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 1967 Herbert von Karajan first appeared at the Metropolitan Opera conducting and directing Die Walküre.
On this day in 1907 bass Fyodor Chaliapin made his Met debut in Boito’s Mefistofele.
On this day in 1962 soprano Régine Crespin made her Metropolitan Opera debut as the Marschallin.
On this day in 1974 tenor Jose Carreras made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Cavardossi.
On this day in 1975 soprano Roberta Peters celebrated the 25th anniversary of her Met debut with a performance of Così fan tute.
On this day in 1926 the US premiere and first Metropolitan Opera performance of Puccini’s Turandot.
On this day in 1918 soprano Rosa Ponselle gave her first opera performance anywhere.
Born on this day in 1926 soprano Leonie Rysanek.
On this day in 1937 the National Broadcasting Company formed a full-sized symphony orchestra.
Born on this day in 1939 soprano Lucia Popp.
On this day in 1993 Dvorak’s Rusalka finally appeared at the Met. Gabriela Benacková does the honors.
On this day in 1970 the Richard Rodgers–Martin Charnin musical Two by Two (with Danny Kaye as Noah) opened at the Imperial Theatre, to run 351 performances.
Happy 53rd birthday bass-baritone Bryn Terfel.
On this day in 1965 bass Nicolai Ghaiurov made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Méphistophélès.
On this day in 1928 the American premiere of Richard Strauss’ Die ägyptische Helena took place at the Met, with Maria Jeritza in the title role.
On this day in 1883 the Metropolitan Opera presented its very first Traviata with Marcella Sembrich as Violetta.
Met debuts: In 1961 soprano Phyllis Curtin debuted as Fiordiligi…
On this night in 1924 Tullio Serafin made his Met debut conducting Aida.
On this day in 2005 mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato made her Met debut as Cherubino.
Born on this day in 1923 soprano Victoria de los Angeles.
Our Doyenne wishes all the cher public a joyous and spooky All Hallows’ Eve.
On this day in 1975, Régine Crespin sang her first Met Carmen.
On this day in 1961 tenor Sandor Konya made his Met debut as Lohengrin.
Happy 80th birthday soprano Edda Moser.
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.
