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 54th birthday baritone Peter Mattei.
Happy 70th birthday tenor Neil Shicoff.
Happy 74th birthday mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade.
On this day in 1979 distinguished film actress Liv Ullmann made her Broadway song-and-dance bow.
Born on this day in 1931 mezzo-soprano/soprano Shirley Verrett.
Born on this day in 1894 actress, comedienne and diseuse Beatrice Lillie.
Born on this day in 1924 record and video producer John Culshaw.
Happy Memorial Day, US Paterrians.
Happy 81st birthday soprano Teresa Stratas.
Born on this day in 1929 soprano and administrator Beverly Sills.
On this day in 1966 Angela Lansbury opened in Jerry Herman‘s Mame at the Winter Garden Theatre.
Happy 83rd birthday soprano Ingeborg Hallstein.
Born on this day in 1813 composer Richard Wagner.
On this day 60 years ago, the imdominable Ethel Merman opened on Broadway in her greatest role.
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 basses Ezio Pinza (1892) and Boris Christoff (1914).
Double diva day!
Happy 70th birthday bass Ferruccio Furlanetto.
On this day in 1889 Massenet’s Esclarmonde premiered in Paris.
On this day in 1957 the Bob Merrill musical New Girl in Town opened on Broadway.
Born on this day in 1842 composer Arthur Sullivan.
On this day in 1988 Carrie: The Musical opened at the Virginia Theatre, to run five performances.
On this day 1959 Judy Garland made her Metropolitan Opera House debut.
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.
