August 17 — On This Day in Opera

Richard Wagner's "Götterdämmerung" received its world premiere at the Bayreuth Festspielhaus, conducted by Hans Richter, completing the first full performance of "Der Ring des Nibelungen".

Gottfried von Einem's opera "Der Prozess", based on Franz Kafka's novel with a libretto by Boris Blacher and Heinz von Cramer, received its world premiere at the Salzburg Festival, conducted by Karl Böhm.

Rolf Liebermann's opera "Penelope", with a libretto by Heinrich Strobel, received its world premiere at the Salzburg Festival, conducted by George Szell.

Italian composer and celebrated singing teacher Nicola Porpora was born in Naples. A major figure in Baroque opera, he composed dozens of stage works and taught singers including Farinelli and Caffarelli.

Death of Lorenzo Da Ponte, librettist for several of Mozart’s greatest operas including "Le nozze di Figaro", "Don Giovanni", and "Così fan tutte".

Chinese soprano and vocal pedagogue Zhou Xiaoyan was born in Wuhan. Later known as China's "First Lady of Opera", she became an influential teacher of Western operatic singing at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music.

American soprano Linda Zoghby was born in Mobile, Alabama. She later sang with major American companies and made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Mimì in "La bohème".

Italian tenor Fabio Armiliato was born in Genoa. He developed an international career particularly associated with the operas of Verdi, Puccini, Giordano, Mascagni, and Leoncavallo.

American mezzo-soprano Rosemary Kuhlmann, who created the role of the Mother in the world premiere of Gian Carlo Menotti's "Amahl and the Night Visitors", died in Warren, Rhode Island.