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.

È dolce cosa vivere obliando È dolce cosa vivere obliando

On this day in 1914 Zandonai‘s Francesca da Rimini premiered in Turin

on February 19, 2024 at 6:00 AM
Guts and Gorr Guts and Gorr

Born on this day in 1926 mezzo-soprano Rita Gorr

on February 18, 2024 at 6:00 AM
Uphill both ways Uphill both ways

On this day in 1904 Puccini’s Madama Butterfly had its disastrous premiere in Milan

on February 17, 2024 at 6:00 AM
King of <em>Versailles</em> King of <em>Versailles</em>

Happy 86th birthday composer John Corigliano

on February 16, 2024 at 6:00 AM
The whole world was listening The whole world was listening

Happy 77th birthday composer John Adams

on February 15, 2024 at 6:00 AM
Social insecurity Social insecurity

Happy 65th birthday soprano Renée Fleming

on February 14, 2024 at 6:00 AM
Glorifying the American girl Glorifying the American girl

Happy 55th birthday mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato

on February 13, 2024 at 6:00 AM
Pomp and circumstance Pomp and circumstance

Born on this day in 1923 director and designer Franco Zeffirelli

on February 12, 2024 at 6:00 AM
Swiss miss Swiss miss

Happy 86th birthday soprano Edith Mathis

on February 11, 2024 at 6:00 AM
“You just want to kiss yourself, you sound so great” “You just want to kiss yourself, you sound so great”

Happy 97th birthday soprano Leontyne Price

on February 10, 2024 at 6:00 AM
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