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 1989, the Metropolitan Opera presented a new production of the double bill of Bluebeard’s Castle and Erwartung.
On this day in 1958 Samuel Barber‘s Vanessa had its world premiere at the Metropolitan Opera.
On this day in 1951 soprano Marguerite Piazza made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Rosalinde in Fledermaus.
On this day in 2003 the Metropolitan Opera presented a new production of Jenufa.
On this day in 2008 Elina Garanca made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Rosina.
On this day in 1934 soprano Lotte Lehmann made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Sieglinde.
On this day in 2002, Juan Diego Flórez made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Almaviva.
Born on this day in 1915 actress Anita Louise.
On this day in 1970 the Metropolitan Opera presented new productions of Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci.
On this day in 1949 tenor Max Lorenz sang his first Tristan of the season at the Metropolitan Opera.
Also on this day in 1977 soprano Edita Gruberová made her Metropolitan Opera debut as the Queen of the Night.
Happy 86th birthday soprano/mezzo-soprano Grace Bumbry.
On this day in 1981 the Metropolitan Opera broadcast the full three-act version of Berg’s Lulu starring Teresa Stratas.
On this day in 1966 Renata Scotto entered the new year with a performance of Madama Butterfly at the Met.
On this day in 2008 the Metropolitan Opera presented a gala new production of Puccini’s La rondine.
On this day in 1972 soprano Atsuko Azuma made her Metropolitan Opera debut in the title role of Madama Butterfly.
On this day in 1951, the Metropolitan Opera presented a new production of Così fan tutte directed by Alfred Lunt.
On this day in 1952 the Metropolitan Opera presented a new production of La bohème directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz.
On this day in 1934 Anny Konetzni made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Brünnhilde in Die Walküre.
On this day in 1903, the Metropolitan Opera presented the first staged performance of Parsifal outside Bayreuth.
On this day in 1955 Thomas Schippers made his Metropolitan Opera debut conducting a double bill of the ballet Soirée and Don Pasquale.
On this day in 1984 Jochen Kowalski made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Prince Orlofsky.
On this day in 1936 the Metropolitan Opera opened its season with a revival of Die Walküre featuring the debut of contralto Kerstin Thorborg.
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.
