On This Day
On this day in 2017 the Metropolitan Opera celebrated 50 years at Lincoln Center.
On this day in 1948 the Metropolitan Opera presented Der Rosenkavalier in Northrup Memorial Auditorium in Minneapolis.
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.
On this day in 1955 the Richard Adler/Jerry Ross musical Damn Yankees opened at the 46th Street Theatre, to run 1,019 performances.
Born on this day in 1930 soprano Roberta Peters.
Born on this day in 1906 actress and author Mary Astor.
On this day in 1939, the Metropolitan Opera launched a gala “New York World’s Fair Season.”
Born on this day in 1917 actress Danielle Darrieux.
On this day in 1928 Rosa Ponselle and Giovanni Martinelli graced the boards of Public Hall, Cleveland in a Met touring performance of Aida.
Happy maestro day!
On this day in 1900 David Belasco‘s play Madame Butterfly opened at The Duke of York’s Theatre in London with Blanche Bates in the title role.
On this day in 1895 Lillian Nordica sang Leonora to Francesco Tamagno‘s Manrico in the tenor’s Met farewell.
Happy 87th birthday to actress and comedian Carol Burnett.
Born on this day in 1918 soprano Astrid Varnay.
Happy 78th birthday singer, actress and filmmaker Barbra Streisand.
On this day in 2015 Chita Rivera opened her 18th Broadway show as the star of John Kander, Fred Ebb and Terrence McNally‘s The Visit.
Happy 85th birthday mezzo-soprano Fiorenza Cossotto.
Happy 88th birthday comedian, film director, screenwriter, and actress Elaine May.
J’allume au feu du jour ma cigarette.
Happy 55th birthday soprano Natalie Dessay.
Happy 72nd birthday soprano Catherine Malfitano.
Happy 80th birthday soprano/mezzo-soprano Anja Silja.
Opera premieres on this day:
Born on this day in 1938 actress Claudia Cardinale.
On this day in 1960 the Charles Strouse–Lee Adams musical Bye Bye Birdie opened at the Martin Beck Theatre to run 607 performances.
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.
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.