January 24 — On This Day in Opera

Francesco Cavalli’s opera "Le nozze di Teti e di Peleo" was first performed at the Teatro San Cassiano in Venice.

The famed castrato singer Farinelli (Carlo Broschi) was born in Andria (Kingdom of Naples).

E.T.A. Hoffmann (writer and composer; influential on multiple opera works including Offenbach’s "Les contes d’Hoffmann") was born in Königsberg, Prussia.

Vincenzo Bellini’s opera "I puritani" premiered at the Théâtre-Italien in Paris.

Italian opera composer and conductor Gaspare Spontini died in Maiolati (Maiolati Spontini), Italy.

American operatic soprano Patricia Neway died.

A world-premiere preview of Edmond Dédé’s opera "Morgiane" (described as the first known opera by a Black American composer) was presented at St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans.