On this day in 1907 bass Fyodor Chaliapin made his Met debut as Boito’s Mefistofele.On this day in 1808 Beethoven’s Fidelio premiered in Vienna.
Happy 83rd birthday tenor René Kollo.Happy 72nd birthday soprano Barbara Hendricks.Photograph: Jesse Frohman
“Curiosity is a great antidote to fear”
Happy 78th birthday to composer, performer, director, vocalist, filmmaker and choreographer Meredith Monk.
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.
parterre in your box?
Get our free weekly newsletter delivered to your email.
Comments
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.
A Baroque Valentine’s with Opera Lafayette | Feb | DC & NYC
Celebrate love in all its guises with tender ballads, amorous duets, cheeky verses, and bawdy drinking songs plus food, cocktails and wine.
STEMdiva status
Ahead of a special boozy, bawdy Valentine’s Day concert, artistic director of Opera Lafayette Patrick Quigley speaks with soprano Maya Kherani about her journey from MIT to rising American Baroque star.