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.

Thorns bird Thorns bird

Happy 78th birthday Dame Diana Rigg.

By on July 20, 2016 at 8:51 AM
8 comments
Like a bird Like a bird

Born on this day in 1868 soprano Florence Foster Jenkins. 

By on July 19, 2016 at 5:16 PM
2 comments
Ecco il Valhalla! Ecco il Valhalla!

On this day in 452 Attila laid siege to the metropolis of Aquileia.

By on July 18, 2016 at 8:00 AM
4 comments
In all the music my heart sings to you In all the music my heart sings to you

Born on this day in 1914 soprano Eleanor Steber.

By on July 17, 2016 at 1:24 PM
9 comments
The intelligent homosexual The intelligent homosexual

Happy 60th birthday playwright Tony Kushner. 

By on July 16, 2016 at 2:01 PM
12 comments
What a tale could be told What a tale could be told

On this day in 1949 Miss Liberty opened at the Imperial Theater, to run 308 performances.

By on July 15, 2016 at 8:00 AM
18 comments
Le jour de gloire est arrivé! Le jour de gloire est arrivé!

Happy Bastille Day! 

By on July 14, 2016 at 8:00 AM
18 comments
And the award goes to… And the award goes to…

On this day in 1668 Antonio Cesti‘s opera Il pomo d’oro premiered in Vienna.

By on July 13, 2016 at 8:00 AM
14 comments
“I never expect to see a perfect work from an imperfect man” “I never expect to see a perfect work from an imperfect man”

On this day in 1804 Former United States Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton died after being shot in a pistol duel by Vice President Aaron Burr.

By on July 12, 2016 at 8:00 AM
20 comments
Northern light Northern light

Happy 92nd birthday tenor Nicolai Gedda.

By on July 11, 2016 at 8:00 AM
6 comments
Gut’ Bess’rung dem Meister! Gut’ Bess’rung dem Meister!

Happy 47th birthday and get well soon tenor Jonas Kaufmann.

By on July 10, 2016 at 2:01 PM
41 comments
Kavalierbariton Kavalierbariton

Born on this day in 1929 baritone Eberhard Waechter.

By on July 09, 2016 at 9:27 AM
24 comments
Drive, she said Drive, she said

Born on this day in 1939 mezzo-soprano Elena Obraztsova.

By on July 07, 2016 at 4:00 AM
18 comments
My job gives me the attention I’d otherwise crave My job gives me the attention I’d otherwise crave

>Happy 58th birthday actress, comedian and screenwriter Jennifer Saunders.

By on July 06, 2016 at 8:07 AM
22 comments
Je suis un mensonge qui dit toujours la vérité Je suis un mensonge qui dit toujours la vérité

Born on this day in 1889 writer, filmmaker and designer Jean Cocteau.

By on July 05, 2016 at 8:07 AM
10 comments
America forever! America forever!

Happy Independence Day All U.S. Parterrians!

By on July 04, 2016 at 8:00 AM
14 comments
Regards Regards

Born on this day in 1878 composer and performer George M Cohan.

By on July 03, 2016 at 1:35 PM
32 comments
opera, serious opera, serious

Born on this day in 1714 composer Christoph Willibald von Gluck.

By on July 02, 2016 at 3:38 PM
10 comments
Take me out to the ball game Take me out to the ball game

On this day in 1933 Richard Strauss’ Arabella premiered in Dresden.

By on July 01, 2016 at 1:29 PM
11 comments
We’ll have a gay old time We’ll have a gay old time

Born on this day in 1685 composer John Gay.

By on June 30, 2016 at 8:56 AM
81 comments
Knee deep in flowers we’ll stray Knee deep in flowers we’ll stray

On this day in 1968 “Tip-Toe Thru’ The Tulips With Me” sung by Tiny Tim peaked at #17.

By on June 29, 2016 at 11:25 AM
18 comments
Après lui le déluge Après lui le déluge

On this day in 1841 Adophe Adam‘s ballet Giselle premiered in Paris.

By on June 28, 2016 at 4:07 PM
6 comments
Its a great day for tenors Its a great day for tenors

Happy Pride! 

By on June 26, 2016 at 10:34 AM
26 comments
Inside Ott Inside Ott

Happy 29th birthday baritone Jarrett Ott.

By on June 25, 2016 at 8:00 AM
7 comments