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 1996 the 25th Anniversary Gala for conductor James Levine (not pictured) took place at the Met.
On this day in 2007: the Metropolitan Opera debut of tenor Lawrence Brownlee as Almaviva.
Today is the 100th anniversary of the birth of soprano Astrid Varnay.
On this day in 1950, Met audiences thrilled to hear a vivid singing actress performing the title role of Tosca for the first time.
On this day in 1775 Mozart’s Il re pastore premiered in Salzburg.
Happy 83rd birthday mezzo-soprano Fiorenza Cossotto.
On this day in 2005, the Met opened a new production of Faust.
On this day in 1967 soprano Elisabeth Grümmer made her Metropolitan Opera debut on tour in Boston, as Elsa.
On this day in 1945 Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Carousel opened at the Majestic Theatre, to run 890 performances.
Happy 70th birthday soprano Catherine Malfitano.
Happy 78th (or so) birthday to soprano/mezzo-soprano Anja Silja.
Opera premieres on this day: Handel’s Alcina (London, 1735), Meyerbeer’s Le Prophète (Paris, 1849) and Gounod’s Sapho (Paris, 1851).
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.
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.
