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.

Don’t tell me the lights are shining Don’t tell me the lights are shining

On this day in 1904 the first ice cream cone, created by Charles E. Menches, was served during the St. Louis World Fair.

on July 23, 2015 at 1:33 PM
Ebben sia pure… anch’io son tal Ebben sia pure… anch’io son tal

On this day in 1933, soprano Caterina Jarboro performed the title role of Aida at the New York Hippodrome.

on July 22, 2015 at 9:00 AM
Come rain or come shine Come rain or come shine

On this day in 1983 a storm cut short Diana Ross‘s free concert in Central Park.

on July 21, 2015 at 12:12 PM
Hysterical blondness Hysterical blondness

Born on this day in 356 BC Macedonian king Alexander the Great.

on July 20, 2015 at 10:06 AM
Mouse packs house Mouse packs house

On this day in 1951 the revue Two on the Aisle opened at the Mark Hellinger Theater for 276 performances.

on July 19, 2015 at 12:39 PM
A roof with a view A roof with a view

On this day in 1907, Florenz Ziegfeld‘s Follies of 1907, first in the impresario’s legendary series of lavish revues, premiered at the Jardin de Paris in New York City.

on July 18, 2015 at 1:56 PM
Schlepp by Schlepp Schlepp by Schlepp

On this day in 1762 Catherine II became tsarina of Russia upon the murder of Peter III.

on July 17, 2015 at 1:17 PM
Unabating Unabating

On this day in 1782 Mozart’s Die Entführung aus dem Serail premiered in Vienna.

on July 16, 2015 at 12:07 PM
The people are the heroes now The people are the heroes now

On this day in 1971 President Nixon announced he would visit the People’s Republic of China.

on July 15, 2015 at 8:00 AM
Liberté, égalité, feux d’artifice! Liberté, égalité, feux d’artifice!

On this day in 1789 the French Revolution began with the fall of the Bastille.

on July 14, 2015 at 11:58 AM
You Bette your life You Bette your life

On this day in 1987 a federal judge threw out Bette Midler‘s $10 million suit against Ford Motor Co, who used a sound-alike voice for their TV commercials.

on July 13, 2015 at 8:00 AM
Drama queen Drama queen

On this day in 1912 Les Amours de la reine Élisabeth premiered in New York City, the first foreign film to be exhibited in the United States.

on July 12, 2015 at 2:18 PM
Men are rather reasoning than reasonable animals Men are rather reasoning than reasonable animals

On this day 1804 a duel transpired in which Vice President of the United States Aaron Burr mortally wounded former Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton.

on July 11, 2015 at 12:55 PM
Monkey business Monkey business

On this day in 1925 in Dayton, Tennessee, the so-called “Monkey Trial” began with John T. Scopes, a young high school science teacher accused of teaching evolution in violation of the Butler Act.

on July 10, 2015 at 6:30 AM
As you like “it” As you like “it”

Born on this day in 19o7 actress Clara Bow.

on July 09, 2015 at 12:42 PM
Spice route Spice route

On this day in 1497 Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama departed on his first voyage.

on July 08, 2015 at 8:00 AM
Always the real thing Always the real thing

On this day in 1956 the Douglas Moore/John Latouche opera The Ballad of Baby Doe premiered.

on July 07, 2015 at 12:05 PM
Classic Classic

Happy Birthday to American singer Della Reese!

on July 06, 2015 at 12:14 PM
Antiroyalist fireworks Antiroyalist fireworks

On this day in 1865, the first edition of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland was published.

on July 04, 2015 at 3:38 PM
Conquering New York Conquering New York

On this day in 1954 the musical Wonderful Town closed at Winter Garden Theater after 559 performances.

on July 03, 2015 at 2:34 PM
Time is the reef upon which all our frail mystic ships are wrecked Time is the reef upon which all our frail mystic ships are wrecked

On this day in 1941 Noël Coward‘s Blithe Spirit premiered in London.

on July 02, 2015 at 6:21 AM
Das hat so einen sonderbaren Klang Das hat so einen sonderbaren Klang

On this day in 1933 Arabella premiered in Dresden.

on July 01, 2015 at 8:00 AM
C’était à Mégara, faubourg de Carthage C’était à Mégara, faubourg de Carthage

On this day in 1862 Gustave Flaubert completed Salammbô.

on June 30, 2015 at 8:42 AM
Insubstantial pageant Insubstantial pageant

On this day in 1613 Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre burned down.

on June 29, 2015 at 8:00 AM