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 1987 mezzo-soprano Livia Budai made her Metropolitan Opera debut in a new production of Il trovatore… and her farewell two weeks later.
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On this day in 1912 Lucrezia Bori and Enrico Caruso opened the Met season in a new production of Manon Lescaut.
Today is the 100th anniversary of the birth of actress and singer Dorothy Dandridge.
On this day in 1901 the Metropolitan Opera, on tour in Los Angeles, presented the inimitable Emma Calvé as Carmen.
On this day in 1898 contralto Ernestine Schumann-Heink made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Ortrud.
On this day in 1928, the Metropolitan Opera presented the American premiere of Richard Strauss‘s Die Ägyptische Helena with Maria Jeritza in the title role.
On this day in 1883 the Metropolitan Opera presented the company premiere of La traviata.
On this day in 1924, the Metropolitan Opera presented La bohème, a performance visiting critic Ernest Newman didn’t seem to like one bit.
On this day in 1989 soprano June Anderson made her Metropolitan Opera debut in a new production of Rigoletto.
On this day in 1931 apparently ubiquitous soprano Rosa Ponselle graced the Metropolitan Opera’s opening night performance of La traviata.
On this day in 1926 the Metropolitan Opera opened its season with La vestale with Rosa Ponselle in the title role.
On this day in 1927 the Metropolitan Opera opened its 1927 season with a revival of Turandot featuring Maria Jeritza and Giacomo Lauri-Volpi.
On this day in 1975 the Metropolitan Opera presented the role debut of Régine Crespin as Carmen.
On this day in 1956 the Metropolitan Opera opened its season with Maria Callas in Norma.
On this day in 1966 the Metropolitan Opera presented a new production of Elektra.
On this day in September 27, 1988, the Metropolitan opera presented the company premiere of Giulio Cesare, starring Kathleen Battle and Tatiana Troyanos.
On this day in 1995 the Metropolitan Opera presented a new production of Pikovaya Dama, an evening which also provided a spectacular company debut for baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky.
On this day in 1990 the Metropolitan Opera presented a new production of Un ballo in maschera.
On this day in 1960 the Metropolitan Opera opened its season with the company premiere of Nabucco.
On this day in 1961 Leontyne Price opened the Metropolitan Opera season in La fanciulla del West.
On this day in 1973 the Metropolitan Opera presented the company premiere of Les Troyens.
Happy 97th birthday soprano Virginia Zeani.
On this day in 2008 Anja Harteros sang her first Metropolitan Opera Violetta.
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pb—with our friends at Carnegie Hall—is giving away two tickets to PB’s December concert. Enter now!
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