July 29 — On This Day in Opera

Italian tenor Carlo Bergonzi made his professional operatic debut at the Teatro Donizetti in Bergamo, appearing as a baritone in Mascagni's "Cavalleria rusticana".

Italian bel canto tenor Domenico Reina, remembered for creating leading Rossini roles and singing throughout Italy and Paris, died in Pesaro.

Birth of German pianist and composer Sophie Menter, widely admired by Liszt and notated for her contributions to opera repertoire arrangements.

Death of German composer Robert Schumann, who wrote one completed opera (*Genoveva*) and influenced Romantic opera through his music and criticism.

Brazilian soprano Bidu Sayão, one of the Metropolitan Opera's greatest lyric sopranos and celebrated for roles in "Manon", "Roméo et Juliette", and "La bohème", was born in Balancete, Rio de Janeiro.

Italian tenor Mario Del Monaco, one of the twentieth century's greatest dramatic tenors and a legendary Otello, was born in Florence.

French-American soprano and actress Mary Garden, creator of leading roles in Debussy's "Pelléas et Mélisande" and Massenet's "Chérubin", died in Aberdeen, Scotland.