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.
On this day in 1967 actress Melina Mercouri brushed up her song and dance skills to open Illya Darling, a musical version of Never on Sunday. The show ran 319 performances at the Mark Hellinger Theatre.
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Born on this day in 1923 actress and singer Jane Kean.
On this day in 1992 soprano Deborah Polaski made her Met debut as Kundry.
Born on this day in 1915 singer, songwriter and actress Billie Holiday.
Born on this day in 1900 soprano Gina Cigna.
Happy 60th birthday soprano Anna Caterina Antonacci.
Born on this day 99 years ago, actress and singer Doris Day.
Good Friday 2021.
Happy 92nd birthday actress and singer Jane Powell.
Born on this day in 1911 soprano Elisabeth Grümmer.
On this day day in 1970, the Betty Comden / Adolph Green / Charles Strouse / Lee Adams musical Applause opened at the Palace Theatre, to run 896 performances. Lauren Bacall starred as Margo Channing.
Born on this day in 1918 actress and singer Pearl Bailey.
Born on this day in 1921 actor Dirk Bogarde.
Born on this day in 1899 actress, producer and entrepreneuse Gloria Swanson.
On this day in 1964 the Jule Styne–Bob Merrill musical Funny Girl opened on Broadway.
Happy 82nd birthday to designer Bob Mackie.
Born on this day in 1904 definitive film star Joan Crawford.
Born on this day in 1912, the protean Martha Mödl.
On this day in 1963, the musical Tovarich opened at the Broadway Theatre, starring Vivien Leigh and Jean Pierre Aumont.
On this day in 1951 soprano Victoria de los Angeles made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Marguerite.
Happy 92nd birthday soprano Antonietta Stella.
On this day in 1991 the Metropolitan Opera presented a new production of Parsifal directed by Otto Schenk and conducted by James Levine.
Born on this day in 1930 mezzo-soprano Rosalind Elias.
