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.

I speak for all mediocrities in the world I speak for all mediocrities in the world

Born on this day in 1750 composer Antonio Salieri

By on August 18, 2024 at 6:00 AM
55 comments
Gods and demigods Gods and demigods

Born on this day in 1686 composer Nicola Porpora

By on August 17, 2024 at 6:00 AM
61 comments
Sag’ es mir, süßer Freundin! Sag’ es mir, süßer Freundin!

On this day in 1876 Wagner’s Siegfried premiered at the Bayreuth Festspielhaus

By on August 16, 2024 at 6:00 AM
8 comments
Ritas and rituals Ritas and rituals

Happy 68th birthday tenor Bruce Ford

By on August 15, 2024 at 6:00 AM
115 comments
Into the arena Into the arena

Happy 64th birthdays to soprano Cecilia Gasdia

By on August 14, 2024 at 6:00 AM
75 comments
Music in the air Music in the air

Happy 76th birthday soprano Kathleen Battle

By on August 13, 2024 at 6:00 AM
77 comments
La femme de l’ombre La femme de l’ombre

Born on this day in 1944 tenor Peter Hofmann Birthday anniversaries of tenor Antonio Cortis (1891), mezzo-contralto Maria Olszewska (1892), soprano Trude Eipperle (1910), and opera director Harry Kupfer (1935) Happy 74th birthday soprano Melanie Holliday

By on August 12, 2024 at 6:00 AM
3 comments
Broken HIP Broken HIP

Born on this day in 1927 conductor Raymond Leppard

By on August 11, 2024 at 6:00 AM
63 comments
Ah di me che si dirà? Ah di me che si dirà?

Happy 72nd birthday soprano Ashley Putnam

By on August 10, 2024 at 6:00 AM
8 comments
Dramatic edge Dramatic edge

Happy 65th birthday soprano Maria Guleghina

By on August 09, 2024 at 6:00 AM
48 comments
Queen of the Nile Queen of the Nile

Happy 87th birthday stage director Sonja Frisell

By on August 08, 2024 at 6:00 AM
49 comments
Reining supreme Reining supreme

Born on this day in 1903 soprano Maria Reining

By on August 07, 2024 at 6:00 AM
65 comments
Osserva quella cieca Osserva quella cieca

Born on this day in 1954 writer, editor, and parterre creator James Jorden

By on August 06, 2024 at 6:00 AM
29 comments
Air and sunlight Air and sunlight

Born on this day in 1890 conductor Erich Kleiber

By on August 05, 2024 at 6:00 AM
35 comments
Unforeseen developments Unforeseen developments

Happy 64th birthday soprano Deborah Voigt

By on August 04, 2024 at 6:00 AM
133 comments
Brood in Great Britain Brood in Great Britain

Happy 65th birthday baritone Simon Keenlyside

By on August 03, 2024 at 6:00 AM
120 comments
Einen sonderbaren Klang Einen sonderbaren Klang

Happy 87th birthday soprano Gundula Janowitz

By on August 02, 2024 at 6:00 AM
46 comments
Hier zeige deine Taten Hier zeige deine Taten

Born on this day in 1926 bass Theo Adam

By on August 01, 2024 at 6:00 AM
28 comments
Virgin birth Virgin birth

Born on this day in 1930 tenor Pedro Lavirgen

By on July 31, 2024 at 6:00 AM
16 comments
So ben io quel che ho da far So ben io quel che ho da far

Born on this day in 1925 bass Carlos Feller

By on July 30, 2024 at 6:00 AM
50 comments
Try her out at dances Try her out at dances

Happy 61st birthday mezzo-soprano Olga Borodina

By on July 29, 2024 at 6:00 AM
96 comments
Virtute e canoscenza Virtute e canoscenza

Happy 83rd birthday conductor Riccardo Muti

By on July 28, 2024 at 6:00 AM
25 comments
A Caroling we go A Caroling we go

Happy 72nd birthday soprano Carol Vaness

By on July 27, 2024 at 6:00 AM
36 comments
Arms and the Anne Arms and the Anne

Happy 56th birthday soprano Anne Schwanewilms

By on July 26, 2024 at 6:00 AM
18 comments