On this day in 1960 tenor Jon Vickers made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Canio

Happy 90th birthday mezzo-soprano Marilyn Horne

On this day in 1958 Samuel Barber‘s Vanessa had its world premiere at the Met

On this day in 1900 Puccini’s Tosca premiered in Rome

On this day in 1976 conductor Sarah Caldwell made history (and her Metropolitan debut)

On this day in 1918 Pietro Mascagni and Giovacchino Forzano’s Lodoletta had its United States premiere at the Metropolitan.

On this day in 1934 soprano Lotte Lehmann made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Sieglinde.

Happy 89th birthday 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. How many theatrical, cinematic, operatic interpretations of her life?

On this day in 1875 the Palais Garnier was inaugurated in Paris 

Born on this day in 1937 soprano/mezzo-soprano Grace Bumbry.