I was reborn to love you
A joyous 85th birthday to the tutelary goddess of parterre box, Renata Scotto.
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.
Grande dame
Born on this day in 1927 soprano Régine Crespin.
It’s my party
On this day in 1980 baritone Leo Nucci made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Renato.
These old broads
Happy 66th birthday actress and songstress Christine Ebersole.
How many doors are in it
On this day in 1934 the Gertrude Stein / Virgil Thomson opera Four Saints in Three Acts opened on Broadway.
The belle of 14th street
Born on this day in 1843 soprano Adelina Patti.
Born too soon
On this day in 1904, Puccini’s Madama Butterfly had its “disastrous” premiere at La Scala.
Di grazia
On this day in 1966 the Metropolitan Opera debut of tenor Alfredo Kraus as the Duke of Mantua.
“I was lonely when I was young”
On this day in 1938, Lillian Hellman’s play The Little Foxes opened at the National Theatre to run 410 performances.
“One starts to get young at the age of sixty and then it is too late”
Happy 60th birthday to soprano, actress, media personality, creative consultant and parterre box muse Renée Fleming.
Heart of gold
Happy 50th birthday mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato.
Endless love
Happy 95th birthday director and designer Franco Zeffirelli.
Nella bruna la costanza
On this day in 1966 soprano Pilar Lorengar made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Donna Elvira.
“Who I am is the best I can be”
A joyous 92nd birthday to Miss Mary Violet Leontyne Price.
Love in the afternoon
On this day in 1974 soprano Kiri Te Kanawa made an “emergency” Met debut as Desdemona.
Maid in Manhattan
On this day in 1996 mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli made her Metropolitan Opera stage debut as Despina.
Moore is less
On this day in 1928 soprano Grace Moore made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Mimi.
Fantasia
On this day in 1968 mezzo-soprano Fiorenza Cossotto made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Amneris.
Lady be good
On this day in 1959 soprano Leonie Rysanek made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Lady Macbeth.
Alfredo sauce
On this day in 2006 tenor Jonas Kaufmann made his Metropolitan Opera debut in La traviata.
Ladies there is no neutral position for us to assume
Born on this day in 1887 poet and librettist Gertrude Stein.
Queen of hearts
Happy 82nd birthday soprano Martina Arroyo.
That French girl
On this day in 1893, the premiere of Puccini’s Manon Lescaut in Turin.
Win a Free Ticket to Opening Night at the Met!
Quinn Kelsey and Lise Davidsen star in the Met's new Macbeth. We're giving away one ticket, so screw your courage to the sticking place and enter now!
I’ll take the fall
The days are getting shorter, but you can keep the prattle going this fall’s Talk of the Town! You will, you can, you must join in the discussion about: Great mezzo soprano performances (October),
Gained in translation (November), Teleport me back to… (December).