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 1897 soprano Vivienne Segal, whose remarkable Broadway résumé included starring roles in the Ziegfeld Follies, The Desert Song, The Three Musketeers, The Chocolate Soldier, I Married an Angel, Pal Joey and A Connecticut Yankee.
Born on this day in 1919 comedienne and songstress Virginia O’Brien.
Born on this day in 1912 soprano Marta Eggerth.
Born on this day in 1927 comedienne, actress and singer Edie Adams.
Born on this day in 1894 Empress of the Blues Bessie Smith.
Happy 81st birthday actress Julie Christie.
Happy Diva Day 2!
Happy Diva Day!
On this day in 1967 actress Melina Mercouri brushed up her song and dance skills to open Illya Darling, a musical version of Never on Sunday. The show ran 319 performances at the Mark Hellinger Theatre.
Born on this day in 1923 actress and singer Jane Kean.
On this day in 1992 soprano Deborah Polaski made her Met debut as Kundry.
Born on this day in 1915 singer, songwriter and actress Billie Holiday.
Born on this day in 1900 soprano Gina Cigna.
Happy 60th birthday soprano Anna Caterina Antonacci.
Born on this day 99 years ago, actress and singer Doris Day.
Good Friday 2021.
Happy 92nd birthday actress and singer Jane Powell.
Born on this day in 1911 soprano Elisabeth Grümmer.
On this day day in 1970, the Betty Comden / Adolph Green / Charles Strouse / Lee Adams musical Applause opened at the Palace Theatre, to run 896 performances. Lauren Bacall starred as Margo Channing.
Born on this day in 1918 actress and singer Pearl Bailey.
Born on this day in 1921 actor Dirk Bogarde.
Born on this day in 1899 actress, producer and entrepreneuse Gloria Swanson.
On this day in 1964 the Jule Styne–Bob Merrill musical Funny Girl opened on Broadway.
Happy 82nd birthday to designer Bob Mackie.
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.
