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 1904 definitive film star Joan Crawford.
Born on this day in 1912, the protean Martha Mödl.
Happy vernal equinox!
On this day in 1963, the musical Tovarich opened at the Broadway Theatre, starring Vivien Leigh and Jean Pierre Aumont.
On this day in 1951 soprano Victoria de los Angeles made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Marguerite.
Happy 92nd birthday soprano Antonietta Stella.
On this day in 1991 the Metropolitan Opera presented a new production of Parsifal directed by Otto Schenk and conducted by James Levine.
Born on this day in 1930 mezzo-soprano Rosalind Elias.
Happy 75th birthday to actress, singer and dancer Liza Minnelli.
On this day in 1954 John LaTouche‘s The Golden Apple began performances Off-Broadway at the Phoenix Theatre.
Born on this day in 1888 composer Max Steiner.
On this day in 1842, Verdi’s Nabucco had its premiere in Milan.
Happy 77th birthday soprano Kiri Te Kanawa.
Born on this day in 1888 actress Rafaela Ottiano.
On this day in 1970 mezzo-soprano Marilyn Horne made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Adalgisa.
Born on this day in 1900 composer Kurt Weill.
On this day in 1979 Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler‘s Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street opens at the Uris Theatre, to run 557 performances.
Happy 73rd birthday to Broadway diva Bernadette Peters.
Born on this day in 1899 contralto Marian Anderson.
Born on this day in 1802 author and playwright Victor Hugo.
Happy 87th birthday soprano Renata Scotto.
Born on this day in 1927 soprano Régine Crespin.
Born on this day in 1921 actress Giulietta Masina.
Born on this day in 1911 or so actress Merle Oberon.
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.
