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 1961 premier danseur Rudolf Nurevey defected from the (then) Soviet Union to the west via Paris.
Happy 43rd birthday actor Neil Patrick Harris.
Born on this day in 1884 tenor John McCormack.
On this day in 1855 Verdi’s Les vêpres siciliennes premiered in Paris.
Happy Birthday, happy birthday, New York, New York!
On this day in 1922 singer, actress and vaudevillian Judy Garland was born.
Born on this day in 1934 film personality Donald Duck..
On this day in 1786 commercially made ice cream was first advertised in the United States.
Happy 53rd birthday tenor Roberto Alagna.
Today the world of opera mourns the death of soprano and pedagogue Phyllis Curtin, who passed away yesterday at the age of 94.
On this day in 1876 bananas were introduced to the United States at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia.
Born on this day in 1920 mezzo-soprano Fedora Barbieri.
On this day in 1937 Margaret Mitchell won the Pulitzer Prize for Gone With the Wind.
Happy 79th birthday actress Sally Kellerman.
On this day in 1971 Ed Sullivan broadcast his final TV show on CBS.
On this day in 1979 the musical I Remember Mama opened at the Majestic Theater, to run 108 performances.
On this day in 1593 dramatist Christopher Marlowe was reportedly stabbed to death…
Born on this day in 1894 actress and comedian Beatrice Lillie.
Born on this day in 1924 opera record and video producer John Culshaw.
Born on this day 1911 actor Vincent Price.
Happy 95th or perhaps 99th birthday soprano Inge Borkh.
Born on this day in 1929 (more or less) soprano Beverly Sills.
On this day in 1966 Jerry Herman‘s Mame opened on at the Winter Garden Theatre, to run 1508 performances.
On this day in 1963 at the 16th Cannes Film Festival, The Leopard directed by Luchino Visconti won the Palme d’Or.