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.

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
Square-cut or pear-shape Square-cut or pear-shape

On this day in 1949, Jule Styne‘s musical Gentlemen Prefer Blondes opened at the Ziegfeld Theater.

on December 08, 2014 at 12:05 AM
Pump up the volume Pump up the volume

On this day in 1940, sponsorship of the Metropolitan Opera’s Saturday afternoon broadcasts by The Texas Company (Texaco) began with Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro.

on December 07, 2014 at 12:00 AM
The book of Merman The book of Merman

On this day in 1956, the musical Happy Hunting opened at the Majestic Theater.

on December 06, 2014 at 12:03 PM
Ce noble transport Ce noble transport

On this day in 1890 Hector Berlioz‘s Les Troyens premiered in Karlsruhe.

on December 05, 2014 at 12:05 AM
Girls and gags Girls and gags

On this day in 1928 Walter Donaldson and Gus Kahn‘s musical Whoopee premiered at the New Amsterdam Theatre.

on December 04, 2014 at 12:05 AM
Catch 21 Catch 21

On this day in 1993, the first issue of parterre box was published to commemorate the 70th birthday of Maria Callas, and, yes, La Cieca knows she got the date wrong.

on December 03, 2014 at 1:40 AM
White tie and tails White tie and tails

On this day in 1933, Fred Astaire‘s first film, Dancing Lady, was released.

on December 02, 2014 at 12:05 AM
You were a flop, you know You were a flop, you know

On this day in 1956, the musical Candide opened at the Martin Beck Theater for 73 performances.

on December 01, 2014 at 7:47 AM
Una voce molto tempo fa Una voce molto tempo fa

On this date in 1825, Il barbiere di Siviglia was performed at the Park Theatre.

on November 29, 2014 at 12:05 AM
The secret word The secret word

On this day in 1932 Groucho Marx performed on radio for the first time.

on November 28, 2014 at 12:59 AM
Cross purposes Cross purposes

On this day in 1095 Pope Urban II declared the First Crusade at the Council of Clermont.

on November 27, 2014 at 12:26 AM
Born to be Vlad Born to be Vlad

On this day in 1476, Vlad the Impaler (Dracula) defeated Basarab Laiota with the help of Stephen the Great and Stephen V Báthory and became the ruler of Wallachia for the third time.

on November 26, 2014 at 12:05 AM
Fiddler on the beach Fiddler on the beach

On this day in 1915, Albert Einstein presented the field equations of general relativity to the Prussian Academy of Sciences.

on November 25, 2014 at 12:25 AM
Two hander Two hander

On this day in 1936 Noel Coward’s Tonight at 8:30 premiered in New York City.

on November 24, 2014 at 12:15 AM
Goat song Goat song

On this day in 534 BC, Thespis of Icaria became the first recorded actor to portray a character onstage.

on November 23, 2014 at 10:39 AM
Beat the devil Beat the devil

On this day in 1831, Meyerbeer’s Robert le diable was first produced.

on November 22, 2014 at 12:30 AM
Disc drive Disc drive

On this day in 1877 Thomas Edison announced his invention of the phonograph.

on November 21, 2014 at 12:01 AM
Canned laughter Canned laughter

On this day in 1347, Cola di Rienzo repelled an attack by Roman nobles led by the Orsini and Colonna families.

on November 20, 2014 at 12:37 AM
Now, Voyager Now, Voyager

On this day in 1620 the Mayflower reached Cape Cod.

on November 19, 2014 at 12:05 AM
Flèche and fantasy Flèche and fantasy

On this day in 1307, William Tell shot apple off his son’s head, assuming that actually happened.

on November 18, 2014 at 1:28 AM
Queen sized Queen sized

On this day in 1558 Elizabeth I ascended the English throne.

on November 17, 2014 at 1:43 AM