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.

Latouche and go Latouche and go

On this day in 1955, the musical The Vamp opened at the Winter Garden Theater, to run 60 performances.

on November 10, 2015 at 8:00 AM
A tiny cog in the great wheel of evolution A tiny cog in the great wheel of evolution

On this day in 1939 Ninotchka, starring Greta Garbo, premiered.

on November 09, 2015 at 8:00 AM
Presenting…. in person… Presenting…. in person…

Born on this day in 1912 American actress June Havoc.

on November 08, 2015 at 8:00 AM
The magnificent amber daughter The magnificent amber daughter

Happy 79th birthday to dramatic soprano Dame Gwyneth Jones!

on November 07, 2015 at 12:31 PM
Too much virtue can be criminal Too much virtue can be criminal

Born on this day in 1692 French poet Louis Racine.

on November 06, 2015 at 11:05 AM
Do you know because I tell you so Do you know because I tell you so

On this day in 1872 suffragist Susan B. Anthony voted for Ulysses S. Grant.

on November 05, 2015 at 8:00 AM
No sleep, no rest No sleep, no rest

On this day in 1890 Prince Igor premiered in St. Petersburg.

on November 04, 2015 at 11:44 AM
The cold never bothered them anyway The cold never bothered them anyway

On this day in 1952 Clarence Birdseye began marketing frozen peas.

on November 03, 2015 at 8:00 AM
It may be that there is no place for any of us It may be that there is no place for any of us

On this day in 1971 the musical The Grass Harp opened at the Martin Beck Theater, to run seven performances.

on November 02, 2015 at 8:00 AM
I did say so, when first I raised the tempest I did say so, when first I raised the tempest

On this day in 1611 Shakespeare’s romance The Tempest was presented by the King’s Men before James I at Whitehall Palace.

on November 01, 2015 at 8:00 AM
“When you will make an end of it?” “When you will make an end of it?”

On this day in 1541 Michelangelo Buonarroti finished painting The Last Judgment in the Sistine Chapel.

on October 31, 2015 at 8:00 AM
Leave out the cherry Leave out the cherry

On this day in 1940 Cole Porter‘s musical Panama Hattie opened at the 46th Street Theatre, to run 501 performances.

on October 30, 2015 at 8:00 AM
Bubble Bubble

On this day in 1929, the Black Tuesday stock market crash triggered the Great Depression.

on October 29, 2015 at 8:00 AM
“We need a futile gesture at this stage” “We need a futile gesture at this stage”

On this day in 1962 the revue Beyond the Fringe opened at the John Golden Theater, to run 673 performances.

on October 27, 2015 at 8:00 AM
Wrought irony Wrought irony

On this day in 1931 Eugene O’Neill‘s Mourning Becomes Electra premiered at the Guild Theatre in New York City.

on October 26, 2015 at 8:00 AM
Do I detect the smell of burning martyr? Do I detect the smell of burning martyr?

On this day in 1415 Henry V‘s forces defeated the larger French army at the Battle of Agincourt.

on October 25, 2015 at 1:02 PM
Tisi spell Tisi spell

On this day in 1882 Robert Koch discovered Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium that causes tuberculosis.

on October 24, 2015 at 8:00 AM
The flop side The flop side

On this day in 1967 the musical Henry, Sweet Henry opened at the Palace Theater for 80 performances.

on October 23, 2015 at 9:36 AM
“And Mlle. Lablache was a very acceptable Marta” “And Mlle. Lablache was a very acceptable Marta”

On this day in 1883 the Metropolitan Opera House opened its inaugural season with Gounod’s Faust.

on October 22, 2015 at 8:00 AM
From hell From hell

On this day in 1858 Jacques Offenbach‘s opera Orphée aux Enfers premiered in Paris.

on October 21, 2015 at 8:00 AM
Love, Sydney Love, Sydney

On this day in 1973 the Sydney Opera House opened.

on October 20, 2015 at 11:40 AM
The most beautiful woman in the world, almost The most beautiful woman in the world, almost

Born on this day in 1945, “US-amerikanische Drag Queen und Euro-Disco-Sänger” Divine.

on October 19, 2015 at 8:00 AM
My name is Barbara My name is Barbara

On this day in 1966 The Apple Tree opened at the Shubert Theater, starring Barbara Harris, won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical.

on October 18, 2015 at 8:00 AM
Est nunquam molestum lupo quot oves exsistant Est nunquam molestum lupo quot oves exsistant

Happy birthday to music critic Zachary Woolfe.

on October 17, 2015 at 12:48 PM