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.
Born on this day in 1952 tenor Jerry Hadley.
Happy 88th birthday stage designer and director Pier Luigi Pizzi.
Born on this day in 1763 composer Simon Mayr.
On this day in 1855 Verdi’s Les Vêpres siciliennes premiered in Paris.
Born on this day in 1919 actress and theatre practitioner Uta Hagen.
Born on this day in 1864 composer Richard Strauss and in 1913 mezzo-soprano Risë Stevens.
Born on this day in 1922 Miss Show Business.
Born on this day in 1891 composer Cole Porter.
Born on this day in 1810 composer Robert Schumann.
Happy 55th birthday tenor Roberto Alagna.
Happy 79th birthday tenor Giacomo Aragall.
On this day in 1971, James Levine made his Metropolitan Opera debut.
Happy 52nd birthday mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli.
Happy 53rd birthday baritone Peter Mattei!
Happy 69th birthday tenor Neil Shicoff.
The gayest tweet of all time ushers in mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade‘s 73rd birthday.
On this day in 1817 Rossini’s La gazza ladra premiered in Milan.
Born on this day in 1931 mezzo-soprano/soprano Shirley Verrett.
Born on this day in 1894 actress, singer and comedic performer Bea Lillie.
Born on this day in 1923 composer György Ligeti.
Born on this day in 1911 actor, raconteur and bon vivant Vincent Price.
Happy 80th birthday soprano Teresa Stratas.
Born on this day in 1929 soprano and administrator Beverly Sills.
On this day in 1966 Jerry Herman‘s Mame opened on Broadway.
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.
