August 2 — On This Day in Opera

This page lists notable events in opera history that happened on August 2, including world premieres, composer births, deaths, and important milestones.

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Premieres & milestones

1774 Premiere

The French version of Christoph Willibald Gluck's "Orphée et Eurydice" received its world premiere at the Académie Royale de Musique in Paris.

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1945 Died

Death of Italian composer Pietro Mascagni in Rome at age 81, whose one-act opera "Cavalleria rusticana" ushered in the Verismo era.

Pietro Mascagni

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2008 Premiere

Tan Dun's "The First Emperor" received its European premiere at the Finnish National Opera during the Savonlinna Opera Festival.

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Births & deaths

1891 Born

English composer Sir Arthur Bliss, whose stage works include the opera "The Olympians", was born in London.

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1921 Died

Death of Italian operatic tenor Enrico Caruso in Naples at age 48, one of the most celebrated tenors of the early 20th century.

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1937 Born

Austrian soprano Gundula Janowitz, celebrated for performances at the Vienna State Opera and Metropolitan Opera, was born in Berlin.

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