On This Day
On this day in 1918 soprano Rosa Ponselle made her Metropolitan Opera debut (and her first appearance in opera anywhere) as Leonora.
Born on this day in 1926 soprano Leonie Rysanek.
STEMdiva status
Ahead of a special boozy, bawdy Valentine’s Day concert, artistic director of Opera Lafayette Patrick Quigley speaks with soprano Maya Kherani about her journey from MIT to rising American Baroque star.
On this day in 1940 Walt Disney‘s animated musical film Fantasia premiered at New York’s Broadway Theatre.
Born on this day in 1929 actress Grace Kelly, later Princess Grace of Monaco.
Born on this day in 1889 debonair actor, dancer and singer Clifton Webb.
Born on this day in 1889 actor’s actor Claude Rains.
Born on this day in 1914 actress and inventor Hedy Lamarr.
On this day in 1926, the Imperial Theatre was the setting for the opening night of the George and Ira Gershwin musical Oh, Kay!, starring Gertrude Lawrence and Victor Moore.
Born on this day in 1926 soprano Joan Sutherland.
On this day in 1928 the American premiere of Richard Strauss‘s Die Ägyptische Helena at the Metropolitan Opera, with Maria Jeritza typecast as the most beautiful woman in the world.
Born on this day in 1913 actress Vivien Leigh.
Born on this day in 1881 singer and actress Gaby Deslys.
Happy 72nd birthday to songstress Lulu.
On this day in 2005 mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato made her Met debut as Cherubino.
Born on this day in 1923 soprano Victoria de los Angeles.
“Even a man who is pure in heart and says his prayers by night may become Paul Lynde when the wolfbane blooms and the moon is full and bright.”
On this day in 1938, Orson Welles directed and narrated a radio adaptation of War of the Worlds.
On this day in 1956 Maria Callas made her Met debut as Norma.
Happy 93rd birthday songstress Cleo Laine.
Born on this day in 1922 actress, poet, playwright, screenwriter, journalist and civil rights activist Ruby Dee.
On this day in 1959 mezzo-soprano Giulietta Simionato made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Azucena.
Born on this day in 1927 Broadway and cabaret legend Barbara Cook.
Happy 41st birthday to visionary Yuval Sharon.
Born on this day in 1931 actress Diana Dors.
A Baroque Valentine’s with Opera Lafayette | Feb | DC & NYC
Celebrate love in all its guises with tender ballads, amorous duets, cheeky verses, and bawdy drinking songs plus food, cocktails and wine.
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.