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.
Happy 88th birthday soprano Antonietta Stella.
Happy 88th birthday mezzo-soprano Rosalind Elias.
On this day in 1857 Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra premiered in Venice.
Born on this day in 1544 poet and playright Torquato Tasso.
Born on this day in 1910 composer Samuel Barber.
Born on this day in 1825 librettist and playwright Jules Barbier.
Born on this day in 1822 composer Victor Massé.
On this day in 1831 Vincenzo Bellini‘s La Sonnambula premiered in Milan.
Born on this day in 1748 composer William Shield.
On this day in 1943, actress Greer Garson delivered what remains the longest Academy Awards acceptance speech in history
On this day in 1965, The Sound of Music premiered at the Rivoli Theater in New York City.
Born on this day in 1917 songstress Dinah Shore.
On this day in 1862 Gounod’s La Reine de Saba premiered in Paris.
Happy 82nd birthday soprano Mirella Freni.
Born on this day in 1909 or thereabouts TV chef Fanny Cradock.
On this day in 1911 Victor Herbert‘s opera Natoma premiered in Philadelphia.
Happy 83rd birthday soprano Renata Scotto.
Born on this day in 1927 soprano Régine Crespin.
Born on this day in 1896 composer Nacio Herb Brown.
Born on this day in 1934 actress Rue McClanahan.
Born on this day in 1916 comedian Jackie Gleason.
Born on this day in 1932 director and designer Jean-Pierre Ponnelle.
Born on this day in 1922 author and editor Helen Gurley Brown.
Born on this day in 1909 soprano Marjorie Lawrence.
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.
