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April 16 — On This Day in Opera

This page lists notable events in opera history that happened on April 16, including world premieres, composer births, deaths, and important milestones.

← April 15 | April 17 →

Premieres & milestones

1849 Premiere
Premiere of Giacomo Meyerbeer's opera 'Le prophète' at the Paris Opéra.
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1849 Premiere
The premiere of Otto Nicolai's opera "Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor" took place at the Königliches Opernhaus in Berlin.
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1888 Premiere
American premiere of Verdi's opera 'Otello' at the Academy of Music in New York City.
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1943
Italian bass Cesare Siepi, celebrated for his roles in Mozart operas such as "Don Giovanni", made an important early career debut at La Scala.
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Births & deaths

1722 Died
Death of Johann Jacob Bach, German musician and composer, in Eisenach.
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Composer and violin virtuoso Gaspare Spontini, later known for the opera "La vestale", was born in Maiolati, Italy.
1746 Born
Composer and violin virtuoso Gaspare Spontini, later known for the opera "La vestale", was born in Maiolati, Italy.
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1829 Born
Birth of Italian baritone Francesco Graziani in Fermo, Italy. Debuted in Donizetti's 'Gemma di Vergy' (1851) and created roles in Verdi's 'La forza del destino' and Mercadante's 'Pelagio'.
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1846 Died
Death of Domenico Dragonetti, Italian composer and double-bass virtuoso, in London.
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1858 Died
Death of Johann Baptist Cramer, German composer and pianist, in London.
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1879 Born
Birth of German baritone Robert von Scheidt in Bremen. Created roles in Schreker's 'Die Gezeichneten' and 'Der Schatzgräber'.
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1880 Born
Birth of Austrian soprano Elsa Bland in Vienna.
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1885 Born
Birth of Sardinian soprano Carmen Melis. Noted for her performances in verismo operas.
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1886 Born
French soprano Yvonne Gall, noted for her performances in French opera at the Paris Opéra, was born.
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1913 Born
Birth of English mezzo-soprano Constance Shacklock in Sherwood, Nottingham. Debuted as Mercedes in Bizet's 'Carmen' (1947).
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1918 Born
Birth of American mezzo-soprano Carol Brice in Sedalia, North Carolina. Created roles in Blitzstein's 'Regina' and Moross's 'Gentlemen, Be Seated'.
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American composer Henry Mancini, later associated with film and operatic-style vocal works, was born in Cleveland, Ohio.
1924 Born
American composer Henry Mancini, later associated with film and operatic-style vocal works, was born in Cleveland, Ohio.
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