Second best Second best

On this day in 1934 Anny Konetzni made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Brünnhilde in Die Walküre.

Renegade princess Renegade princess

Happy 41st birthday soprano Sonya Yoncheva.

All small infinities All small infinities

On this day in 1903, the Metropolitan Opera presented the first staged performance of Parsifal outside Bayreuth.

Wunderkind Wunderkind

On this day in 1955 Thomas Schippers made his Metropolitan Opera debut conducting a double bill of the ballet Soirée and Don Pasquale.

Trouser role Trouser role

On this day in 1984 Jochen Kowalski made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Prince Orlofsky.

Regal and distinguished beauty Regal and distinguished beauty

On this day in 1936 the Metropolitan Opera opened its season with a revival of Die Walküre featuring the debut of contralto Kerstin Thorborg.

Right off the bat Right off the bat

On this day in 1950 the Metropolitan Opera presented a new production of Die Fledermaus.

Oh, Marie, don’t ask! Oh, Marie, don’t ask!

On this date in 1991 the Metropolitan Opera presented the world premiere of John Corigliano‘s The Ghosts of Versailles.

“A well-worn work” “A well-worn work”

On this day in 1900 the Metropolitan Opera opened its season with a revival of Roméo et Juliette.

Elvino’s bride Elvino’s bride

On this day in 1883 soprano Marcella Sembrich, then in her debut season at the Metropolitan Opera, sang La sonnambula.

On a clear day On a clear day

On this day in 1977 Maria Chiara made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Violetta.

Long live the Queen! Long live the Queen!

BREAKING: The Metropolitan Opera’s website is back online!

The first time I saw Paris The first time I saw Paris

On this day in 1981 “the Zeffirelli Bohème” opened at the Metropolitan Opera.

Razor-sharp Razor-sharp

On this day in 1979 mezzo Agnes Baltsa made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Octavian.

“An ascending progression of sonority” “An ascending progression of sonority”

On this day in 1920 Ravel’s La Valse premiered in Paris.

Queen of the B’s Queen of the B’s

Born on this day in 1919 actress Marie Windsor.

Poker night Poker night

On this day in 1910 Puccini’s La fanciulla del West had its world premiere at the Metropolitan Opera.

Behind the veil Behind the veil

On this day in 1905 Richard Strauss‘s Salome premiered in Dresden.

“That might be a wisecrack, but I doubt it” “That might be a wisecrack, but I doubt it”

On this day in 1925 the George S. Kaufman / Irving Berlin musical The Cocoanuts opened at the Lyric Theatre starring The Marx Brothers.

Almost paradise Almost paradise

Born on this day in 1864 soprano Sibyl Sanderson.

“Pseudo-Greek” “Pseudo-Greek”

On this day in 1960 soprano Eileen Farrell made her Metropolitan Opera debut in the title role of a new production of Gluck’s Alceste.

Triste madre Triste madre

On this day in 1960, Galina Vishnevskaya made a guest appearance with the Metropolitan Opera, singing Madama Butterfly in Russian.

“A soprano from the antipodes” “A soprano from the antipodes”

On this day in 1935 the Metropolitan Opera presented a new production of Die Walküre featuring the company debut of soprano Marjorie Lawrence as Brünnhilde.

‘Contes’, get you out of my head ‘Contes’, get you out of my head

On this day in 2009 the Metropolitan Opera presented a production of Les Contes d’Hoffmann that went through six major cast changes during the rehearsal period.