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 1960 tenor Jon Vickers made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Canio.
Born on this day in 1908 Broadway diva Ethel Merman.
On this day in 1942 conductor Sir Thomas Beecham made his Metropolitan Opera debut.
On this day in 1900 Puccini’s Tosca premiered in Rome.
On this day in 1976 conductor Sarah Caldwell made history with her Metropolitan Opera debut.
On this day in 1912 Pietro Mascagni’s Lodoletta had its United States premiere at the Metropolitan with Geraldine Farrar and Enrico Caruso in the leading roles.
On this day in 1934 soprano Lotte Lehmann made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Sieglinde.
Happy 83rd birthday to baritone Sherrill Milnes.
Born on this day in 1902 impresario and opera manager Rudolf Bing.
Born on this day in 1926 soprano Evelyn Lear.
On this day in 1955 contralto Marian Anderson made her historic Metropolitan Opera debut.
Born on this day in 1412 martyr and saint Jeanne d’Arc.
Born on this day in 1917 opera director Wieland Wagner.
Happy 81st birthday to sempiternal songstress Grace Bumbry.
On this day in 1956 the Metropolitan Opera celebrated the 25th anniversary of the debut of soprano Lily Pons with a special gala performance.
On this day in 2015 soprano Marjorie Owens made her Metropolitan Opera debut (and only Met performance thusfar) as Verdi’s Aida.
On this day in 1908 composer conductor Gustav Mahler made his debut at the Metropolitan Opera conducting Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde.
Happy New Year’s Eve, cher public!
On this day in 1954 the Harold Arlen-Truman Capote musical House of Flowers opened on Broadway.
Born on this day in 1936 actress Mary Tyler Moore.
Happy 51st birthday tenor Piotr Beczala.
Born on this day in 1901 actress and singer Marlene Dietrich.
Born on this day in 1921, comedian/TV host/composer Steve Allen.
Happy 36th birthday soprano Sonya Yoncheva.
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.
