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.
Opera premieres on this day: Handel’s Alcina (London, 1735), Meyerbeer’s Le Prophète (Paris, 1849) and Gounod’s Sapho (Paris, 1851).
5 comments
On this day in 1939, the Metropolitan Opera on tour in New Orleans presented Carmen featuring Bruna Castagna in the title role.
On this day in 1883 Leo Delibes’ Lakmé premiered in Paris.
Born on this day: four divas and counting!
Born on this day in 1898 soprano Lily Pons. Happy 85th birthday soprano Montserrat Caballé and happy 70th birthday soprano Mariella Devia!
On this day in 1975 soprano Katia Ricciarelli made her Met debut as Mimi.
On this day in 1996 tenor Roberto Alagna made his Met debut as Rodolfo.
On this day in 1992 soprano Deborah Polaski made her Met debut as Kundry.
Tenor Franco Corelli was born on this day in 1921, the 45th anniversary of the premiere of Ponchelli’s La Gioconda in Milan.
On this day in 1975 soprano Beverly Sills made her official Metropolitan Opera debut as Pamira in L’assedio di Corinto.
On this day in 1989 soprano Sumi Jo made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Gilda.
Conductor and director Herbert von Karajan was born on this date.
Happy 58th birthday soprano Jane Eaglen.
On this day in 1975 soprano Magda Olivero made her historical, belated Metropolitan Opera debut as Tosca.
On this day in 1977 tenor Guy Chauvet made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Samson.
On this day in 1891 Mme. Vera Galupe-Borszkh sang the role of “Violetta” in Verdi’s La traviata for the very first time in her career.
On this day in 1999 the Metropolitan Opera offered its first production of Carlisle Floyd‘s Susannah.
On this day in 1982 conductor Bernard Haitink made his Metropolitan Opera debut conducting Fidelio.
Happy 76th birthday Samuel Ramey!
Happy 68th birthday mezzo-soprano/soprano Maria Ewing.
On this day in 1964 the Jule Styne-Bob Merrill musical Funny Girl opened at the Winter Garden Theatre, to run 1348 performances.
Born today, two colossi of the lyric theater: in 1867 conductor Arturo Toscanini and in 1910 soprano Magda Olivero.
On this day in 1920, the Metropolitan Opera presented its first performance of Eugene Onegin.
