WindyCityOperaman
On this day in 1912 Pietro Mascagni‘s Lodoletta had its United States premiere at the Metropolitan with Geraldine Farrar and Enrico Caruso in the leads.
Born on this day in 1911 or thereabouts actress, author and burlesque performer Gypsy Rose Lee.
Born on this day in 1899 composer Francis Poulenc.
Born on this day in 1412 martyr and saint Jeanne d’Arc.
On this day in 1956 the Metropolitan Opera celebrated the 25th anniversary of the debut of soprano Lily Pons.
On this day in 1958 Maria Callas canceled a gala performance of Norma after the first act in the so-called “Rome Walkout.”
On this day in 1972, Stephen Sondheim‘s Company closed on Broadway, finishing a run of 705 performances.
On this day in 2009 Yannick Nézet-Séguin made his Metropolitan Opera debut conducting Carmen.
On this day in 1954 the Harold Arlen–Truman Capote musical House of Flowers opened at the Alvin Theatre, to run 165 performances.
Born on this day in 1936 actress, producer and social advocate Mary Tyler Moore.
Happy 85th birthday to thespian Dame Maggie Smith.
Born on this day in 1901 actress and diseuse Marlene Dietrich.
On this day in 1903, the Metropolitan Opera presented the first staged performance of Parsifal outside Bayreuth.
On this day in 1968, the musical spoof Dames at Sea opened at the Bouwerie Lane Theatre, starring Bernadette Peters.
Sixty years ago today soprano Birgit Nilssson made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Isolde.