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 1928 the American premiere of Richard Strauss‘s Die Ägyptische Helena at the Metropolitan Opera, with Maria Jeritza typecast as the most beautiful woman in the world.
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Born on this day in 1913 actress Vivien Leigh.
Born on this day in 1881 singer and actress Gaby Deslys.
Happy 72nd birthday to songstress Lulu.
On this day in 2005 mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato made her Met debut as Cherubino.
“Even a man who is pure in heart and says his prayers by night may become Paul Lynde when the wolfbane blooms and the moon is full and bright.”
On this day in 1938, Orson Welles directed and narrated a radio adaptation of War of the Worlds.
Happy 93rd birthday songstress Cleo Laine.
On this day in 1959 mezzo-soprano Giulietta Simionato made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Azucena.
Born on this day in 1927 Broadway and cabaret legend Barbara Cook.
Happy 41st birthday to visionary Yuval Sharon.
Born on this day in 1844 actress supreme Sarah Bernhardt.
On this day in 1943 Paul Robeson opened in the title role of Othello at the Shubert Theatre opposite Uta Hagen and José Ferrer. The revival ran 296 performances.
Born on this day in 1902 actress Miriam Hopkins.
On this day in 1951 I Love Lucy, starring Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz debuted on CBS.
Born on this day in 1893 actress Lillian Gish.
On this day in 1962 Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? opened at the Billy Rose Theatre, to run 664 performances.
On this day in 1958 Don Ameche and Elaine Stritch opened on Broadway in the musical Goldilocks.
Born on this day in 1813 composer Giuseppe Verdi. Born on this day in 1924 soprano Leyla Gencer.
On this day in 1979, the musical revue Sugar Babies opened at the Mark Hellinger Theatre, to run 1,208 performances.
Born on this day in 1917 actress and dancer June Allyson.
On this day in 1963 Barbra Streisand guest starred on The Judy Garland Show.
