1737
Premiere
The premiere of George Frideric Handel's opera "Serse" took place at the King's Theatre in London.
May 4 — On This Day in Opera
This page lists notable events in opera history that happened on May 4, including world premieres, composer births, deaths, and important milestones.
Premieres & milestones
1826
Premiere
The premiere of Carl Maria von Weber's opera "Oberon" took place at Covent Garden in London.
1849
Premiere
The premiere of Otto Nicolai's opera "Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor" was conducted in Berlin, establishing it as his most enduring work.
2020
Composer Anthony Davis awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Music for his opera 'The Central Park Five'.
2025
Opera Colorado presents Verdi's 'Il Trovatore' in concert at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House in Denver.
2025
Lyric Opera of Kansas City stages Puccini's 'Turandot' at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.
2025
Minnesota Opera performs Rossini's 'The Barber of Seville' at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts in St. Paul.
2025
Casa Italiana in Los Angeles presents Puccini's 'La Bohème' with full orchestra and staging.
2025
Performance of Rossini's 'Il barbiere di Siviglia' at Opéra Nice Côte d'Azur in Nice, France.
2025
Metropolitan Opera hosts a gala honoring Elizabeth and Jean-Marie Eveillard for their five decades of support.
2025
Curtis Opera Theatre presents Handel's 'Ariodante' at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia.
Births & deaths
1780
Born
Italian composer Saverio Mercadante, known for operas such as "Il giuramento", was born in Altamura.
1843
Born
Birth of Bianka Blume, German soprano known for her performances in major European opera houses, including La Scala and Teatro di San Carlo.
1869
Born
Birth of Hans Pfitzner, German composer and conductor, noted for his opera 'Palestrina'.
1921
Born
Birth of John van Kesteren, Dutch tenor known for his performances in operas by Mozart and Strauss.
1929
Born
Italian soprano Renata Scotto, renowned for roles in "Madama Butterfly" and "La traviata", was born in Savona.
1930
Born
Birth of Roberta Peters, American soprano celebrated for her roles at the Metropolitan Opera.
1931
Born
Birth of Gennady Rozhdestvensky, Russian conductor known for his interpretations of Russian operas.
1955
Died
Death of George Enescu, Romanian composer and conductor known for his opera 'Œdipe'.
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