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 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.
httpvh://youtu.be/Lkqirt1qjsc 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.
On this day in 1967 conductor Herbert von Karajan bowed at the Metropolitan Opera conducting and directing Die Walküre.
On this day in 1966 the landmark concept musical Cabaret opened at the Broadhurst Theatre to run 1,165 performances.
On this day in 1962 soprano Régine Crespin made her Metropolitan Opera debut as the Marschallin.
On this day in 1974 tenor José Carreras made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Cavardossi.
On this day in 1975 soprano Roberta Peters celebrated the 25th anniversary of her Metropolitan Opera debut, singing Despina.
On this day in 1981 Stephen Sondheim‘s Merrily We Roll Along opened at the Alvin Theatre, to run 16 performances.
On this day in 1918 soprano Rosa Ponselle made her Metropolitan Opera debut (and her first appearance in opera!) as Leonora in La forza del destino.
Born on this day in 1926 soprano Leonie Rysanek.
On this day in 1906 Alla Nazimova made her Broadway debut in the title role of Hedda Gabler at the Princess Theatre.
On this day in 1993 Dvorak’s Rusalka finally appeared at the Met, with Gabriela Benacková in the title role.
Born on this day in 1889 film and stage actor Claude Rains.
Born on this day in 1883 stage and film actress Edna May Oliver.
On this day in 1965 bass Nicolai Ghiaurov made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Méphistophélès.
Happy 83rd birthday soprano Gwyneth Jones.
On this day in 1928 the Metropolitan Opera presented the American premiere of Richard Strauss‘s Die Ägyptische Helena.
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.
