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 to comedian Barry (“Dame Edna”) Humphries.
Born on this day in 1921 dancer Vera-Ellen.
Born on this day in 1905 composer Harold Arlen.
On this day in 1947 Christian Dior unveiled the “New Look.”
Happy 88th birthday to actress and singer Tina Louise.
Happy 95th birthday soprano Leontyne Price.
Born on this day in 1909 actress, singer, and dancer Carmen Miranda.
Born on this day in 1922 actress Audrey Meadows.
Born on this day in 1923 actress Dora Bryan.
Born on this day circa 1917 actress and socialite Zsa Zsa Gabor.
Born on this day in 1918 actress and director Ida Lupino.
Born on this day in 1956 actor Nathan Lane.
Born on this day in 1925 actress and singer Elaine Stritch.
Today is the 100th anniversary of the birth of soprano Renata Tebaldi.
Born on this day actresses Carol Channing (1921) and Tallulah Bankhead (1902).
Happy 85th birthday to actress and activist Dame Vanessa Redgrave.
On this day in 1966 the musical Sweet Charity opened at the Palace Theatre, with Gwen Verdon and Bob Fosse collaborating.
Born on this day in 1873 author and woman of letters Colette.
On this day in 1961: the historic Metropolitan Opera debuts of Leontyne Price and Franco Corelli in Verdi’s Il trovatore.
Born on this day in 1923 actress and singer Anne Jeffreys.
Premiered on this day in 1909 Richard Strauss‘s Elektra.
Born on this day in 1883 actress Estelle Winwood.
Happy 89th birthday to Broadway singer-dancer supreme Chita Rivera.
Born on this day in 1878 actress and acting coach Constance Collier.
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.
