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 1913 actress Coral Browne.
On this day in 1943, the musical film Stormy Weather premiered in New York City.
Born on this day in 1938 actress Natalie Wood.
Born on this day in 1868 soprano Florence Foster Jenkins.
Happy 41st birthday to Broadway’s Laura Benanti.
Happy Bastille Day!
On this day in 2010 Broadway musical legends Bernadette Peters and Elaine Stritch joined the cast of A Little Night Music at the Walter Kerr Theatre.
Born on this day in 1895 soprano Kirsten Flagstad.
Born on this day in 1925 soprano Mattiwilda Dobbs and tenor Nicolai Gedda.
Happy 51st birthday tenor Jonas Kaufmann.
On this day in 1930 a cabaret singer named Ethel Merman made her vaudeville debut.
Born on this day in 1951 actress, director and (erstwhile) model Anjelica Huston.
Born on this day in 1939 mezzo-soprano Elena Obraztsova.
Born on this day in 1910 soprano Dorothy Kirsten.
Born on this day in 1755 actress Sarah Siddons.
Happy Independence Day to all US-based members of the cher public!
Happy 73rd birthday to Broadway diva Betty Buckley.
On this day in 1929 impresario Florenz Ziegfeld presented a youngster named Ruby Keeler in the title role of the Gershwins’ musical Show Girl.
Born on this day in 1892 author James M. Cain.
On this day in 1954, Carol Haney was ill for the matinee performance of The Pajama Game and her understudy Shirley MacLaine went on.
Happy 36th birthday mezzo-soprano Anita Rachvelishvili!
Born on this day in 1932 soprano Anna Moffo.
On this day The Ziegfeld Follies of 1911 opened at the Jardin de Paris, with a cast boasting Fanny Brice, Bert Williams, The Dolly Sisters, Leon Errol, Bessie McCoy and Jeanne Eagels.
Happy birthday to baritone Jarrett Ott.
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.
