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 1914, George Bernard Shaw‘s play Pygmalion premiered at His Majesty’s Theatre in London.
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Born on this day in 1932 Egyptian actor Omar Sharif.
On this day in 1928 the melodrama Diamond Lil, written by and starring Mae West, opened at the Royale Theatre, to run 176 performances.
On this day in 1876 Ponchelli’s La Gioconda premiered in Milan.
On this day in 1949 Rodgers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific opened on Broadway.
On this day in 1959 Susan Hayward won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in I Want to Live.
On this date in 1874 Johann Strauss Jr’s Die Fledermaus premiered in Vienna.
On this day in 1859 Meyerbeer’s Dinorah premiered in Paris.
On this day in 1961, The Happiest Girl in the World opened at Martin Beck Theater to run 97 performances.
Born on this day in 1805 writer and librettist Hans Christian Andersen.
Born on this day in 1883 American actor, director, and screenwriter Lon Chaney.
On this day in 1901 Antonin Dvorak‘s opera Rusalka premiered in Prague.
On this day in 1970 the musical Applause opened on Broadway.
On this day in 1792 King Gustav III of Sweden died after being shot in the back at a midnight masquerade ball at Stockholm’s Royal Opera 13 days earlier.
Born on this day in 1899 actress and author Gloria Swanson.
Born on this day in 1904 American mythologist and author Joseph Campbell.
On this day in 1955 Tennessee Williams‘ play Cat on a Hot Tin Roof opened at the Morosco Theatre, to run 594 performances.
On this day in 1896 Giordano’s Andrea Chenier premiered in Milan.
Born on this day in 1912 soprano/mezzo-soprano Martha Mödl,
On this day in 1963 Elliott Gould and Barbra Streisand were married.
Born on this day in 1928 television personality Fred Rogers.
On this day in 1859 Charles Gounod’s Faust premiered in Paris; five years later his opera Mirelle also premiered.
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