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 1926 songstress Julie London.
On this day in 1974 the Metropolitan Opera opened its season with a revival of I Vespri Siciliani.
Born on this day in 1894 soprano Elisabeth Rethberg.
Happy 86th birthday actress Sophia Loren.
Born on this day in 1905 actress Greta Garbo.
On this day in 1973, the Metropolitan Opera opened its season with a performance of Il trovatore featuring Plácido Domingo, Martina Arroyo, Cornell MacNeil, Mignon Dunn and John Macurdy.
Left this world on this day 43 years ago in Paris.
Born on this day in 1945 soprano Jessye Norman.
On this day in 1954 Britten’s Turn of the Screw premiered in Venice.
On this day in 1866 the Broadway musical was born. Sort of.
Born on this day in day in 1995 1895 composer Herbert Stothart.
Born on this day in 1921 actress Alexis Smith.
Happy 83rd birthday actress, singer and comedienne Jo Anne Worley.
Happy 60th birthday soprano Karita Mattila.
Happy 89th birthday actress, singer, and dancer Mitzi Gaynor.
Born on this day in 1910 soprano and founder of the Harlem School of the Arts Dorothy Maynor.
On this day in 1924, the operetta Rose-Marie opened at the Imperial Theatre, to run 557 performances.
Born on this day in 1922 actress and singer Yvonne de Carlo.
On this day in 1940 Vivien Leigh married Laurence Olivier.
Born on this day in 1898 actress Shirley Booth.
Born on this day in 1915 actress Ingrid Bergman.
Born on this day in 1947 actress and singer Alice Playten.
On this day in 1964, Mary Poppins premiered in Los Angeles.
On this day in 1951 the film An American in Paris premiered in London.
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.
