August 11 — On This Day in Opera

Carl Maria von Weber began the composition period of his one-act comic opera "Abu Hassan", which he completed on January 12, 1811.

Paul Hindemith's five-act opera "Die Harmonie der Welt" received its world premiere at the Prinzregententheater during the Munich Opera Festival, conducted by the composer.

Act I of Sergei Rachmaninoff's unfinished opera "Monna Vanna" received its world premiere in an orchestrated performing version at Saratoga Springs, with Igor Buketoff conducting the Philadelphia Orchestra.

Birth of Chinese opera singer and music teacher Jiang Ying.

British-American conductor Raymond Leppard was born in London. He became an important figure in the twentieth-century revival of Baroque opera, particularly works by Monteverdi and Cavalli.

American mezzo-soprano Barbara Smith Conrad was born in Atlanta, Texas. She later performed with the Metropolitan Opera, Vienna State Opera, and other major companies.

Death of English soprano and educator Miriam Licette, known for her operatic roles including Cio-Cio-San in "Madama Butterfly".

Australian operatic tenor Steve Davislim, noted for roles including Loge in "Das Rheingold", David in "Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg", and the title role in "Idomeneo", died at the age of 57.