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.
On this day in 1976 mezzo-soprano Tatiana Troyanos made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Octavian.
Born on this day in 1931 soprano Mady Mesplé.
On this day in 1969 the Metropolitan Opera presented a new production of Verdi’s Il trovatore.
On this day in 2010 the Metropolitan Opera presented the company premiere of Shostakovich’s The Nose.
On this day in 1922 the Metropolitan Opera presented the company debut of Catalani’s Loreley.
On this day in 1970 mezzo-soprano Marilyn Horne made her Metropolitan Opera debut in a new production of Norma.
On this day in 1936, mezzo-soprano Bruna Castagna made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Amneris.
On this day in 1945 the Metropolitan Opera revived Rimsky-Korsakov’s Le Coq d’Or.
On this day in 1910 prima ballerina Anna Pavlova made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in Coppelia (on a double bill with Werther!)
On this day in 1890 the Metropolitan Opera presented the company premiere of Bellini’s Norma as “a benefit to supplement the earnings of Lilli Lehmann.”
On this day in 1972 soprano Anja Silja made her Metropolitan Opera debut in Fidelio.
On this day in 1976 the Metropolitan Opera presented a new production of Bellini’s I puritani.
Happy 89th birthday soprano Renata Scotto.
Born on this day in 1927 soprano Régine Crespin.
On this day in 1926, the youthful soprano Marion Talley sang Lucia di Lammermoor at the Metropolitan Opera.
On this day in 1978, the Metropolitan Opera presented a new production of Donizetti’s La favorita.
On this day in 1989 the Metropolitan Opera presented a new production of Salome.
On this day in 1967 the Marc Chagall production of Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte was unveiled at the Met, featuring the debut of soprano Lucia Popp as the Queen of the Night.
On this day in 1972 the Metropolitan Opera presented a new production of Donizetti’s La Fille du Régiment.
On this day in 2015 the Metropolitan Opera presented the company premiere of Rossini’s La donna del lago.
On this day in 2013 the Metropolitan Opera presented a new production of Wagner’s Parsifal.
Happy 64th birthday soprano Renée Fleming!
On this day in 1937 soprano Bidu Sayão made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Manon.
On this day in 1970 Renata Tebaldi introduced her Minnie to the Metropolitan Opera.
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.
