August 18 — On This Day in Opera

Birth of German bass Ludwig Fischer in Mainz, noted for roles such as Osmin in Mozart’s "Die Entführung aus dem Serail".

Italian composer Antonio Salieri was born in Legnago in the Republic of Venice. A major figure in late eighteenth-century opera, he composed more than forty operas, including "Les Danaïdes", "Tarare", "Axur, re d'Ormus", and "Falstaff".

Birth of Austrian baritone Angelo Neumann in Vienna, later notable as a Wagnerian performer and impresario.

Operatic baritone and impresario Angelo Neumann was born in Stampfen. He became an important early champion of Richard Wagner and organized a touring production of the complete "Der Ring des Nibelungen" using sets and costumes from the original Bayreuth production.

Birth of Italian soprano Gemma Bellincioni in Como, famed for creating the role of Santuzza in Mascagni’s *Cavalleria Rusticana*.

German soprano Anna Deinet died in Munich. A longtime member of the Bavarian Court Opera, she created Helmwige in the world premiere of Wagner's "Die Walküre" and had previously sung Brangäne in the world premiere of "Tristan und Isolde".

Czech composer Erwin Schulhoff died in the Wülzburg internment camp in Bavaria. His stage works include the opera "Flammen", an unconventional reimagining of the Don Juan legend.

German dramatic soprano Hildegard Behrens died in Tokyo. She was one of the leading Wagner and Richard Strauss interpreters of her generation, particularly celebrated as Brünnhilde in "Der Ring des Nibelungen" and in the title roles of "Salome" and "Elektra".