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.

Neapolitan Neapolitan

Born on this day in 1797 composer Gaetano Donizetti.

By on November 29, 2017 at 9:40 AM
5 comments
Back street love affairs burst into flame behind closed doors Back street love affairs burst into flame behind closed doors

Born on this day in 1923 actress Gloria Grahame.

By on November 28, 2017 at 8:48 AM
31 comments
Futurama Futurama

La Cieca invites you to peruse some of the remarkable deals in electronics, books, DVDs, computers and cell phones available at Amazon.com.

By on November 27, 2017 at 8:14 AM
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“I don’t think you need to have a difficult childhood to be funny, but it helps” “I don’t think you need to have a difficult childhood to be funny, but it helps”

Happy 63rd birthday cartoonist Roz Chast.

By on November 26, 2017 at 11:45 AM
18 comments
Quarrel about what Quarrel about what

Born on this day in 1896 composer Virgil Thomson.

By on November 25, 2017 at 7:39 AM
8 comments
How to sing How to sing

Born on this day in 1848 soprano Lilli Lehmann.

By on November 24, 2017 at 11:09 AM
4 comments
Wild turkey surprise Wild turkey surprise

Happy Thanksgiving USA Parterrians from La Cieca (pictured, left.)

By on November 23, 2017 at 8:13 AM
4 comments
Evil under the sun Evil under the sun

On this day in 1898 Pietro Mascagni’s Iris premiered in Rome.

By on November 22, 2017 at 6:09 AM
2 comments
Giorno d’orrore Giorno d’orrore

Born on this day in 1694 writer and philosopher Francois-Marie Arouet (known as Voltaire.) 

By on November 21, 2017 at 11:58 AM
1 comment
Heil sei dem Tag Heil sei dem Tag

On this day in 1808 Beethoven’s Fidelio premiered in Vienna. 

By on November 20, 2017 at 9:18 AM
17 comments
Hit parade Hit parade

Born on this day in 1926 singer and actress Dorothy Collins.

By on November 18, 2017 at 12:07 PM
14 comments
Let’s put on a show Let’s put on a show

Born on this day in 1911 actor, choreographer and director Charles Walters.

By on November 17, 2017 at 2:17 PM
16 comments
Woman of the golden west Woman of the golden west

Born on this day in 1926 soprano Maralin Niska Dice.

By on November 16, 2017 at 8:06 AM
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Starting from scratch Starting from scratch

Happy 83rd birthday actress Joanna Barnes.

By on November 15, 2017 at 2:10 PM
1 comment
Scream and scream again Scream and scream again

Born on this day in 1926 soprano Leonie Rysanek

By on November 14, 2017 at 3:07 PM
36 comments
Check yourself before you Rex yourself Check yourself before you Rex yourself

On this day in 1940 the animated film Fantasia produced by Walt Disney and starring Leopold Stokowski (not pictured) was released.

By on November 13, 2017 at 9:16 AM
1 comment
Popp star Popp star

Born on this day in 1939 soprano Lucia Popp.

By on November 12, 2017 at 9:03 AM
15 comments
Big bang Big bang

Born on this day in 1917 soprano Gertrude Grob-Prandl.

By on November 11, 2017 at 11:07 AM
1 comment
Dramatic ark Dramatic ark

On this day in 1970 the Richard Rodgers–Martin Charnin musical Two By Two opened on Broadway.

By on November 10, 2017 at 11:02 AM
1 comment
“I can’t play a slave” “I can’t play a slave”

Born on this day in 1922 actress and singer Dorothy Dandridge.

By on November 09, 2017 at 10:37 AM
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“That audience embrace has unbelievable power” “That audience embrace has unbelievable power”

Born on this day in 1912, more or less, actress and playwright June Havoc.

By on November 08, 2017 at 11:26 AM
2 comments
The name of the Rosenkavalier The name of the Rosenkavalier

Happy 81st birthday soprano Gwyneth Jones.

By on November 07, 2017 at 1:12 PM
4 comments
“I’m Dr. Clayton Forrester, and soon you will all bow down before me” “I’m Dr. Clayton Forrester, and soon you will all bow down before me”

Born on this day in 1958 actor Trace Beaulieu.

By on November 06, 2017 at 6:00 AM
15 comments
Maker and a poet too Maker and a poet too

Born on this day in 1494 composer, poet and cobbler Hans Sachs.

By on November 05, 2017 at 12:59 PM
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