On this day in 1925 in Dayton, Tennessee, the so-called “Monkey Trial” began with John T. Scopes, a young high school science teacher, accused of teaching evolution in violation of the Butler Act. Born on this day in 1895 composer Carl OrffBorn on this day in 1903 mezzo-soprano Ebe StignaniBorn on this day in 1913 soprano Ljuba WelitschBorn on this day in 1919 bass Ian WallaceHappy 85th birthday mezzo-soprano Josephine VeaseyBorn on this day in 1932 bass-baritone Gerd NienstedtHappy 75th birthday soprano Helen DonathHappy 46th birthday tenor Jonas Kaufmann
Monkey business
On this day in 1925 in Dayton, Tennessee, the so-called “Monkey Trial” began with John T. Scopes, a young high school science teacher accused of teaching evolution in violation of the Butler Act.
WindyCityOperaman
Dan Soda (Windy City Operaman) is a Chicago native whose first visit to opera was at age 17 and Massenet’s Werther with Troyanos and Kraus. Nothing was ever the same. Opera and concert performances, recordings and video are an obsession. He prepares Parterre Box’s daily birthday and anniversary tributes. He also enjoys concerts, live theater and movies.
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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.
