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.

Love me tenor Love me tenor

Happy 61st birthday tenor Roberto Alagna

By on June 07, 2024 at 6:00 AM
49 comments
The beloved returns The beloved returns

Happy 85th birthday tenor Giacomo Aragall

By on June 06, 2024 at 6:00 AM
71 comments
Femme libérée Femme libérée

Happy 59th birthday soprano Sandrine Piau

By on June 05, 2024 at 6:00 AM
23 comments
Mezzos on the move Mezzos on the move

Happy 58th birthday mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli

By on June 04, 2024 at 6:00 AM
117 comments
Tall, dark and handsome Tall, dark and handsome

Happy 59th birthday baritone Peter Mattei

By on June 03, 2024 at 6:00 AM
84 comments
Elder statesmen Elder statesmen

Happy 75th birthday tenor Neil Shicoff

By on June 02, 2024 at 6:00 AM
43 comments
My friend Flicka My friend Flicka

Happy 79th birthday mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade

By on June 01, 2024 at 6:00 AM
46 comments
Dramatic improvement Dramatic improvement

Born on this day in 1931 mezzo-soprano/soprano Shirley Verrett

By on May 31, 2024 at 6:00 AM
57 comments
Ha sortito l’effetto! Ha sortito l’effetto!

Born on this day in 1920 bass-baritone George London

By on May 30, 2024 at 6:00 AM
84 comments
Riot grrrls Riot grrrls

On this day in 1913 Igor Stravinsky‘s Le Sacre du printemps premiered in Paris; a riot ensued

By on May 29, 2024 at 6:00 AM
36 comments
Wird’s nicht eine schöne Welt? Wird’s nicht eine schöne Welt?

Born on this day in 1925 baritone Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau

By on May 28, 2024 at 6:00 AM
60 comments
High flying, adored High flying, adored

Born on this day in 1907 sopranos Lina Pagliughi…

By on May 27, 2024 at 6:00 AM
22 comments
Upper stratasphere Upper stratasphere

Happy 86th birthday soprano Teresa Stratas

By on May 26, 2024 at 6:00 AM
58 comments
Bubbles and squeak Bubbles and squeak

Born on this day in 1929 soprano and administrator Beverly Sills

By on May 25, 2024 at 6:00 AM
72 comments
Rebel in her manner and her speech Rebel in her manner and her speech

On this day in 1966 Jerry Herman‘s Mame opened on Broadway

By on May 24, 2024 at 6:00 AM
34 comments
High drama High drama

Happy 88th birthday soprano Ingeborg Hallstein

By on May 23, 2024 at 6:00 AM
48 comments
O hehrstes Wunder! O hehrstes Wunder!

Born on this day in 1813 composer Richard Wagner

By on May 22, 2024 at 6:00 AM
51 comments
Un grande spettacolo Un grande spettacolo

On this day in 1892 Leoncavallo‘s Pagliacci premiered in Milan

By on May 21, 2024 at 6:00 AM
55 comments
Seville row Seville row

On this day in 1978, tenor Rockwell Blake made his Met debut on tour in Minneapolis as Don Ottavio

By on May 20, 2024 at 6:00 AM
35 comments
A peach of a girl A peach of a girl

Born on this day in 1861 soprano Nellie Melba

By on May 19, 2024 at 6:00 AM
52 comments
Once you have found him never let him go Once you have found him never let him go

Bassi Profondi Day

By on May 18, 2024 at 6:00 AM
40 comments
Diedero il canto agli astri, al ciel, che ne ridean più belli Diedero il canto agli astri, al ciel, che ne ridean più belli

Double diva day

By on May 17, 2024 at 6:00 AM
39 comments
Ai nostril fidi nunzio Ai nostril fidi nunzio

Happy 75th birthday bass Ferruccio Furlanetto

By on May 16, 2024 at 6:00 AM
36 comments
The father of us all The father of us all

Baptized on this day in 1567 composer Claudio Giovanni Antonio Monteverdi

By on May 15, 2024 at 6:00 AM
125 comments