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.


Matinee idol Matinee idol

On this day in 1974 soprano Kiri Te Kanawa made an “emergency” Met debut as Desdemona and her broadcast debut

on February 09, 2024 at 6:00 AM
Norwegian crooner Norwegian crooner

Happy 37th birthday soprano Lise Davidsen

on February 08, 2024 at 6:00 AM
Poverty and oysters always seem to go together Poverty and oysters always seem to go together

On this day in 1928 soprano Grace Moore made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Mimi.

on February 07, 2024 at 6:00 AM
Princess in denial Princess in denial

On this day in 1968 mezzo-soprano Fiorenza Cossotto made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Amneris.

on February 06, 2024 at 6:00 AM
Foco di gioia Foco di gioia

On this day in 1887 Verdi‘s Otello premiered in Milan

on February 05, 2024 at 6:00 AM
Pochi amici a lui simli sono Pochi amici a lui simli sono

On this day in 2006 tenor Jonas Kaufmann made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Alfredo.

on February 04, 2024 at 6:00 AM
They hear that they listen They hear that they listen

Born on this day in 1887 poet and expatriate Gertrude Stein

on February 03, 2024 at 6:00 AM
Quelle belle vie! Quelle belle vie!

Happy 87th birthday soprano Martina Arroyo

on February 02, 2024 at 6:00 AM
Essa la poesia Essa la poesia

Born on this day in 1922 soprano Renata Tebaldi

on February 01, 2024 at 6:00 AM
If I were a bell If I were a bell

On this day in 1974 Verdi‘s I Vespri Siciliani had its first Metropolitan Opera performance.

on January 31, 2024 at 6:00 AM
For a girl from central Europe For a girl from central Europe

On this day in 1957 soprano Martha Mödl made her Metropolitan Opera debut as the Siegfried Brunnhilde.

on January 30, 2024 at 6:00 AM
All Cretans great and small All Cretans great and small

On this day in 1781 the premiere of Mozart‘s Idomeneo in Munich

on January 29, 2024 at 6:00 AM
Lost meninas Lost meninas

On this day in 1916 Granados’s Goyescas premiered at the Met

on January 28, 2024 at 6:00 AM
Prodigious son Prodigious son

Born on this day in 1756 composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

on January 27, 2024 at 6:00 AM
Comedies of eras Comedies of eras

On this day in 1955 conductor Rudolf Kempe made his Metropolitan Opera debut conducting Tannhaüser

on January 26, 2024 at 6:00 AM
Qui la voce sua soave Qui la voce sua soave

Born on this day in 1963 tenor Marcello Giordani

on January 25, 2024 at 6:00 AM
Coming out a head Coming out a head

On this day in 1958 soprano Inge Borkh made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Salome (paired, of all things, with Gianni Schicchi)

on January 24, 2024 at 6:00 AM
Music tames the savage beast Music tames the savage beast

On this day in 1964 the American premiere of Gian Carlo Menotti’s The Last Savage took place at the Metropolitan Opera.

on January 23, 2024 at 6:00 AM
Ti muova o nume Ti muova o nume

Born on this day in 1897 soprano Rosa Ponselle

on January 22, 2024 at 6:00 AM
Sunday scaries Sunday scaries

Happy 83rd birthday tenor/baritone/conductor Plácido Domingo

on January 21, 2024 at 6:00 AM
Sea star Sea star

On this day in 1967 Colin Davis made his Metropolitan Opera debut conducting Peter Grimes

on January 20, 2024 at 6:00 AM
Metropolitan delivered Metropolitan delivered

On this day in 1984 bass Samuel Ramey, conductor Mario Bernardi and director Frank Corsaro made their Metropolitan Opera debuts in Handel’s Rinaldo

on January 19, 2024 at 6:00 AM
Blood diamonds Blood diamonds

On this day in 1907 the Metropolitan Opera premiered Puccini’s Manon Lescaut with the composer in attendance

on January 18, 2024 at 6:00 AM
All the world loves a clown All the world loves a clown

On this day in 1960 tenor Jon Vickers made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Canio

on January 17, 2024 at 6:00 AM
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