On This Day
On this day in 1967, model, singer and entrepreneur Twiggy arrived in New York City.
On this day in 1859 Charles Gounod’s Faust premiered in Paris.
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.
Born on this day in 1844 composer Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov.
On this day in 1951 soprano Victoria de los Angeles made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Marguerite.
On this day in 1991 soprano Renée Fleming made her Metropolitan Opera stage debut as Countess Almaviva.
Happy 91st birthday soprano Antonietta Stella.
Born on this day in 1922 composer, arranger and “King of Exotica” Les Baxter.
On this day in 1973 film and nightclub diva Debbie Reynolds made her Broadway debut in the title role of Irene.
On this day in 1949, Ljuba Welitsch sang the title role of Salome on a Met broadcast.
On this day in 1954 the musical The Golden Apple opened off-Broadway.
Born on this day in 1892 soprano Dame Eva Turner.
Born on this day in 1910 composer Samuel Barber.
On this day in 1976 mezzo-soprano Tatiana Troyanos made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Octavian.
Happy 61st birthday to musical theater diva Donna Murphy.
Happy 45th birthday conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin.
On this day in 1959 Alban Berg‘s Wozzeck had its Metropolitan Opera premiere.
Happy 66th birthday to comic genius Catherine O’Hara.
On this day in 1875 Bizet’s Carmen had its disastrous premiere at the Opéra Comique in Paris.
On this day in 1960 debonair Don Ameche donned yellowface to star in the notorious flop musical 13 Daughters, which ran 28 performances.
Happy 93rd birthday soprano Lucine Amara.
On this day in 1836 Meyerbeer’s Les Huguenots premiered in Paris.
On this day in 1910 prima ballerina Anna Pavlova made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in Coppelia (on a double bill with Werther!)
Born on this day in 1935 soprano Mirella Freni.
Born on this day in 1802 author and playwright Victor Hugo.
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.
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.