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 1928, the melodrama Diamond Lil, written by and starring Mae West, opened at the Royale Theater, to run 176 performances.
On this day in 1876 Ponchielli’s La Gioconda premiered in Milan.
Born on this day in 1897 newscaster/columnist Walter Winchell.
Born on this day in 1928 model, actress and singer Joi Lansing.
Happy 87th birthday soprano Mary Costa.
On this day in 1859 Meyerbeer’s Dinorah premiered in Paris.
On this day in 1968, Stanley Kubrick‘s classic science-fiction movie 2001: A Space Odyssey premiered at the Uptown Theater in Washington D.C.
Born on this day in 1868 playwright Edmond Rostand.
On this day in 1889 the Eiffel Tower officially opened in Paris.
On this day in 1966 Barbra Streisand starred on the Color Me Barbra special on CBS.
Born on this day in 1936 composer Richard Rodney Bennett.
Happy 75th birthday bass Samuel Ramey.
Born on this day in 1822 novelist Henry Murger.
Born on this day in 1894 soprano Viorica Ursuleac.
Born on this day in 1904 or thereabouts actress Joan Crawford.
Born on this day in 1808 soprano Maria Malibran.
On this day in 1896 Giordano’s Andrea Chenier premiered in Milan.
On this day in 1962 Harold Rome’s musical I Can Get It For You Wholesale opened on Broadway.
Born on this day in 1923 musical director and conductor Mort Lindsey.
Born on this day in 1828 dramatist Henrik Ibsen.
Happy 70th birthday actress Glenn Close.
On this day in 1910, The Pipe of Desire by Frederick Shepherd Converse premiered at the Metropolitan Opera.
Born on this day in 1906 actress Brigitte Helm.
On this day in 1894 Massenet’s Thaïs premiered in Paris.
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.
