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 in the saddle Born in the saddle

Born on this day in 1909 soprano Marjorie Lawrence.

on February 17, 2017 at 10:32 AM
You should embrace the past and understand it, deal with it and go forward You should embrace the past and understand it, deal with it and go forward

Happy 79th birthday composer John Corigliano.

on February 16, 2017 at 7:00 AM
People who eat the earth and eat all the people on it like in the Bible with the locusts People who eat the earth and eat all the people on it like in the Bible with the locusts

On this day in 1939 Lillian Hellman‘s The Little Foxes opened at the National Theatre, to run 410 performances.

on February 15, 2017 at 7:00 AM
Haunted heart Haunted heart

Happy 58th birthday soprano Renée Fleming.

on February 14, 2017 at 7:00 AM
The Queen of Babylon The Queen of Babylon

Happy birthday mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato. 

on February 13, 2017 at 7:00 AM
Simple gifts Simple gifts

Happy birthday tenor Anthony Dean Griffey!

on February 12, 2017 at 3:45 PM
La lune a l’air très étrange La lune a l’air très étrange

On this day in 1896 Oscar Wilde‘s Salomé premiered in Paris.

on February 11, 2017 at 9:45 AM
Belle nuit Belle nuit

On this day in 1881 Jacques Offenbach’s Les contes d’Hoffman premiered in Paris.

on February 10, 2017 at 7:00 AM
Music is at once the product of feeling and knowledge Music is at once the product of feeling and knowledge

Born on this day in 1885 composer Alban Berg.

on February 09, 2017 at 8:00 AM
“Forget tomorrow. This is tonight!” “Forget tomorrow. This is tonight!”

Born on this day in actress 1920 (more or less) Lana Turner.

on February 08, 2017 at 12:24 PM
No strings No strings

On this day in 1940 Walt Disney‘s film Pinocchio premiered at the Center Theater in New York City.

on February 07, 2017 at 12:37 PM
My memories burn in my head with a steady glow My memories burn in my head with a steady glow

On this day in 1969 Jerry Herman‘s musical Dear World opened at the Mark Hellinger Theater, to run 132 performances.

on February 06, 2017 at 12:44 PM
Superbo guerrier Superbo guerrier

On this day in 1887 Verdi’s Otello premiered in Milan.

on February 05, 2017 at 2:39 PM
Goodness has nothing to do with it Goodness has nothing to do with it

On this day in 1943 Bertolt Brecht’s play Der gute Mensch von Sezuan premiered in Zurich.

on February 04, 2017 at 11:20 AM
A red dress to the Olympus Ball? A red dress to the Olympus Ball?

On this day in 1939, Bette Davis won her second Academy Award for Best Actress for Jezebel.

on February 03, 2017 at 8:58 AM
Gossip is just news running ahead of itself in a red satin dress Gossip is just news running ahead of itself in a red satin dress

Happy 94th birthday to the “Grand Dame of Dish,” journalist Liz Smith

on February 02, 2017 at 11:06 AM
Triple threat Triple threat

Happy birthday director/choreographer/librettist John De Los Santos.

on February 01, 2017 at 8:00 AM
I sing each word as though it were my last on earth I sing each word as though it were my last on earth

Born on this day in 1921 tenor and film star Mario Lanza.

on January 31, 2017 at 8:36 AM
Bells ring, fountains splash Bells ring, fountains splash

Happy 89th birthday Broadway producer Hal Prince.

on January 30, 2017 at 11:15 AM
Hello young lovers Hello young lovers

On this day in 1595 Romeo and Juliet is thought to have been first performed.

on January 29, 2017 at 12:41 PM
Some like it hot Some like it hot

Premiere on this day in 1830: the opera Fra Diavolo.

on January 28, 2017 at 12:11 PM
Papa veut que je raisonne comme une grande personne Papa veut que je raisonne comme une grande personne

Born on this day in 1756 composer and musician Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

on January 27, 2017 at 9:52 AM
He clasps the crag with crooked hands He clasps the crag with crooked hands

On this day in 1784 Benjamin Franklin expressed unhappiness over the eagle as America’s symbol.

on January 26, 2017 at 10:35 AM
It’s curtain time and away we go… It’s curtain time and away we go…

On this day in 1817 Rossini’s La Cenerentola premiered in Rome.

on January 25, 2017 at 9:59 AM