On This Day
All small infinities
On this day in 1903, the Metropolitan Opera presented the first staged performance of Parsifal outside Bayreuth.
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
On this day in 1984 Jochen Kowalski made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Prince Orlofsky.
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
On this day in 1950 the Metropolitan Opera presented a new production of Die Fledermaus.
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”
On this day in 1900 the Metropolitan Opera opened its season with a revival of Roméo et Juliette.
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 this day in 1977 Maria Chiara made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Violetta.
Long live the Queen!
BREAKING: The Metropolitan Opera’s website is back online!
The first time I saw Paris
On this day in 1981 “the Zeffirelli Bohème” opened at the Metropolitan Opera.
Razor-sharp
On this day in 1979 mezzo Agnes Baltsa made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Octavian.
“An ascending progression of sonority”
On this day in 1920 Ravel’s La Valse premiered in Paris.
Queen of the B’s
Born on this day in 1919 actress Marie Windsor.
Poker night
On this day in 1910 Puccini’s La fanciulla del West had its world premiere at the Metropolitan Opera.
Behind the veil
On this day in 1905 Richard Strauss‘s Salome premiered in Dresden.
“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
Born on this day in 1864 soprano Sibyl Sanderson.
“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
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”
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
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.
I’ll take the fall
The days are getting shorter, but you can keep the prattle going this fall’s Talk of the Town! You will, you can, you must join in the discussion about: Great mezzo soprano performances (October),
Gained in translation (November), Teleport me back to… (December).
Win a Free Ticket to Opening Night at the Met!
Quinn Kelsey and Lise Davidsen star in the Met's new Macbeth. We're giving away one ticket, so screw your courage to the sticking place and enter now!
