On this day in 1984 bass Samuel Ramey—along with conductor Mario Bernardi and director Frank Corsaro—made their Metroplitan Opera debuts in Handel’s Rinaldo. 

On this day in 1853 Verdi’s Il Trovatore premiered in Rome, and in 1884 Massenet’s Manon premiered in Paris!

Happy 73rd birthday songstress and composer Dolly Parton.