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.
Born on this day in 1923 actress and singer Anne Jeffreys.
Born on this day in 1963 tenor Marcello Giordani.
Born on this day in 76 AD Roman Emperor Hadrian.
Born on this day in 1909 actress Ann Sothern.
Born on this day in 1926 bodybuilder and actor Steve Reeves.
Born on this day in 1920 screenwriter and director Federico Fellini.
Born on this day in 1930 actress and activist ‘Tippi’ Hedren.
Happy 75th birthday soprano Katia Ricciarelli.
Happy 99th birthday to television legend and animal health advocate Betty White.
Happy 87th birthday mezzo-soprano Marilyn Horne.
On this day in 1958 Samuel Barber‘s Vanessa had its world premiere at the Met.
On this day in 1900 Puccini’s Tosca premiered in Rome.
Born on this day in 1905 actress Kay Francis.
Born on this day in 1938 mezzo-soprano Tatiana Troyanos.
On this day in 1934 soprano Lotte Lehmann made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Sieglinde.
Happy 86th birthday baritone Sherrill Milnes.
Happy 65th birthday soprano/mezzo-soprano Waltraud Meier.
On this day in 1955 contralto Marian Anderson made her historic Metropolitan Opera debut.
Born on this day in 1913 actress Loretta Young.
On this day in 1875 the Palais Garnier was inaugurated in Paris.
Happy 84th birthday soprano/mezzo-soprano Grace Bumbry.
Born on this day in 1905 actress Anna May Wong.
On this day in 1913 soprano Frieda Hempel sang her second performance at the Metropolitan Opera, the Queen in Les Huguenots opposite Emmy Destinn, Enrico Caruso, Dinh Gilly, Léon Rothier and Adamo Didur.
Born on this day in 1923 actress Valentina Cortese.