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 1937 soprano Zinka Milanov made her Metropolitan Opera debut in Il trovatore.
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Born on this day in 1899 composer, playwright and actor Noel Coward.
Miss Bette Davis starred in the musical revue Two’s Company, which opened on this day in 1952 at the Alvin Theatre to run only 90 performances.
On this day in 1918 Puccini’s Il Trittico premiered at the Metropolitan Opera.
Fifty years ago on this day, Jessye Norman made her professional debut as Wagner’s Elisabeth at the Deutsche Oper, Berlin.
On this day in 1910 Puccini’s La fanciulla del West had its world premiere at the Met.
On this day in 1905 Richard Strauss’s Salome premiered in Dresden.
On this day in 1949 the Jule Styne musical Gentlemen Prefer Blondes opened at the Ziegfeld Theatre, making a star of Carol Channing and running 740 performances.
On this day in 1890 the first complete performance of Les Troyens was given in Karlsruhe.
On this day in 1893 soprano Nellie Melba made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Lucia.
On this day in 1983 soprano Aprile Millo made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Amelia Boccanegra.
On this day in 1962 conductor Ernest Ansermet made his in-house Metropolitan Opera debut conducting Pelléas and Mélisande.
Born on this day in 1895 film choreographer and director Busby Berkeley.
On this day in 1934 torch singer Libby Holman moaned the Howard Dietz and Arthur Schwartz standard “You and the Night and the Music” on the opening night of the musical Revenge with Music.
On this day in 1951 the Metropolitan Opera opened its season with a new production of Aida, which featured the debut of African-American dancer Janet Collins.
On this day in 1961 soprano Joan Sutherland made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Lucia.
On this day in 1959 Once Upon a Mattress transfered to the Alvin Theatre. The show, by composer Mary Rodgers, ran 450 performances and made a star of Carol Burnett.
Born on this day in 1848 soprano Lilli Lehmann. On this day in 1938 tenor Jussi Bjoerling made his Met debut as Rodolfo. Mafalda Favero also made her debut as Mimi.
On this day in 1903 Enrico Caruso made his Metropolitan Opera debut as the Duke of Mantua.
Born on this day in 1913 composer Benjamin Britten.
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