January 20 — On This Day in Opera

This page lists notable events in opera history that happened on January 20, including world premieres, composer births, deaths, and important milestones.

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1649

Antonio Cesti’s opera "Orontea" was first performed in Venice.

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1681

Baroque opera composer and theorbist Francesco Bartolomeo Conti was born in Florence.

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1833

German operatic soprano Gertrud Elisabeth Mara died in Reval (now Tallinn).

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1892

Alfredo Catalani’s opera "La Wally" premiered at Teatro alla Scala in Milan.

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1934

Franz Lehár’s operetta "Giuditta" premiered at the Vienna State Opera.

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1956

American lyric soprano (and Met Flower Maiden in "Parsifal") Lucy Isabelle Marsh died.

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1995

Thea Musgrave’s opera "Simón Bolívar" premiered at the Harrison Opera House in Norfolk, Virginia.

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2014

Italian conductor Claudio Abbado (closely associated with La Scala, Vienna State Opera, etc.) died in Bologna.

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2021

Iranian-born soprano Anita Terzian Titus died (reported as January 20, 2021).

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