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 1906 soprano Zinka Milanov…
Born on this day in 1919 pianist and entertainer Liberace.
Born on this day in 1898 actress, singer, and fashion model Arletty.
Happy 87th birthday to actress and diseuse Siân Phillips.
Born on this day in 1922 actress Bea Arthur.
Born on this day in 1907 actress Katharine Hepburn.
Born on this day in 1888 composer Irving Berlin.
Born on this day in 1899, film and Broadway’s most elegant danseur, Fred Astaire.
On this day in 1958 Alfred Hitchcock‘s psychological thriller Vertigo premiered in San Francisco.
Happy birthday tenor Michael Fabiano.
Forty years ago tonight, Elizabeth Taylor made her Broadway debut as Regina in The Little Foxes.
Born on this day in 1895 actor Rudolph Valentino.
Born on this day in 1914 actor Tyrone Power and in 1915 actress and singer Alice Faye.
Born on this day in 1929 actress and humanitarian Audrey Hepburn.
Born on this day in 1906 actress and author Mary Astor.
Born on this day in 1885 columnist and actress Hedda Hopper.
Born on this day in 1917 actress and singer Danielle Darrieux.
Born on this day in 1924 ballerina and actress Zizi Jeanmaire.
Happy 88th birthday to actress, comedian, singer and writer Carol Burnett.
Born on this day in 1917 singer Ella Fitzgerald.
Happy 87th birthday actress, singer, dancer, author and activist Shirley MacLaine.
Born on this day in 1932 designer Halston.
Happy 86th birthday mezzo-soprano Fiorenza Cossotto.
Happy 89th birthday actress, comedian, director, and screenwriter Elaine May.
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.
