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.
Born on this day in 1858 composer Giacomo Puccini.
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On this day in 1920 Jerome Kern‘s Sally, produced by Florenz Ziegfeld, opened at the New Amsterdam Theatre to run 561 performances.
On this day in 1999 John Harbison‘s The Great Gatsby premiered at the Met.
Happy 65th birthday to baritone and teacher Sanford Sylvan!
On this day in 1959 soprano Birgit Nilsson made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Isolde.
On this day in 1937 soprano Zinka Milanov made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Leonora in Il trovatore.
Born on this day in 1770 composer Ludwig van Beethoven.
On this day in 1952 Bette Davis returned to Broadway in Two’s Company.
On this day in 1918 Puccini’s Il trittico premiered at the Metropolitan Opera.
Happy 88th birthday soprano Rosanna Carteri!
On this day in 1921, Geraldine Farrar performed the title role in Leoncavallo’s Zazà at the Met.
Happy 87th birthday actress and singer Rita Moreno.
On this day in 1910 the Metropolitan Opera presented the world premiere of Puccini’s La fanciulla del West.
On this day in 1905 Salome premiered in Dresden.
On this day in 1849 Verdi’s Luisa Miller premiered in Naples.
On this day in 1940 soprano Eleanor Steber made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Sophie in Der Rosenkavalier.
Born on this day in 1900 actress Agnes Moorehead.
Born on this day in 1898 soprano and film diva soprano Grace Moore.
Born on this day in 1921 singer and actress Deanna Durbin.
On this day in 1983 soprano Aprile Millo made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Amelia in Simon Boccanegra.
On this day no skies are gray on that great white way.
On this day in 1962 conductor Ernest Ansermet made his in-house Metropolitan Opera debut conducting Pelléas et Mélisande.
On this day in 1948 Verdi’s Otello was the first opera to be telecast from the Met.
