July 27 — On This Day in Opera

Birth of Italian librettist Antonio Ghislanzoni, best known for writing the libretto to Verdi’s "Aida".

Spanish tenor Francisco Viñas, celebrated for his Wagnerian interpretations and performances at the Metropolitan Opera and La Scala, was born in Moià, Catalonia.

Italian conductor Arturo Vigna, who led performances at La Scala, Covent Garden, the Metropolitan Opera, and other major opera houses, was born in Turin.

Birth of Italian tenor Mario del Monaco in Florence; he became one of the leading dramatic tenors of the mid‑20th century.

The Glyndebourne Festival Opera presented Mozart's "Le nozze di Figaro" during its inaugural season, helping establish the festival's international reputation for Mozart performance.

American writer Gertrude Stein died in Neuilly-sur-Seine. Her librettos include "Four Saints in Three Acts" and "The Mother of Us All", both composed by Virgil Thomson.

The Bayreuth Festival reopened its 1953 season with Wagner's "Parsifal", continuing the post-war renewal of the festival under Wieland and Wolfgang Wagner.

Death of German mezzo-soprano Martha Rohs, who sang in the premiere of Richard Strauss’s "Daphne" and had a distinguished operatic career.

Birth of American soprano Carol Vaness in Los Angeles, later known for her performances of Vitellia ("La clemenza di Tito") at Glyndebourne and the Met.

World premiere of Wolfgang Rihm’s opera "Dionysos" at the Salzburg Festival’s Haus für Mozart.