December child December child

Happy 74th birthday soprano Edita Gruberova.

Art is a kind of illness Art is a kind of illness

Born on this day in 1858 composer Giacomo Puccini.

We’re not meant to be perfect We’re not meant to be perfect

Happy 83rd birthday to actress, political activist and environmentalist Jane Fonda.

“Acting is not everything” “Acting is not everything”

Born on this day in 1898 actress and singer Irene Dunne.

The Little Sparrow The Little Sparrow

Born on this day in 1915 singer Edith Piaf.

Fashion changes, but style endures Fashion changes, but style endures

On this day in 1969, a legend portrayed a legend, when the André Previn musical Coco presented Katharine Hepburn as Coco Chanel.

Singing contest Singing contest

On this day in 1960 Georg Solti made his Met debut conducting Tannhäuser, featuring baritone Hermann Prey, also debuting, as Wolfram.

Consigned to oblivion Consigned to oblivion

Born on this day in 1770 a forgotten composer named Ludwig van Beethoven.

Il bacio di Tosca Il bacio di Tosca

Happy 86th birthday soprano Raina Kabaivanska.

Crying Jane Crying Jane

Born on this day in 1884 actress and playwright Jane Cowl.

The glamorous life The glamorous life

On this day in 2009 Catherine Zeta-Jones and Angela Lansbury headlined the first Broadway revival of A Little Night Music.

The Voice The Voice

Born on this day in 1915 singer and actor Frank Sinatra.

Queen of the B’s Queen of the B’s

Born on this day in 1919 noir dame par excellence Marie Windsor.

If loving you is sarong If loving you is sarong

Born on this day in 1914 actress Dorothy Lamour.

In witch we serve In witch we serve

Born on this day in 1902 schoolteacher, actress and voice artist Margaret Hamilton.

Beyond the sea Beyond the sea

Born on this day in 1865 composer Jean Sibelius.

It’s good to be king It’s good to be king

Happy 39th birthday to bass Zachary James.

Featured actress Featured actress

Born on this day in 1900 actress Agnes Moorehead.

The Tennessee Nightingale The Tennessee Nightingale

Born on this day in 1898 soprano Grace Moore.

“I’m tired of playing little girls” “I’m tired of playing little girls”

Born on this day in 1921 soprano and film star Deanna Durbin.

Simple and sweet Simple and sweet

Born on this day in 1907 songstress supreme Connee Boswell.

Experience the divine Experience the divine

Born on this day 97 years ago.

Take a lesson! Take a lesson!

Happy 75th birthday to songstress, actress and producer Bette Midler.

I look up and I cry to a big empty sky I look up and I cry to a big empty sky

On this day in 1955, the team of Rodgers and Hammerstein had the rare experience of presenting a flop, the musical Pipe Dream which ran only 246 performances. On the other hand, the show included the definitive “I want” song: