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 82nd birthday soprano Ingeborg Hallstein.
Born on this day in 1813 composer Richard Wagner.
On this day in 1892 Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci premiered in Milan.
Born on this day in 1861 soprano Nellie Melba.
Born on this day in 1906 soprano Zinka Milanov and in 1918 soprano Birgit Nilsson.
Happy 69th birthday bass Ferruccio Furlanetto!
On this day in 1937 mezzo soprano Jennie Tourel made her Met debut as Thomas’ Mignon.
Born on this day in 1957 soprano Daniela Dessì.
Born on this day in 1842 composer Arthur Sullivan.
Thirty years ago today the musical Carrie: The Musical opened at the Virginia Theatre, to run four performances.
On this day in 2002 tenor Salvatore Licitra made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Cavardossi.
On this day in 1937 “Star Spangled Banner: soprano Lucy Monroe made her only Metropolitan Opera performance as Musetta.
Happy 63rd birthday mezzo-soprano Anne Sofie von Otter.
Happy birthdays to countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo and tenor Michael Fabiano.
On this day a year ago the Metropolitan Opera celebrated 50 years at Lincoln Center.
Happy 87th birthday mezzo-soprano Jane Berbié.
Born on this day in 1919 bass-baritone George London.
Born on this day in 1930 soprano Roberta Peters.
On this day in 2006, Klaus Florian Vogt made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Lohengrin.
Born on this day in 1895 lyricist Lorenz Hart.
On this day 1990 mezzo-soprano Christa Ludwig celebrated her 30th anniversary Metropolitan Opera performance as Fricka.
On this day in 1902 Debussy’s Pelleas et Mellisande premiered in Paris.
A very happy 82nd birthday maestro Zubin Mehta!
On this day in 1928, the Metropolitan Opera on tour in Ohio presented La Gioconda with Rosa Ponselle, Marion Telva and Giacomo Lauri-Volpi.
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.
