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.

He’s so Boulezian He’s so Boulezian

Happy birthday critic and lecturer Mark Berry.

on September 06, 2016 at 9:00 AM

Happy Labor/Labour Day US and Canadian Paterrians! 

on September 05, 2016 at 12:46 PM
Pape idol Pape idol

Happy 52nd birthday bass René Pape.

on September 04, 2016 at 8:00 AM
Finale ultimo Finale ultimo

On this day in 1967 the TV game show What’s My Line? broadcast its final episode, after a 17 year run on CBS.

on September 03, 2016 at 8:00 AM
Dancing lady Dancing lady

Happy 97th birthday dancer and choreographer Marge Champion.

on September 02, 2016 at 12:18 PM
A man of widespread fame A man of widespread fame

Born on this day in 1751 dramatist Emanuel Schikaneder.

on September 01, 2016 at 10:59 AM
Immobile Immobile

On this day in 1829 Rossini’s Guillaume Tell premiered in Paris.

on August 31, 2016 at 12:53 PM
Not since Nebuchadnezzar’s hanging garden went to pot Not since Nebuchadnezzar’s hanging garden went to pot

Born on this day in 1922 soprano / mezzo-soprano / opera director Regina Resnik

on August 30, 2016 at 11:06 AM
The carat or the stick The carat or the stick

Happy 61st birthday avant-garde soprano, composer, pianist, organist, performance artist and painter Diamanda Galás.

on August 29, 2016 at 10:22 AM
Swan knight, how I love you, my dear old swan knight! Swan knight, how I love you, my dear old swan knight!

On this day in 1850 Wagner’s Lohengrin premiered at the Staatskapelle Weimar.

on August 28, 2016 at 11:14 AM
I’ve always felt like a kid I’ve always felt like a kid

Happy 64th birthday actor, producer and comedian Paul Reubens, aka “Pee-wee Herman.”

on August 27, 2016 at 11:15 AM
Nous voulons explorer la bonté contrée énorme où tout se tait Nous voulons explorer la bonté contrée énorme où tout se tait

Born on this day in 1880 poet Guillaume Apollinaire

on August 26, 2016 at 11:07 AM
Technique is communication Technique is communication

Born on this day in 1918 composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein.

on August 25, 2016 at 8:00 AM
I couldn’t kill a fly I couldn’t kill a fly

Happy 86th or 87th birthday actress Vera Miles.

on August 24, 2016 at 7:30 AM
Infinite variety Infinite variety

Happy 62nd birthday playwright, actor and diseuse Charles Busch.

on August 23, 2016 at 8:00 AM
Life does not owe me a shred Life does not owe me a shred

Happy 77th birthday actress Valerie Harper.

on August 22, 2016 at 8:00 AM
I am not easily assimilated I am not easily assimilated

On this day in 1986 the Charles Strouse / Stephen Schwartz / Teresa Stratas musical Rags opened on Broadway.

on August 21, 2016 at 10:12 AM
“I don’t think any novelist should be concerned with literature” “I don’t think any novelist should be concerned with literature”

Born on this day in 1918 novelist Jacqueline Susann.

on August 20, 2016 at 11:07 AM
In those strange days, people coming from—God knows where—joined forces in that far Western land In those strange days, people coming from—God knows where—joined forces in that far Western land

On this day in 1848 the New York Herald reported the discovery of gold in California.

on August 19, 2016 at 9:54 AM
Do you know because I tell you so Do you know because I tell you so

On this day in 1920, Amendment XIX to the United States Constitution was ratified.

on August 18, 2016 at 9:32 AM
A guy what takes his time A guy what takes his time

On this day in 1876 Wagner’s Götterdämmerung premiered at the Bayreuth Festspielhaus.

on August 17, 2016 at 9:44 AM
Seliger Öde auf wonniger Höh’ Seliger Öde auf wonniger Höh’

On this day in 1876 Wagner’s Siegfried premiered at the Bayreuth Festspielhaus.

on August 16, 2016 at 1:30 PM
May the Schwarz be with you May the Schwarz be with you

Happy 73rd birthday mezzo-soprano Hanna Schwarz.

on August 15, 2016 at 11:19 AM
Regista Regista

Born on this day in 1904 baritone and teacher Martial Singher.

on August 14, 2016 at 10:54 AM