August 28 — On This Day in Opera

Antonio Vivaldi's dramma pastorale "La Silvia", with a libretto by Enrico Bissari, received its world premiere at the Teatro Regio Ducale in Milan as part of celebrations for the birthday of Empress Elisabeth Christine.

Giovanni Battista Pergolesi's comic intermezzo "La serva padrona", with a libretto by Gennaro Antonio Federico, was first performed at the Teatro San Bartolomeo in Naples. Written to accompany the opera seria "Il prigionier superbo", it later became one of the most influential works in the development of opera buffa.

Antonio Sapienza's opera seria "Rodrigo", with a libretto by Giovanni Federico Schmidt after Corneille's "Le Cid", received its world premiere at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples. The work was later performed at La Scala under the title "Gonzalvo".

First performance of Richard Wagner’s opera *Lohengrin* at the Hoftheater in Weimar, with Franz Liszt conducting.

Richard Wagner's "Lohengrin" received its world premiere at the Grossherzogliches Hoftheater in Weimar, conducted by Franz Liszt. Wagner, then in political exile, was unable to attend.

Karel Miry's four-act opera "Maria van Boergondië", with a libretto by Napoleon Destanberg, received its world premiere at the Grand Théâtre in Ghent.

Birth of French soprano Augustine Albert, who created roles at the Paris Opéra—most notably Spontini’s *Olimpie*.

French soprano Augustine Albert was born in Paris. A leading singer at the Paris Opéra, she later created the title role in Gaspare Spontini's "Olimpie" and roles in several other new French operas.

Birth of American operatic tenor Richard Tucker, who became one of the leading voices at the Metropolitan Opera.