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.

All woman All woman

On this day in 1966 soprano Pilar Lorengar made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Donna Elvira.

on February 11, 2018 at 10:54 AM
Blonde faith Blonde faith

On this day in 1974 soprano Kiri Te Kanawa made an “emergency” Met debut and broadcast debut as Desdemona.

on February 09, 2018 at 8:39 AM
Transient worker Transient worker

On this day in 1996 mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli made her Metropolitan Opera stage debut as Despina.

on February 08, 2018 at 9:36 AM
Grace, under fire Grace, under fire

On this day in 1928 soprano Grace Moore made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Mimi.

on February 07, 2018 at 7:00 AM
Figlia dei Faraoni Figlia dei Faraoni

On this day in 1968 mezzo-soprano Fiorenza Cossotto made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Amneris.

on February 06, 2018 at 10:00 AM
Lady for a day Lady for a day

On this day in 1959 soprano Leonie Rysanek made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Lady Macbeth.

on February 05, 2018 at 7:27 AM
Jeune premier Jeune premier

On this day in 2006 tenor Jonas Kaufmann made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Alfredo.

on February 04, 2018 at 9:54 AM
A masterpiece may be unwelcome but it is never dull A masterpiece may be unwelcome but it is never dull

Born on this day in 1887 writer and librettist Gertrude Stein.

on February 03, 2018 at 7:36 AM
Bronze goddess Bronze goddess

Happy 81st birthday soprano Martina Arroyo!

on February 02, 2018 at 10:02 AM
This is new This is new

On this day in 1896, the premiere in Turin of Puccini’s La bohème; on this day in 1922, the birth of one of this work’s greatest interpreters, Renata Tebaldi

on February 01, 2018 at 9:13 AM
Stairway to heaven Stairway to heaven

On this day in 1974 Verdi”s I vespri siciliani was first staged at the Metropolitan Opera.

on January 31, 2018 at 8:25 AM
I woke up like this I woke up like this

On this day in 1957 soprano Martha Mödl made her Metropolitan Opera debut as the Siegfried Brunnhilde.

on January 30, 2018 at 8:31 AM
Jest the way you are Jest the way you are

On this day in 1973 baritone Ingvar Wixell made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Rigoletto.

on January 29, 2018 at 7:35 AM
El Amor y la muerte El Amor y la muerte

On this day in 1916 Granados’ Goyescas premiered at the Met.

on January 28, 2018 at 8:23 AM
First Act: The Duel First Act: The Duel

On this day in 1961 Leontyne Price and Franco Corelli made their historic Metropolitan Opera debuts in Verdi’s Il trovatore.

on January 27, 2018 at 7:28 AM
First on the scaffold First on the scaffold

On this day Dialogues des Carmélites had its world premiere at La Scala.

on January 26, 2018 at 7:42 AM
Conductor’s conductor Conductor’s conductor

On this day in 1955 Rudolf Kempe made his Metropolitan Opera debut conducting Tannhäuser.

on January 25, 2018 at 8:00 AM
Agamemnon, dein Tag wird kommen! Agamemnon, dein Tag wird kommen!

The Richard Strauss / Hugo von Hofmannsthal music drama Elektra premiered on this day in 1909 at the Semperoper, Dresden.

on January 24, 2018 at 7:00 AM
Every little movement has a meaning all its own Every little movement has a meaning all its own

On this day in 1958 soprano Inge Borkh made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Salome.

on January 23, 2018 at 9:47 AM
The velvet touch The velvet touch

Born on this day in 1897 ‘vocal miracle’ Rosa Ponselle.

on January 22, 2018 at 9:46 AM
Into the words Into the words

Happy 35th birthday to Supertitles!

on January 21, 2018 at 7:00 AM
The strange case of Benjamin Britten The strange case of Benjamin Britten

On this day in 1967 Colin Davis made his Metropolitan Opera debut conducting Peter Grimes, with Jon Vickers, Lucine Amara and Geraint Evans in the cast.

on January 20, 2018 at 1:00 AM
This magic moment This magic moment

On this day in 1984 bass Samuel Ramey, conductor Mario Bernardi and director Frank Corsaro made their Metropolitan Opera debuts in Handel’s Rinaldo

on January 19, 2018 at 9:12 AM
Girls just want to have fun Girls just want to have fun

On this day in 1907 the Metropolian Opera premiered Puccini’s Manon Lescaut with the composer in attendance.

on January 18, 2018 at 12:02 PM