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.

Printemps qui commença Printemps qui commença

Born on this day in 1894 soprano Yvonne Printemps

By on July 25, 2024 at 6:00 AM
20 comments
Summer awakening Summer awakening

Born on this day in 1921 tenor Giuseppe Di Stefano

By on July 24, 2024 at 6:00 AM
27 comments
Do it for the Graham Do it for the Graham

Happy 64th birthday mezzo-soprano Susan Graham

By on July 23, 2024 at 6:00 AM
52 comments
Memoirs of a geisha Memoirs of a geisha

Born on this day in 1909 soprano Licia Albanese

By on July 22, 2024 at 6:00 AM
31 comments
Mighty monster Mighty monster

Born on this day in 1936 soprano Ursula Schröder-Feinen

By on July 21, 2024 at 6:00 AM
20 comments
Mourning wood Mourning wood

Born on this day in 1938 actresses Natalie Wood and Diana Rigg

By on July 20, 2024 at 6:00 AM
40 comments
Florence and the machine Florence and the machine

Born on this day in 1868 soprano Florence Foster Jenkins

By on July 19, 2024 at 6:00 AM
64 comments
Picker and chooser Picker and chooser

Happy 70th birthday composer Tobias Picker

By on July 18, 2024 at 6:00 AM
71 comments
Sound baths Sound baths

Born on this day in 1914 soprano Eleanor Steber

By on July 17, 2024 at 6:00 AM
164 comments
Harem scarem Harem scarem

On this day in 1782 Mozart‘s Die Entführung aus dem Serail premiered in Vienna

By on July 16, 2024 at 6:00 AM
100 comments
One who or that which sheds its skin One who or that which sheds its skin

Happy 44th birthday to Broadway’s Laura Benanti

By on July 15, 2024 at 6:00 AM
37 comments
Smiles of a summer birthday Smiles of a summer birthday

Born on this day in 1918 director and screenwriter Ingmar Bergman

By on July 14, 2024 at 6:00 AM
41 comments
Classics never get old Classics never get old

Born on this day in 1924 tenor Carlo Bergonzi

By on July 13, 2024 at 6:00 AM
37 comments
Fjord technique Fjord technique

Born on this day in 1895 soprano Kirsten Flagstad

By on July 12, 2024 at 6:00 AM
73 comments
Breaking boundaries and glasses Breaking boundaries and glasses

Born on this day in 1925 soprano Mattiwilda Dobbs…

By on July 11, 2024 at 6:00 AM
47 comments
His curls are hurly-burly His curls are hurly-burly

Happy 55th birthday tenor Jonas Kaufmann

By on July 10, 2024 at 6:00 AM
70 comments
A bigger splash A bigger splash

Happy 87th birthday painter and designer David Hockney

By on July 09, 2024 at 6:00 AM
21 comments
Christel clear Christel clear

Born on this day in 1912 soprano Christel Goltz

By on July 08, 2024 at 6:00 AM
36 comments
Transmission of the fire Transmission of the fire

Born on this day in 1860 composer Gustav Mahler

By on July 07, 2024 at 6:00 AM
28 comments
Dotted rhythm Dotted rhythm

Born on this day in 1907 (1910?) soprano Dorothy Kirsten

By on July 06, 2024 at 6:00 AM
18 comments
Theater of the absurd Theater of the absurd

Born on this day in 1889 writer, filmmaker and designer Jean Cocteau

By on July 05, 2024 at 6:00 AM
40 comments
Starlight and dewdrops are waiting for thee Starlight and dewdrops are waiting for thee

Happy Independence Day to all U.S. Parterrians!

By on July 04, 2024 at 6:00 AM
71 comments
Born on the third of July Born on the third of July

Born on this day in 1878 composer and performer George M Cohan

By on July 03, 2024 at 6:00 AM
31 comments
Dancing in the great beyond Dancing in the great beyond

Born on this day in 1714 composer Christoph Willibald von Gluck

By on July 02, 2024 at 6:00 AM
21 comments