2 Jul 2023
Happy Birthday to German composer Christoph Willibald Gluck, born #OTD day in 1714! Considered one of the original reformers in the genre, his best-known operas include Orfeo ed Euridice, Alceste, and Iphigénie en Tauride. Catch the former at the Met next season! #TodayInOpera
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11 Jun 2023
Happy Birthday to Richard Strauss, born #OTD in 1864 in Munich, Germany! Known for his complex and beautiful orchestrations, his operas include Salome, Elektra, and Der Rosenkavalier, all staples of the opera repertory. #TodayInOpera
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7 Jun 2023
#OTD in 1945, Britten's tragic opera Peter Grimes premiered in London. The piece was inspired by George Crabbe's narrative poem "The Borough," and featured the composer's partner Peter Pears in the title role, alongside Joan Cross as Ellen. #TodayInOpera Photo: ENO/Angus McBean
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18 May 2023
Happy Birthday to librettist Francesco Maria Piave, born #OTD in 1810 in Venice, Italy. Piave wrote opera libretti for a variety of composers, but is most known for his collaborations with Giuseppe Verdi, including La Traviata and Rigoletto. #TodayInOpera
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30 Mar 2023
Mozart's Die Zauberflöte made its Met Opera debut #OTD in 1900, starring Marcella Sembrich in the iconic role of The Queen of the Night. Simon McBurney's new production of this perennial favorite opera comes to the Met stage this May! #TodayInOpera
Photo: Met Opera Archives
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11 Mar 2023
March 11th is an important day for fans of Verdi! #OTD in 1851, Rigoletto premiered at Teatro La Fenice in Venice in front of a sold out crowd. In 1867, Don Carlos gave its first performance (in French) as part of a commission by the Paris Opera. #TodayInOpera
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10 Mar 2023
#OTD in 1749, librettist Lorenzo Da Ponte was born in the republic of Venice, where he led a wild & scandalous life before eventually settling in New York. He is most famous for his collaborations with Mozart on Le Nozze di Figaro, Don Giovanni & Così Fan Tutte. #TodayInOpera
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6 Mar 2023
#OTD in 1853, Verdi's La Traviata premiered in Venice. Despite a lackluster opening reception, the opera has since become a staple of the repertory, thanks to its profoundly beautiful music & sympathetic heroine. Catch Angel Blue in the title role this month! #TodayInOpera
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27 Feb 2023
#OTD in 1890, Bellini's Norma was performed for the first time on the Met Opera stage, starring Lilli Lehmann in the title role. This classic returns to the Met tomorrow night with star soprano Sonya Yoncheva as the tragic heroine. #TodayInOpera
Photo: Mahler Foundation
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24 Feb 2023
Happy Birthday to Italian librettist and poet Arrigo Boito, born #OTD in 1842! In addition to contributing the words for Verdi's Falstaff & Otello, & Ponchielli's La Gioconda, Boito's own opera Mefistofele remains in the standard repertory to this day. #TodayInOpera
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9 Feb 2023
#OTD in 1893, Verdi's final opera, Falstaff, premiered at La Scala in Milan. At 79 years old, Verdi claimed that he had composed this piece simply for his own enjoyment, starting with the fugue finale. This delightful comedy returns to the Met Opera this spring. #TodayInOpera
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31 Jan 2023
Happy Birthday to librettist Felice Romani, born #OTD in 1788. The Italian poet and scholar became one of the most successful opera librettists of the Bel Canto era, writing words for classics like L'Elisir d'Amore, Norma, La Sonnambula, & Anna Bolena. #TodayInOpera
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26 Jan 2023
#OTD in 1911, Strauss' Der Rosenkavalier had its world premiere at the Königliches Opernhaus in Dresden in front of a sold out crowd, becoming an immediate success with audiences. It returns to the Met this spring with Lise Davidsen, Isabel Leonard & Erin Morley. #TodayInOpera
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26 Jan 2023
The world premiere of Poulenc's Dialogues des Carmélites took place #OTD in 1957 at La Scala, with Virginia Zeani (L), Leyla Gencer (seated) & Fiorenza Cossotto (R). Sat 1/28 is your last chance this season to catch a stellar Met cast. #TodayInOpera
Photo: Collection Particulère
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22 Jan 2023
#OTD in 1934, Shostakovitch's Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk premiered in St. Petersburg. An instant hit with audiences worldwide, the opera and its composer were denounced by Stalin's government, and the piece all but disappeared from stages until the 1960s. #TodayInOpera
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14 Jan 2023
123 years ago today, Tosca made its world premiere in Rome! Puccini's heroine has captured the hearts of audiences ever since, and this classic remains one of the most performed operas in the world! Catch it when it returns to the Met stage this spring. #OTD #TodayInOpera
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7 Jan 2023
Happy Birthday to Francis Poulenc, born #OTD in 1899 in Paris! This Friday, we look forward to welcoming nearly 500 high school and college students to the final dress rehearsal of his beautifully tragic opera Dialogues des Carmélites. #TodayInOpera
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24 Dec 2022
Verdi's Aida premiered #OTD in 1871 at the Khedivial Opera House in Cairo. Originally commissioned for the venue's grand opening, the performance was delayed due to the Franco-Prussian War. #TodayInOpera #OperaHistory
Pictured: 1871 production set design by Philippe Chaperon
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23 Dec 2022
On this day in the year 1920, Don Carlo was performed for the very first time on the Metropolitan Opera stage!
#OTD #TodayInOpera #OperaHistory
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9 Dec 2022
On December 9, 1913, Richard Strauss' Der Rosenkavalier premiered on the Met Opera stage, starring Margarete Ober as Octavian and Frieda Hempel as the Marschallin. Catch Robert Carsen's production of this glorious opera this spring! #OTD #TodayInOpera
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