On this day Dialogues des Carmélites had its world premiere at La Scala.
The Richard Strauss / Hugo von Hofmannsthal music drama Elektra premiered on this day in 1909 at the Semperoper, Dresden.
On this day in 1958 soprano Inge Borkh made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Salome.
Born on this day in 1897 ‘vocal miracle’ Rosa Ponselle.
Happy 35th birthday to Supertitles!
On this day in 1967 Colin Davis made his Metropolitan Opera debut conducting Peter Grimes, with Jon Vickers, Lucine Amara and Geraint Evans in the cast.
On this day in 1984 bass Samuel Ramey, conductor Mario Bernardi and director Frank Corsaro made their Metropolitan Opera debuts in Handel’s Rinaldo.
On this day in 1907 the Metropolian Opera premiered Puccini’s Manon Lescaut with the composer in attendance.
On this day in 1960 tenor Jon Vickers made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Canio.
Born on this day in 1908 Broadway diva Ethel Merman.
On this day in 1942 conductor Sir Thomas Beecham made his Metropolitan Opera debut.
On this day in 1900 Puccini’s Tosca premiered in Rome.
On this day in 1976 conductor Sarah Caldwell made history with her Metropolitan Opera debut.
On this day in 1912 Pietro Mascagni’s Lodoletta had its United States premiere at the Metropolitan with Geraldine Farrar and Enrico Caruso in the leading roles.
On this day in 1934 soprano Lotte Lehmann made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Sieglinde.
Happy 83rd birthday to 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.
Born on this day in 1917 opera director Wieland Wagner.
Happy 81st birthday to sempiternal songstress Grace Bumbry.
On this day in 1956 the Metropolitan Opera celebrated the 25th anniversary of the debut of soprano Lily Pons with a special gala performance.
On this day in 2015 soprano Marjorie Owens made her Metropolitan Opera debut (and only Met performance thusfar) as Verdi’s Aida.
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.
