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 1908 definitive American film actress Bette Davis.
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On this day in 1964 Stephen Sondheim’s Anyone Can Whistle premiered on Broadway and closed after nine performances.
On this day in 1975 soprano Magda Olivero made her historical, belated Metropolitan Opera debut as Tosca.
On this day in 1977 tenor Guy Chauvet made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Samson.
At tonight’s performance of Das Rheingold, the role of Woglinde will be sung by Aprile Millo.
On this day in 1999 the Metropolitan Opera presented its premiere of Carlisle Floyd‘s Susannah.
On this day in 1970 tenor Nico Castel made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Don Basilo in Le nozze di Figaro.
On this day in 1879 Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin premiered in Moscow.
Happy 77th birthday bass Samuel Ramey.
Happy 69th birthday mezzo-soprano/soprano Maria Ewing.
On this day in 1964 the Jule Styne-Bob Merrill musical Funny Girl opened on Broadway.
On this day in 1943 the Metropolitan Opera on tour performed La traviata at the Chicago Civic Opera House.
Born on this day in 1808 prima donna Maria Malibran.
On this day in 1977 soprano Ileana Cotrubas made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Mimi.
Born on this day in 1912 soprano/mezzo-soprano Martha Mödl.
On this day in 1975 the Metropolitan Opera completed its first integral Ring cycle since 1962.
Born on this day in 1890 two legendary tenors.
Happy 73rd birthday soprano Diana Soviero.
On this day in 1977 Alban Berg’s Lulu premiered at the Metropolitan Opera.
On this day in 1951 soprano Victoria de los Angeles made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Marguerite.
On this day in 1991 soprano Renée Fleming made her impromptu Metropolitan Opera stage debut as Countess Almaviva.
On this day in 1956 Lerner and Loewe’s My Fair Lady opened at the Mark Hellinger Theatre, to run 2,717 performances.
On this day in 1991, a new production of Wagner’s Parsifal premiered at the Metropolitan Opera.
Happy 90th birthday mezzo-soprano Rosalind Elias.
