August 15 — On This Day in Opera

Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht's "Die Dreigroschenoper" received its first postwar performance in Berlin at the Hebbel-Theater.

Éna Brennan's opera "Hold Your Breath", with a libretto by David Pountney, received its world premiere at the Bregenzer Festspiele.

Birth of Italian opera composer Ferdinando Gasparo Bertoni, who composed around 70 operas, including "Orfeo" (1776).

French dramatic soprano Emma Calvé was born in Decazeville. One of the leading opera singers of the Belle Époque, she became especially celebrated for her interpretation of the title role in "Carmen".

French composer Jacques Ibert was born in Paris. He wrote seven operas, including "Angélique", "Le Roi d'Yvetot", and, with Arthur Honegger, "L'Aiglon".

German-American composer, conductor, and pianist Lukas Foss was born in Berlin. His stage works include the operas "The Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" and "Griffelkin".

French baritone Robert Massard was born in Pau. A leading exponent of the French operatic repertoire, he sang major roles in "Faust", "Carmen", "Les Troyens", "Pelléas et Mélisande", and many other operas.

American dramatic coloratura soprano Rita Shane was born in New York City. She became particularly renowned as the Queen of the Night in "Die Zauberflöte", a role she performed more than 250 times.

Turkish opera singer and visual artist Semiha Berksoy died in Istanbul. She had sung in Adnan Saygun's "Özsoy" and became a pioneering figure in the development of Turkish opera.