Born on this day in 1923 director and designer Franco Zeffirelli.
Born on this day in 1919 actress, businesswoman, singer and socialite Eva Gabor.
Happy 93rd birthday to soprano Leontyne Price.
On this day in 1974 soprano Kiri te Kanawa made an emergency Met debut as Desdemona (and her broadcast debut.)
Born on this day in 1888 actress Dame Edith Evans.
On this day in 1928 soprano Grace Moore made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Mimi.
On this day in 1968 mezzo-soprano Fiorenza Cossotto made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Amneris.
On this day in 1959 soprano Leonie Rysanek made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Lady Macbeth.
On this day in 2006 tenor Jonas Kaufmann made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Alfredo.
Born on this day in 1887 poet and expatriate Gertrude Stein.
Happy 83rd birthday soprano Martina Arroyo.
Born on this day in 1922 soprano Renata Tebaldi.
Happy 83rd birthday composer Philip Glass.
On this day in 1957 soprano Martha Mödl made her Metropolitan Opera debut as the Siegfried Brunnhilde.
On this day in 1966 the opening night of Sweet Charity starring Gwen Verdon, directed and choreographed by Bob Fosse.
Born on this day in 1882 actress Mary Boland.
On this day in 1961 the historic Metropolitan Opera debuts of Leontyne Price and Franco Corelli in Verdi’s Il trovatore.
On this day in 1958 soprano Inge Borkh made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Salome.
Happy 87th birthday to singer / dancer / actress Chita Rivera.
Born on this day in 1905 couturier Christian Dior.
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.
Happy 86th birthday mezzo-soprano Marilyn Horne.
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 leads.
Happy 64th birthday soprano/mezzo-soprano Waltraud Meier.
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.
