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.

Slavic hero Slavic hero

Happy 45th birthday baritone Mariusz Kwiecien.

By November 04, 2017 at 12:13 PM
18 comments
A little bit louder now A little bit louder now

Happy 69th birthday singer and actress Lulu.

By November 03, 2017 at 8:56 AM
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“Everywhere love stories are exactly the same” “Everywhere love stories are exactly the same”

Born on this day in 1944 cinema and stage director Patrice Chéreau. 

By November 02, 2017 at 11:45 AM
16 comments
Silvers thread Silvers thread

On this day in 1952 the Johnny Mercer musical Top Banana opened on Broadway.

By November 01, 2017 at 11:58 AM
16 comments
Domino theory Domino theory

Happy Halloween Parterrians!

By October 31, 2017 at 9:26 AM
11 comments
“To be somebody you must last” “To be somebody you must last”

Born on this day in 1896 actress and screenwriter Ruth Gordon.

By October 30, 2017 at 10:57 AM
2 comments
“There is no director who can direct you like an audience” “There is no director who can direct you like an audience”

Born on this day in 1891 actress, singer and comedian Fanny Brice.

By October 29, 2017 at 2:40 PM
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Here am I; where are you? Here am I; where are you?

Happy 97th birthday actress Nanette Fabray. 

By October 27, 2017 at 8:43 AM
17 comments
Plucked her eyebrows on the way Plucked her eyebrows on the way

Born on this day in 1946 actress Holly Woodlawn.

By October 26, 2017 at 11:09 AM
10 comments
Let me sing a sunny song Let me sing a sunny song

Born on this day in 1926 singer and actress Barbara Cook.

By October 25, 2017 at 10:32 AM
25 comments
“What’s to come is still unsure” “What’s to come is still unsure”

Happy 70th birthday actor Kevin Kline.

By October 24, 2017 at 9:26 AM
10 comments
“Oh viens, comme à Pétrarque apparaissait Laura!” “Oh viens, comme à Pétrarque apparaissait Laura!”

Born on this day in 1931 actress Diana Dors.

By October 23, 2017 at 8:55 AM
4 comments
“I’m a lot more sartorial than thespian” “I’m a lot more sartorial than thespian”

Born on this day circa 1904 actress Constance Bennett.

By October 22, 2017 at 10:42 AM
9 comments
“I hate to be alone” “I hate to be alone”

Born on this day in 1912 conductor Georg Solti.

By October 21, 2017 at 10:12 AM
15 comments
“She looked great in the rushes” “She looked great in the rushes”

Born on this day in 1924 actress Nina Foch.

By October 20, 2017 at 1:31 PM
23 comments
Divine pureté! Divine pureté!

Born on this day in 1945 Harris Glenn Milstead AKA “Divine.

By October 19, 2017 at 8:32 AM
8 comments
“Nature can make me cry faster than anything” “Nature can make me cry faster than anything”

Born on this day in 1898 actress and singer Lotte Lenya.

By October 18, 2017 at 8:49 AM
15 comments
Hey, buds below Hey, buds below

On this day in 1965 the Burton Lane-Alan Jay Lerner musical On a Clear Day You Can See Forever opened on Broadway.

By October 17, 2017 at 7:00 AM
14 comments
Best news of all Best news of all

Happy 55th birthday baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky.

By October 16, 2017 at 6:17 AM
11 comments
She’s got possibilities She’s got possibilities

Happy 80th birthday actress Linda Lavin.

By October 15, 2017 at 8:27 AM
3 comments
Teen idol Teen idol

On this day in 54 Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus (known as “Nero”) succeeded Claudius as Roman Emperor.

By October 13, 2017 at 8:46 AM
6 comments
Missus Sally Adams requests the pleasure of your company Missus Sally Adams requests the pleasure of your company

On this day in 1950 Irving Berlin‘s musical Call Me Madam opened at the Imperial Theatre to run 644 performances.

By October 12, 2017 at 7:56 AM
9 comments
The first on the scaffold The first on the scaffold

Born on this day in 1876 Baroness Gertrud von Le Fort.

By October 11, 2017 at 7:46 AM
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“Yes, I am imperious” “Yes, I am imperious”

Born on this day in 1924 soprano Leyla Gencer, represented after the jump singing music by Giuseppe Verdi, born on this day in 1813.

By October 10, 2017 at 7:27 AM
37 comments