“He taught us how to be stars. It was a case of knowing how to behave properly in a way that the public expected. Mr. Griffith really taught me everything.” — Bessie Love

On this day in 1838 Berlioz’ Benvenuto Cellini premiered in Paris.

On this day in 1868 Bizet’s Les pêcheurs de perles premiered in Paris.
Happy 78th birthday baritone Thomas Allen.
Happy 73rd birthday soprano Francoise Pollet.
Happy 65th birthday tenor and director Laurence Dale.
Birthday anniversaries of composers Henry Purcell (1659) and Niccolò Jommelli (1714); soprano Judith Nelson (1939) and conductor Christopher Hogwood (1941).

Happy birthday to multitalented Playbill scribe Ryan McPhee.

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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