LibrettoArchive Opera Libretti • Translations • History

August 13 — On This Day in Opera

This page lists notable events in opera history that happened on August 13, including world premieres, composer births, deaths, and important milestones.

← August 12 | August 14 →

Premieres & milestones

1876
The first Bayreuth Festival opened at the newly built Festspielhaus with Richard Wagner's "Das Rheingold", beginning the first complete performance of "Der Ring des Nibelungen".
Source

Births & deaths

1869 Died
Italian opera composer Giuseppe Persiani, best known for "Inês de Castro", died in Paris.
Source
1912 Born
Birth of Spanish composer Francisco Escudero, known for his operatic works.
1912 Died
French composer Jules Massenet, creator of operas including "Manon", "Werther", "Thaïs", "Cendrillon", and "Don Quichotte", died in Paris.
Source
1912 Born
Italian lyric tenor Francesco Albanese was born in Torre del Greco; his operatic repertoire later included roles in "Alceste", "Il barbiere di Siviglia", "Falstaff", and "Gianni Schicchi".
Source
1914 Born
Birth of Spanish tenor Luis Mariano, acclaimed for his light lyric roles and popularity in light opera and operetta.
1930 Born
American contralto and mezzo-soprano Margarethe Bence was born in Kingston, New York; she later performed extensively at the Vienna State Opera and appeared at the Bayreuth and Salzburg festivals.
Source
1942 Born
Birth of British soprano Sheila Armstrong, noted for her performances in opera and concert.
1948 Born
Birth of American coloratura soprano Kathleen Battle, celebrated for her pure tone and lyric repertoire.

Browse by date

January 12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031

February 12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728

March 12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031

April 123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930

May 12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031

June 123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930

July 12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031

August 12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031

September 123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930

October 12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031

November 123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930

December 12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031