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 1907 Paul Dukas’ rarity Ariane et Barbe-bleue premiered in Paris with soprano Georgette Leblanc in the leading role.
Happy 64th birthday mezzo-soprano Anne Sofie von Otter.
Happy birthday to countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo.
On this day in 2018 the Metropolitan Opera celebrated 50 years at Lincoln Center.
On this day in 1955 the Richard Adler / Jerry Ross musical Damn Yankees opened at the 46th Street Theatre, to run 1019 performances.
Born on this day in 1930 soprano Roberta Peters.
Born on this day in 1844 impresario Richard D’Oyly Carte.
Born on this day in 1897 Broadway lyricist Lorenz Hart.
On this day on 1990 mezzo-soprano Christa Ludwig celebrated her 30th anniversary Metropolitan Opera performance as Fricka.
On this day in 1902 Debussy’s Pelléas et Melisande premiered in Paris.
Happy 83rd birthday maestro Zubin Mehta.
On this day in 1900 the play Madame Butterfly by David Belasco opened at the Duke of York’s Theatre in London.
Happy 76th birthday soprano Judith Blegen.
Happy 49th birthday soprano Eva-Maria Westbroek.
On this day in 1926 Puccini’s opera Turandot premiered in Milan.
Happy 64th birthday to performance artist Lypsinka.
On this day in 1961, Judy Garland made the rafters of Carnegie Hall ring with her celebrated solo concert.
Happy 83rd birthday mezzo-soprano Fiorenza Cossotto.
On this day in 2005, the Metropolitan Opera presented a new production of Faust.
On this day in 2015 Renée Fleming made her Broadway debut in Joe DiPietro‘s comedy Living on Love.
Happy 54th birthday soprano Natalie Dessay.
Happy 71st birthday soprano Catherine Malfitano.
Happy 79th (or so) birthday soprano/mezzo-soprano Anja Silja.
Opera premieres on this day…
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.
