On this day in 1928, the melodrama Diamond Lil, written by and starring Mae West, opened at the Royale Theater, to run 176 performances. (Miss West revived the play several times over the years, playing Lil in New York City as late as 1951.) Born on this day in 1847 composer Francesco Paolo Tosti.Born on this day in 1898 tenor Julius Patzak.Also born on this day in 1898 singer and actor Paul Robeson.Born on this day in 1906 conductor Antal Dorati.Born on this day in 1910 mezzo-soprano/contralto Cloe Elmo.Happy 74th birthday bass-baritone Claudio Desderi.Happy 72nd birthday tenor and conductor Neil Jenkins.
When women go wrong, men go right after them
On this day in 1928, the melodrama Diamond Lil, written by and starring Mae West, opened at the Royale Theater, to run 176 performances.
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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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.
