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.

Les pauvres gens peuvent-ils être heureux? Les pauvres gens peuvent-ils être heureux?

On this day in 1900, Gustave Charpentier’s opera Louise premiered in Paris.

on January 02, 2015 at 11:35 AM
Dawn approaches Dawn approaches

On this day in 1801 the dwarf planet Ceres was discovered by Giuseppe Piazzi.

on January 01, 2015 at 12:57 PM
People don’t do such things People don’t do such things

On this day in 1902 American actress Tallulah Bankhead was born.

on December 31, 2014 at 7:47 AM
Notte d’orror! Notte d’orror!

On this day in 1809, it became illegal to wear masks at balls held within the City of Boston, as its citizens believed this practice was “detrimental to morals.”

on December 30, 2014 at 12:05 AM
Fighting vainly the old Anouilh Fighting vainly the old Anouilh

On this day in 1170, Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, was assassinated inside Canterbury Cathedral by followers of King Henry II.

on December 29, 2014 at 12:05 AM
A door opens A door opens

On this day in 1895 the Lumière brothers held the first commercial film screening at Salon Indien du Grand Café, Paris.

on December 28, 2014 at 12:44 PM
You never seen a show like this before! You never seen a show like this before!

On this day in 1927 the musical play Show Boat opened at the Ziegfeld Theatre on Broadway.

on December 27, 2014 at 1:10 PM
My shining hour My shining hour

On this day in 1898, Pierre and Marie Curie announced the isolation of radium.

on December 26, 2014 at 10:34 AM
Radio days Radio days

On this day in 1931, the Metropolitan Opera offered the first installment of its matinee radio broadcast series.

on December 25, 2014 at 11:47 AM
Milk punch Milk punch

On this day in 1826, the Eggnog Riot began at the United States Military Academy.

on December 24, 2014 at 10:41 AM
Am I that easy to forget? Am I that easy to forget?

On this day in 1893 the opera Hänsel und Gretel by Engelbert Humperdinck was first performed.

on December 23, 2014 at 10:41 AM
Scandal Scandal

On this day 1894 the “Dreyfus Affair” began in France with Alfred Dreyfus’ wrongful conviction for treason.

on December 22, 2014 at 12:05 AM
Enter laughing Enter laughing

On this day in 1914, Tillie’s Punctured Romance, the first feature-length film comedy, was released.

on December 21, 2014 at 12:09 PM
Lovely to look at Lovely to look at

On this day in 1898 American actress and singer Irene Dunne was born.

on December 20, 2014 at 11:50 AM
Mon coeur s’est calmé! Mon coeur s’est calmé!

On this day in 1881, Massenet’s Hérodiade premiered in Brussels.

on December 19, 2014 at 12:36 PM
Son souvenir vivra parmi les âges Son souvenir vivra parmi les âges

On this day in 218 BC, in the Battle of the Trebia of the Second Punic War, Hannibal’s Carthaginian forces defeated those of the Roman Republic.

on December 18, 2014 at 9:48 AM
Hot ticket Hot ticket

On this day in 1965, the first concert was presented in Houston’s Astrodome.

on December 17, 2014 at 7:35 AM
Uncharted Uncharted

On this day in 1497 Vasco da Gama rounded the Cape of Good Hope, the point where Bartolomeu Dias had previously turned back to Portugal.

on December 16, 2014 at 12:06 AM
Loud and proud Loud and proud

On this day in 1973 the American Psychiatric Association voted 13–0 to remove homosexuality from its official list of psychiatric disorders, the DSM-II.

on December 15, 2014 at 12:40 PM
On tour On tour

On this day in 1823 Gioacchino Rossini arrived in London.

on December 13, 2014 at 2:08 AM
All our pomp of yesterday All our pomp of yesterday

On this day in 627, a Byzantine army under Emperor Heraclius defeaeds Emperor Khosrau II’s Persian forces, commanded by General Rhahzadh, in the Battle of Nineveh.

on December 12, 2014 at 7:38 AM
Femme fatale Femme fatale

On this day in 1882, Victorien Sardou‘s Fedora premiered in Paris with Sarah Bernhardt in the title role.

on December 11, 2014 at 7:56 AM
One for the rodent One for the rodent

On this day 1955, Mighty Mouse Playhouse premiered on American television.

on December 10, 2014 at 12:05 AM
Deeds of bygone days Deeds of bygone days

On this day in 1842, Glinka’s opera Ruslan and Lyudmila premiered in St. Petersburg.

on December 09, 2014 at 12:05 AM