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 1918 composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein.
Happy 64th birthday director Francesca Zambello.
Happy birthday to actor, playwright, novelist, screenwriter, memoirist, drag legend and cabaret artiste Charles Busch.
Born on this day in 1893 poet, short story writer, critic, and satirist Dorothy Parker.
Born on this day in 1918 author and actress Jacqueline Susann.
Born on this day in 1883 designer Coco Chanel.
Born on this day in 1750 composer Antonio Salieri.
Born on this day in 1893 actress, playwright and screenwriter Mae West.
Happy 62nd birthday Madonna.
Born on this day in 1923 actress and singer Alice Ghostley.
Born this day in 1899 director and producer Alfred Hitchcock.
On this day in 1950, the film Sunset Blvd. opened at Radio City Music Hall.
Born on this day in 1902 actress Norma Shearer.
Born on this day in 1884 actress and singer Billie Burke.
On this day in 1884 the cornerstone for the Statue of Liberty was laid on Bedloe’s Island.
Happy 60th birthday soprano Deborah Voigt.
Happy 61st birthday baritone Simon Keenlyside.
Happy 83rd birthday soprano Gundula Janowitz.
On this day in 1963, Barbra Streisand sang at the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas… opening for Liberace.
Born on this day in 1876 actress and pedagogue Maria Ouspenskaya.
Born on this day in 1913 actor Laird Cregar.
On this day in 1940 Bugs Bunny made his film debut A Wild Hare, directed by Tex Avery.
Born on this day in 1909 actress and chanteuse Vivian Vance.
Born on this day in 1894 soprano Yvonne Printemps.
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.
