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 1927 tenor Alfredo Kraus.
Born on this day in 1892 artist and designer Erté (né Romain de Tirtoff).
On this day in 1934, Anything Goes, with words and music by Cole Porter, opened at the Alvin Theatre to run 420 performances.
Happy 78th birthday to composer, performer, director, vocalist, filmmaker and choreographer Meredith Monk.
On this day in 1962 soprano Régine Crespin made her Metropolitan Opera debut as the Marschallin. Mezzo Hertha Töpper debuted as Octavian and Lotte Lehmann was stage director.
Born on this day in 1882 soprano Amelita Galli-Curci.
On this day in 1926 the Metropolitan Opera presented the US premiere of Puccini’s Turandot.
On this day in 1918 soprano Rosa Ponselle made her Metropolitan Opera debut (and her first appearance in opera anywhere) as Leonora.
Born on this day in 1926 soprano Leonie Rysanek.
On this day in 1940 Walt Disney‘s animated musical film Fantasia premiered at New York’s Broadway Theatre.
Born on this day in 1929 actress Grace Kelly, later Princess Grace of Monaco.
Born on this day in 1889 debonair actor, dancer and singer Clifton Webb.
Born on this day in 1889 actor’s actor Claude Rains.
Born on this day in 1914 actress and inventor Hedy Lamarr.
On this day in 1926, the Imperial Theatre was the setting for the opening night of the George and Ira Gershwin musical Oh, Kay!, starring Gertrude Lawrence and Victor Moore.
Born on this day in 1926 soprano Joan Sutherland.
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.
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.
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.
