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 1968, the musical Promises Promises opened at the Shubert Theater, to run 1,281 performances.
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On this day in 1955, the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Pipe Dream, starring Helen Traubel as the proprietress of a small-town brothel, opened at Shubert Theater to run 245 performances.
Born on this day in 1797 composer Gaetano Donizetti.
Born on this day in 1881 Austrian author Stefan Zweig,
Born on this day in 1903 Broadway impresario David Merrick.
On this day in 1887 Victorien Sardou’s melodrama La Tosca premiered in Paris.
>On this day in 1903, Enrico Caruso made his United States debut at the Metropolitan Opera House in Rigoletto.
On this day in 1898, Mascagni’s Iris premiered in Rome.
On this day in 1620 the Plymouth Colony settlers signed the Mayflower Compact.
On this day in 1901 Jules Massenet’s “conte lyrique” Grisélidis premiered at the Opéra-Comique.
Born on this day in 1889 actor Clifton Webb.
On this day in 1959 Rocky and His Friends debuted on ABC.
On this day in 1866 the opera Mignon premiered at the Théâtre Impérial de l’Opéra-Comique, Paris.
On this day in 1908 Arturo Toscanini made his Metropolitan Opera debut conducting a new production of Aïda, with Emmy Destinn, also making her debut, in the title role.
On this day in 1903 Eugen d’Albert‘s Tiefland premiered in Prague.
Born on this day in 1926 soprano Leonie Rysanek.
Born on this day in 1929 actress, later princess Grace Kelly.
On this day in 1725 Handel’s opera Tamerlano premiered in London.
On this day in 1955, the musical The Vamp opened at the Winter Garden Theater, to run 60 performances.
On this day in 1939 Ninotchka, starring Greta Garbo, premiered.
Born on this day in 1912 American actress June Havoc.
Happy 79th birthday to dramatic soprano Dame Gwyneth Jones!
Born on this day in 1692 French poet Louis Racine.
On this day in 1872 suffragist Susan B. Anthony voted for Ulysses S. Grant.
