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.
“I think women of my age are still attractive”
Happy 81st birthday actress Diana Rigg.
No one can ever say I didn’t sing
Born on this day in 1868 soprano Florence Foster Jenkins.
L’oiseau d’or
Born on this day in 1821 mezzo-soprano, pedagogue and composer Pauline Viardot.
Wheeling: Summer of 1914
Born on this day in 1914 soprano Eleanor Steber.
“Rhythm is born in all of us”
Born on this day in 1911 actress, dancer and singer Ginger Rogers.
Flower girl
Happy 40th birthday to Broadway’s Laura Benanti.
Primavera
Born on this day in 1924 tenor Carlo Bergonzi.
Overnight sensation
Born on this day in 1895 soprano Kirsten Flagstad.
Clean cut
Born on this day in 1931 actor and crooner Tab Hunter.
Golden boy
Happy 50th birthday tenor Jonas Kaufmann.
Party animal
Born on this day in 1929 baritone Eberhard Waechter.
Intent and purpose
>Born on this day in 1912 soprano Christel Goltz.
“Real talent is a mystery”
Born on this day in 1899 film director and producer George Cukor.
Art and entertainment
Born on this day in 1917, 1915 or, most likely, 1910, soprano Dorothy Kirsten.
Drama queen
Born on this day in 1889 writer, filmmaker and designer Jean Cocteau.
We must all hang together
Happy Independence Day All U.S. Parterrians!
Stuck in the middle With you
Happy 80th birthday mezzo-soprano Brigitte Fassbaender.
Reform school
Born on this day in 1714 composer Christoph Willibald von Gluck.
Coming out
On this day in 1933 Richard Strauss’ Arabella premiered in Dresden.
Hoops to swell her Pride
Born on this day in 1685 playwright and librettist John Gay.
Out of the pastiche
Born on this day in 1911 composer Bernard Herrmann.
Let’s talk about sax
Born on this day in 1902 composer Richard Rodgers.
I’ll take the fall
The days are getting shorter, but you can keep the prattle going this fall’s Talk of the Town! You will, you can, you must join in the discussion about: Great mezzo soprano performances (October),
Gained in translation (November), Teleport me back to… (December).
Win a Free Ticket to Opening Night at the Met!
Quinn Kelsey and Lise Davidsen star in the Met's new Macbeth. We're giving away one ticket, so screw your courage to the sticking place and enter now!
