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.

The magic sniff The magic sniff

On this day in 1947 American actor Kevin Kline was born.

on October 24, 2014 at 1:44 AM
Tops in flops Tops in flops

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

on October 23, 2014 at 3:56 AM
Le veau d’or Le veau d’or

On this day in 1883, the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City opened with a performance of Gounod’s Faust.

on October 22, 2014 at 1:24 AM
Low, low prices Low, low prices

On this day in 1803 the United States Senate ratified the Louisiana Purchase.

on October 20, 2014 at 12:25 AM
The Greeks had a word for it The Greeks had a word for it

On this day in 1845, Richard Wagner’s opera Tannhäuser premiered in Dresden.

on October 19, 2014 at 2:27 AM
Precode Precode

On this day in 1902 American actress Miriam Hopkins was born.

on October 18, 2014 at 1:38 AM
Weighed in the balances Weighed in the balances

On this day in 529 BC, King Cyrus the Great of Persia marched into the city of Babylon.

on October 17, 2014 at 12:53 AM
Doyenne Doyenne

On this day in 1925 English-American actress Angela Lansbury was born.

on October 16, 2014 at 1:41 AM
I cannot wear my crown upon my heart I cannot wear my crown upon my heart

On this day in 1793, Queen Marie-Antoinette of France was tried and convicted in a swift, pre-determined trial in the Palais de Justice, Paris, and condemned to death the following day.

on October 15, 2014 at 12:41 AM
Song of Queens Song of Queens

On this day in 1930, Ethel Merman debuted on Broadway in Girl Crazy.

on October 14, 2014 at 1:55 AM
Helping hand Helping hand

On this day in 1917 American puppeteer Burr Tillstrom was born.

on October 13, 2014 at 12:54 AM
A long long way to run A long long way to run

On this day in 490 BC, the Athenians and their Plataean allies defeated the first Persian invasion force of Greece at the Battle of Marathon.

on October 12, 2014 at 2:55 AM
Aubade Aubade

On this day in 1957, Welsh actress and screenwriter Dawn French was born.

on October 11, 2014 at 2:26 AM
Amme let you finish Amme let you finish

On this day in 1919, Die Frau ohne Schatten premiered in Vienna.

on October 10, 2014 at 2:40 AM
It’s my story and I’m sticking to it It’s my story and I’m sticking to it

On this day in 1890, evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson was born.

on October 09, 2014 at 1:40 AM
Girls! Gags! Tunes! Girls! Gags! Tunes!

On this day in 1979, the revue Sugar Babies opened at Mark Hellinger Theater, to run 1208 performances.

on October 08, 2014 at 12:05 AM
Everything is holy! Everything is holy!

On this day in 1955, American poet Allen Ginsberg performed his poem “Howl” for the first time at the Six Gallery in San Francisco.

on October 07, 2014 at 1:04 AM
Run of the mill Run of the mill

On this day in 1889, the Moulin Rouge opened in Paris.

on October 06, 2014 at 12:05 AM
Sa virtu m’atire Sa virtu m’atire

On this day in 1568, the Earl of Moray produced the Casket letters of Mary, Queen of Scots at a conference in York, headed by Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk.

on October 05, 2014 at 1:00 AM
All aboard! All aboard!

On this day in 1961, Noël Coward‘s musical Sail Away opened at the Broadhurst Theater.

on October 04, 2014 at 12:42 AM
Poe but honest Poe but honest

On this day in 1849, American author Edgar Allan Poe was found delirious in a gutter in Baltimore, Maryland under mysterious circumstances.

on October 03, 2014 at 1:57 AM
Sanity clause Sanity clause

Born on this day in 1890 Groucho Marx, American comedian, actor, and singer.

on October 02, 2014 at 2:12 AM
Grand hotel Grand hotel

On this day in 1907, the Plaza Hotel opened in New York.

on October 01, 2014 at 2:21 AM
It’s a life of smiles and a life of tears It’s a life of smiles and a life of tears

On this day in 1908, Maurice Maeterlinck‘s play L’Oiseau bleu premiered in Moscow.

on September 30, 2014 at 12:05 AM