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 1986 baritone Thomas Hampson made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Count Almaviva.
On this day in 1988 Dolora Zajick made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Azucena.
On this day in 1965 mezzo-soprano Grace Bumbry made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Eboli.
Born on this day in 1887 soprano Maria Jeritza.
Happy 96th birthday actress Glynis Johns.
Happy 63rd birthday actor Christoph Waltz.
Born on this day in 1859 actress Eleanora Duse.
Born on this day in 1890 actor, comedian, author and television personality Groucho Marx.
Happy 84th birthday Julie Andrews!
On this day in 1791 Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte premiered in Vienna.
Born on this day in 1942 actress Madeline Kahn.
On this day in 1968 tenor Plácido Domingo made his official Metropolitan Opera debut as Maurizio in Adriana Lecouvreur.
Born on this day in 1923 actress and singer Mary McCarty.
Born on this day in 1898 composer George Gershwin.
Forty years ago today a new musical, Evita, opened at the Broadway Theatre, beginning a run of 1,567 performances.
On this day in 1982 the Larry Grossman / Betty Comden / Adolph Green musical A Doll’s Life opened on Broadway and closed after five performances.
Happy 78th birthday soprano Anna Tomowa-Sintow.
On this day in 1968 mezzo-soprano Shirley Verrett made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Carmen.
Happy 85th birthday actress Sophia Loren!
On this day in 1974 the Winter Garden Theatre was evacuated due to a bomb threat.
Happy 48th birthday soprano Anna Netrebko.
Departed this world on this day 42 years ago in Paris.
Born on this day in 1933 actor and director Zoe Caldwell.
Born on this day in 1874 composer Arnold Schoenberg.
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.
