July 13 — On This Day in Opera

This page lists notable events in opera history that happened on July 13, including world premieres, composer births, deaths, and important milestones.

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Premieres & milestones

1668 Premiere

First performance of Antonio Cesti’s opera "Il pomo d’oro" (‘The Golden Apple’) at the Imperial Court Theatre in Vienna, composed for the wedding celebrations of Emperor Leopold I.

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1987 Premiere

Philip Glass's opera "The Making of the Representative for Planet 8" received its world premiere at the Houston Grand Opera.

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2024 Premiere

World premiere of Damien Geter and Lila Palmer’s opera "American Apollo" at Des Moines Metro Opera.

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Births & deaths

1762 Born

Birth of German tenor Karl Erb in Ravensburg, who became a prominent Wagnerian and concert singer.

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1807 Died

Italian composer and librettist Cesare Sterbini, best known as the librettist of Rossini's "Il barbiere di Siviglia", died in Rome.

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1819 Born

Jacques Offenbach, composer of operas including "Les Contes d'Hoffmann" and "Orphée aux enfers", was born in Cologne.

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1888 Born

American operatic soprano Margaret Harshaw was born in Little Rock, Arkansas.

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1903 Born

Birth of German mezzo-soprano Irene Ziegler in Munich, noted for her performances in German and Austrian opera houses.

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1909 Born

Birth of Italian tenor Carlo Bergonzi in Vidalenzo, Parma, who gained international fame for his interpretations of Verdi at the Metropolitan Opera.

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1951 Died

Composer Arnold Schoenberg, whose stage works include "Erwartung" and "Moses und Aron", died in Los Angeles.

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