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.
Happy 82nd birthday soprano Teresa Stratas.
Born on this day in 1929 soprano and administrator Beverly Sills.
On this day in 1966 Jerry Herman‘s Mame opened at the Winter Garden Theatre, to run 1,508 performances.
Happy 87th birthday Dame Joan Collins!
Born on this day in 1813 composer Richard Wagner.
On this day in 1978 tenor Rockwell Blake made his Met debut on tour in Minneapolis as Don Ottavio.
Born on this day in 1861 soprano Nellie Melba.
Born on this day in 1892 bass Ezio Pinza.
Born on this day in 1918 soprano Birgit Nilsson.
On this day in 1889 Massenet’s Esclarmonde premiered in Paris.
Born on this day in 1925 soprano Patrice Munsel.
On this day in 1988 the musical Carrie opened on Broadway, to run five performances.
“Met’s Roller Coaster Season Dips Back Into Artistic Basement with Walküre“
On this day in 1958 Alfred Hitchcock‘s Vertigo premiered at the Stage Door Theater in San Francisco.
Happy birthday tenor Michael Fabiano.
On this day in 2017 the Metropolitan Opera celebrated 50 years at Lincoln Center.
On this day in 1948 the Metropolitan Opera presented Der Rosenkavalier in Northrup Memorial Auditorium in Minneapolis.
On this day in 1955 the Richard Adler/Jerry Ross musical Damn Yankees opened at the 46th Street Theatre, to run 1,019 performances.
Born on this day in 1930 soprano Roberta Peters.
Born on this day in 1906 actress and author Mary Astor.
On this day in 1939, the Metropolitan Opera launched a gala “New York World’s Fair Season.”
Born on this day in 1917 actress Danielle Darrieux.
On this day in 1928 Rosa Ponselle and Giovanni Martinelli graced the boards of Public Hall, Cleveland in a Met touring performance of Aida.
Happy maestro day!
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.
