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.
Born on this day in 1892 soprano Dame Eva Turner.
On this day in 1987 tenor Jerry Hadley made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Des Grieux in Manon
On this day in 1964 the Metropolitan Opera presented the debuts of Leonard Bernstein, Franco Zeffirelli and Franco Zeffirelli in a new production of Verdi’s Falstaff.
On this day in 1959 Alban Berg’s Wozzeck had its Metropolitan Opera premiere (in English translation.)
On this day in 1952, Kirsten Flagstad sang the title role in a new production of Gluck’s Alceste at the Metropolitan Opera.
On this day in 1970 mezzo-soprano Marilyn Horne made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Adalgisa.
Born on this day in 1900 composer Kurt Weill.
Happy 93rd birthday soprano Lucine Amara.
On this day in 1910 prima ballerina Anna Pavlova made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in Coppélia (on a double bill with Werther!)
Happy 83rd birthday soprano Mirella Freni.
Born on this day in 1802 author and playwright Victor Hugo.
On this day in 1948 tenor Giuseppe di Stefano made his Metropolitan Opera debut as the Duke of Mantua.
Born on this day in 1927 soprano Régine Crespin.
Born on this day in 1930 soprano Marni Nixon.
On this day in 1957, Renata Tebaldi sang the title role in a new production of La traviata at the Met, directed by Tyrone Guthrie.
On this day in 1724 Handel’s Giulio Cesare in Egitto premiered in London.
On this day in 1967 the Marc Chagall production of Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte was unveiled at the Met. Soprano Lucia Popp made her Met debut as the Queen of the Night.
Happy 85th birthday soprano Elly Ameling.
On this day in 1904 Puccini’s Madama Butterfly had its disastrous premiere in Milan.
On this day in 1966, the Metropolitan Opera debut of tenor Alfredo Kraus as the Duke of Mantua.
Happy 71st birthday composer John Adams.
Happy Valentine’s Day! Happy Ash Wednesday! And happy 59th birthday soprano Renée Fleming!
Happy 49th birthday mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato.
Happy 95th birthday director and designer Franco Zeffirelli.
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.
