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 1941 the Hugh Martin–Ralph Blane musical Best Foot Forward opened on Broadway.
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On this day in 1791 Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte premiered in Vienna.
Born on this day in 1942 singer and actress Madeline Kahn.
On this day in 1945 Mildred Price opened at the Strand Theatre in New York City.
Happy 59th birthday opera director Peter Sellars.
Born on this day in 1898 composer George Gershwin.
Happy 47th birthday actress Catherine Zeta Jones.
Happy birthday drag virtuosa Vicky Boofont.
On this day in 1982 the Larry Grossman / Betty Comden / Adolph Green musical A Doll’s Life opened on Broadway, to close after five performances.
Happy birthday librarian, crossword crafter and opera maven Brad Wilber.
Happy birthday to the 74 years young soprano Jill Gomez.
Happy 82nd birthday actress Sophia Loren.
On this day in 1970 The Mary Tyler Moore Show premiered on CBS.
Happy 45th birthday soprano Anna Netrebko.
Born on this day in 1925 actress and chanteuse Dorothy Loudon.
Happy 40h birthday mezzo-soprano Elina Garanca.
On this day in 1954 Britten’s Turn of the Screw premiered in Venice.
Born on this day in 1922 “The Peruvian Songbird,” Yma Sumac.
On this day in 1910 the premiere performance of Gustav Mahler‘s Symphony No. 8 in Munich featured a chorus of 852 singers and an orchestra of 171 players.
On this day in 1850 “Swedish Nightingale” Jenny Lind gave her first United States concert.
On this day in 1868 Bizet’s Les Pêcheurs de perles premiered in Paris.
Born on this day in 1828 writer Lev Nikolayevich “Leo” Tolstoy.
Born on this day in 1932 singer Patsy Cline.
