August 5 — On This Day in Opera

This page lists notable events in opera history that happened on August 5, including world premieres, composer births, deaths, and important milestones.

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Premieres & milestones

1705 Premiere

Premiere of Reinhard Keiser’s singspiel "Octavia" at the Oper am Gänsemarkt in Hamburg.

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1850 Premiere

The first performance of Richard Wagner's "Lohengrin" took place at the Weimar Court Theatre under the direction of Franz Liszt while Wagner remained in exile.

Lohengrin

Richard Wagner

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1934

Italian tenor Carlo Bergonzi made his debut as a baritone in "Madama Butterfly" at the Nuovo Teatro Verdi in Pesaro, beginning a career that later made him one of the greatest Verdi tenors.

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Births & deaths

1801 Born

Birth of French composer Ambroise Thomas, later known for his operas "Mignon" (1866) and "Hamlet" (1868).

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1895 Born

German soprano Erna Berger, renowned for Mozart and Strauss roles at the Berlin State Opera and the Vienna State Opera, was born in Dresden.

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1930 Born

American soprano Claire Watson, a leading interpreter of Wagner and Strauss at the Bayreuth Festival, the Metropolitan Opera, and the Vienna State Opera, was born in New Orleans.

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1984 Died

French composer and conductor Henri Sauguet, remembered for operas including "La Chartreuse de Parme" and "Les Caprices de Marianne", died in Paris.

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2005 Died

Death of American actress and avant‑garde opera singer Jane Lawrence Smith in New York City.

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