On this day 60 years ago, the imdominable Ethel Merman opened on Broadway in her greatest role.
On this day in 1978 tenor Rockwell Blake made his Met debut on tour in Minneapolis as Don Ottavio.
Born on this day in 1861 soprano Nellie Melba.
Born on this day basses Ezio Pinza (1892) and Boris Christoff (1914).
Double diva day!
Happy 70th birthday bass Ferruccio Furlanetto.
On this day in 1889 Massenet’s Esclarmonde premiered in Paris.
On this day in 1957 the Bob Merrill musical New Girl in Town opened on Broadway.
Born on this day in 1842 composer Arthur Sullivan.
On this day in 1988 Carrie: The Musical opened at the Virginia Theatre, to run five performances.
On this day 1959 Judy Garland made her Metropolitan Opera House debut.
On this day in 1907 Paul Dukas’ rarity Ariane et Barbe-bleue premiered in Paris with soprano Georgette Leblanc in the leading role.
Happy 64th birthday mezzo-soprano Anne Sofie von Otter.
Happy birthday to countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo.
On this day in 2018 the Metropolitan Opera celebrated 50 years at Lincoln Center.
Born on this day in 1941 soprano Ghena Dimitrova.
On this day in 1955 the Richard Adler / Jerry Ross musical Damn Yankees opened at the 46th Street Theatre, to run 1019 performances.
Born on this day in 1930 soprano Roberta Peters.
Born on this day in 1844 impresario Richard D’Oyly Carte.
Born on this day in 1897 Broadway lyricist Lorenz Hart.
On this day on 1990 mezzo-soprano Christa Ludwig celebrated her 30th anniversary Metropolitan Opera performance as Fricka.
On this day in 1902 Debussy’s Pelléas et Melisande premiered in Paris.
Happy 83rd birthday maestro Zubin Mehta.
On this day in 1900 the play Madame Butterfly by David Belasco opened at the Duke of York’s Theatre in London.
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.
