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 1959 mezzo-soprano Giulietta Simionato made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Azucena.
Born on this day in 1926 soprano Galina Vishnevskaya.
Happy 63rd birthday soprano and teacher Cheryl Studer.
On this day in 1961 the Metropolitan Opera opened its season with La fanciulla del West starring Leontyne Price, Richard Tucker and Anselmo Colzani.
On this day in 1883 the Metropolitan Opera House opened with Gounod’s Faust.
On this day in 2013 the world premiere of Nico Muhly‘s Two Boys took place at the Met.
Born on this day in 1889 actress Margaret Dumont.
On this day in 1994 baritone Bryn Terfel made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Figaro.
Born on this day in 1898 actress and singer Lotte Lenya.
On this day in 1991 soprano Deborah Voigt made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Amelia.
Born on this day in 1962 baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky.
On this day in 1976, four Met debuts in Il trittico.
On this day in 1964 Metropolitan Opera’s opening night was a new production of Aida.
On this day in 1965 soprano Renata Scotto made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Cio-Cio-San.
On this day in 1950 Irving Berlin‘s musical Call Me Madam opened on Broadway.
On this day in 1967 the Metropolitan Opera debuts of mezzo Teresa Berganza as Cherubino and baritone Tom Krause as Count Almaviva.
Born on this day composer Giuseppe Verdi (1813) and soprano Leyla Gencer (circa 1924).
On this day in 1986 baritone Thomas Hampson made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Count Almaviva.
Thirty years ago today Dolora Zajick made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Azucena.
On this day in 1965 mezzo-soprano Grace Bumbry made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Eboli.
Born on this day in 1887 soprano Maria Jeritza.
Happy 95th birthday actress Glynis Johns.
Happy 62nd birthday actor and director Christoph Waltz.
On this day in 1968 soprano Marion Lippert made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Turandot.
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.
