragic: a big man with a big conception. He won fairly his ovations.

The other two stars scheduled didn’t show: coloratura soprano Reri Grist and tenor Luciano Pavarotti. Both were felled by some variety of flu that has kept Christa Ludwig and Regine Crespin from the stage this week, and sent baritone Fischer-Dieskau home to Germany.