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 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.
Born on this day in 1813 composer Richard Wagner (not pictured).
On this day in 1959 that greatest of all musicals, Gypsy, opened on Broadway
On this day in 1896 the six-ton chandelier of the Palais Garnier opera house in Paris fell on the crowd.
Born on this day in 1861 soprano Nellie Melba.
Happy 57th birthday soprano Lauren Flanigan.
On this day in 1890 Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana premiered in Rome.
Happy 67th birthday bass Ferruccio Furlanetto.
Born on this day in 1567 composer Claudio Giovanni Antonio Monteverdi.
Happy 91st birthday soprano Patrice Munsel.
Born on this day in 1842 composer Arthur Sullivan.
On this day in 1988 Carrie-The Musical opened on Broadway, to run five performances.
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.
