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.
On this day in 1961: the historic Metropolitan Opera debuts of Leontyne Price and Franco Corelli in Verdi’s Il trovatore.
Born on this day in 1923 actress and singer Anne Jeffreys.
Premiered on this day in 1909 Richard Strauss‘s Elektra.
Born on this day in 1883 actress Estelle Winwood.
Happy 89th birthday to Broadway singer-dancer supreme Chita Rivera.
Born on this day in 1878 actress and acting coach Constance Collier.
Born on this day in 1926 bodybuilder and actor Steve Reeves.
Born on this day in 1926 actress Patricia Neal.
On this day in 1853 Verdi’s Il trovatore premiered in Rome.
Happy 91st birthday actress Tippi Hedren.
Born on this day in 1927 singer, actress, comedian, dancer and activist Eartha Kitt.
Born on this day in 1908 actress and singer Ethel Merman.
Born on this day in 1901 actress, singer, dancer, writer and producer Bebe Daniels.
Born on this day in 1905 actress Kay Francis.
Born on this day 1910 impossibly difficult actress Luise Rainer.
On this day in 1934 soprano Lotte Lehmann made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Sieglinde.
Born on this day in 1939 actor Sal Mineo.
On this dayin 1956 an encore live TV presentation of Peter Pan starred Mary Martin.
Born on this day in 1911 ecdysiast Gypsy Rose Lee.
Born on this day in 1913 actress and clothes horse Loretta Young.
Also on this day in 1977 soprano Edita Gruberova made her Met debut as the Queen of the Night.
Happy 85th birthday soprano/mezzo-soprano Grace Bumbry.
Born on this day in 1897 actress Marion Davies.
Born on this day ballerina and actress Vera Zorina.