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.

MIra, o Norma MIra, o Norma

Born in this day in 1899 American screenwriter and producer Irving Thalberg.

on May 30, 2015 at 9:44 AM
In like Flynn In like Flynn

On this day in 1453 Constantinople, capital of the Eastern Roman Empire, fell to Muhammad II, ending the Byzantine Empire.

on May 29, 2015 at 10:12 AM
Other places only make me love you best Other places only make me love you best

On this day in 1937 the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California, was officially opened by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

on May 28, 2015 at 11:11 AM
Hell is other turbans Hell is other turbans

On this day in 1944, Jean-Paul Sartre‘s Huis Clos opened (heh) in Paris.

on May 27, 2015 at 8:45 AM
Many cats are the death of the mouse Many cats are the death of the mouse

On this day in 1828, the mysterious feral child Kaspar Hauser was discovered wandering the streets of Nuremberg.

on May 26, 2015 at 10:23 AM
A bridge too Farrar A bridge too Farrar

On this day in 1430 Joan of Arc was captured by the Burgundians while leading an army to relieve Compiègne.

on May 23, 2015 at 10:07 AM
Here she is, boys! Here she is, boys!

On this day in 1959 Gypsy opened at the Broadway Theater, to run 702 performances.

on May 21, 2015 at 6:55 AM
Heralded tribune Heralded tribune

On this day in 1347, Cola di Rienzo, a Roman commoner, declared himself Emperor of Rome in response to years of baronial power-struggles.

on May 20, 2015 at 7:48 AM
You mean all this time we could have been friends? You mean all this time we could have been friends?

On this day in 1568 Queen Elizabeth I of England arrested Queen Mary of Scotland.

on May 19, 2015 at 1:41 PM
Now you see her… Now you see her…

On this day in 1926, evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson vanished while visiting a beach in Venice, CA. She reappeared a month later with the claim that she had been kidnapped.

on May 18, 2015 at 7:26 AM
On this day nothing almost happened On this day nothing almost happened

On this day in 2015, parterre.com was offline for almost five hours due to a server error.

on May 17, 2015 at 6:23 PM
Much Fruit of Sense Much Fruit of Sense

On this day in 1711 Alexander Pope‘s “An Essay on Criticism” was published anonymously.

on May 15, 2015 at 8:02 AM
Where is style? Where is skill? Where is style? Where is skill?

Born on this day in 1933 Welsh actress Siân Phillips.

on May 14, 2015 at 8:00 AM
Women want love to be a novel Women want love to be a novel

Born on this day in 1907 English author Daphne du Maurier.

on May 13, 2015 at 7:00 AM
L’odontalgico mirabile liquore L’odontalgico mirabile liquore

On this day in 1832 Gaetano Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore premiered in Milan.

on May 12, 2015 at 7:00 AM
Not a quiet thing Not a quiet thing

On this day in 1965 the musical Flora, the Red Menace opened at the Alvin Theater in New York.

on May 11, 2015 at 4:05 PM
Crowned heads Crowned heads

On this day in 1774 Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette became King and Queen of France.

on May 10, 2015 at 3:22 AM
Splitsville Splitsville

On this day in 1868 the city of Reno, Nevada was founded.

on May 09, 2015 at 3:10 AM
Il neofito Il neofito

Happy 31st birthday tenor Michael Fabiano!

on May 08, 2015 at 6:12 AM
Care forgot Care forgot

On this day in 1718 the city of New Orleans was founded by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville.

on May 07, 2015 at 4:35 AM
No tea, all shade No tea, all shade

On this day La Cieca and faithful sidekick Dawn Fatale have arrived in Düsseldorf to hear Valer Sabadus sing Xerxes in a production by Stefan Herheim.

on May 06, 2015 at 7:44 AM
The lonely lady The lonely lady

Born on this day Pia Zadora.

on May 04, 2015 at 3:54 AM
The great liar The great liar

Born on this day in 1906 actress Mary Astor.

on May 03, 2015 at 4:56 AM
Cell by date Cell by date

On this day in 1536 Anne Boleyn was arrested and taken to the Tower of London.

on May 02, 2015 at 7:00 AM