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 1900 writer Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.
On this day in 1946 actress Gilda Radner was born.
Born on this day in 1932 soprano Anna Moffo.
Born on this day in 1922 actress Eleanor Parker.
Happy 30th birthday baritone Jarrett Ott.
On this day in 1916, actress Mary Pickford signed a contract with Adolph Zukor of Famous Players Films Company guaranteeing her $1,000,000.
Born on this day in 1927 dancer and choreographer Bob Fosse.
Happy 68th birthday actress Meryl Streep.
Born on this day 1921 voluptuous actress Jane Russell.
Born on this day in 1819 composer Jacques Offenbach.
Born on this day in 1919 actor Louis Jourdan.
Born on this day in 1903 actress and singer Jeanette MacDonald.
On this day in 1967 Barbra Streisand‘s concert “A Happening in Central Park” happened in Central Park.
On this day in 1994 Ruth Bader Ginsburg was sworn in as a US Supreme Court Justice.
Happy 71st birthday President Donald Trump.
On this day in 1956, the floperetta Shangri-La opened at the Winter Garden Theatre, to run a whopping 21 performances.
On this day in 1963 Cleopatra premiered at New York’s Rivoli Theatre.
Born on this day in 1922 singer, actress and vaudevillian Judy Garland.
Born on this day in 1891 composer Cole Porter.
Born on this day in 1921 actress Alexis Smith.
Born on this day in 1875 writer Thomas Mann.
Born on this day in 1912 singer and Alice Faye.
Happy 51st birthday mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli.
Born on this day in 1904 tenor Jan Peerce.
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.
