On this day in 1940 the Metropolitan Opera opened its season with La Fille du Régiment, starring Lily Pons and featuring the “Casablanca” finale!

On this day in 1965 Montserrat Caballé and Sherrill Milnes made their Metropolitan Opera debuts in Faust.

On this day in 1967 Herbert von Karajan bowed at the Metropolitan Opera in a new production of Die Walküre which he directed and conducted.

On this day in 1953 the Metropolitan Opera presented a performance of Le nozze di Figaro featuring the debuts of Irmgard Seefried and Lisa Della Casa.

On this day in 1992 the Metropolitan Opera presented a new production of Lucia di Lammermoor directed by Francesca Zambello (not pictured.)

On this day in 1949 the Metropolitan Opera opened their season with a televised(!) performance of Der Rosenkavalier.

On this day in 1919 the Metropolitan Opera opened its season with a revival of Tosca starring Geraldine Farrar, Enrico Caruso and Antonio Scotti.

On this day in 1953 the Metropolitan Opera opened its season with a new production of Gounod’s Faust.

On this day in 1918 soprano Rosa Ponselle made her Metropolitan Opera debut and her first appearance in opera in La forza del destino.

Born on this day in 1926 soprano Leonie Rysanek.

On this day in 1951 the Metropolitan Opera opened its season with a new production of Aida.

On this day in 1987 mezzo-soprano Livia Budai made her Metropolitan Opera debut in a new production of Il trovatore… and her farewell two weeks later.

On this day in 1912 Lucrezia Bori and Enrico Caruso opened the Met season in a new production of Manon Lescaut.

On this day in 1952, the Metropolitan Opera opened its season with a new production of La forza del destino.