August 30 — On This Day in Opera

Georg Philipp Telemann's revised comic opera "Der neumodische Liebhaber Damon", also known as "Die Satyrn in Arcadien", was first performed at the Oper am Gänsemarkt in Hamburg. The production marked the reopening of the Hamburg opera house after renovation.

Charles Burney encountered the fourteen-year-old Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in Bologna while Mozart was working on his first major opera seria, "Mitridate, re di Ponto", commissioned for Milan.

Giovanni Paisiello's setting of "La serva padrona", using the famous libretto previously set by Pergolesi, received its first performance at the Catherine Palace in Tsarskoye Selo during Paisiello's service at the Russian imperial court.

Amilcare Ponchielli's opera "I promessi sposi", based on Alessandro Manzoni's celebrated novel, received its world premiere at the Teatro della Concordia in Cremona. Ponchielli later substantially revised the work for Milan.

French soprano and composer Henriette-Adélaïde Villard, known as Mademoiselle Beaumesnil, was born in Paris. A singer at the Paris Opéra, she later composed stage works including "Anacréon" and "Tibulle et Délie".

French pianist and composer Victor-Alphonse Duvernoy was born in Paris. His stage works later included the operas "Sardanapale" and "Hellé".

Birth of German tenor Rudolf Jäger, who made his debut as the Steersman in Wagner’s "The Flying Dutchman" and created the role of Narraboth in Strauss’s "Salome".

Mexican soprano and composer Ángela Peralta died in Mazatlán. Known as the "Mexican Nightingale", she had achieved international success in Italian opera and appeared in the premiere of Melesio Morales's "Ildegonda" in Mexico.

American soprano and mezzo-soprano Regina Resnik was born in the Bronx, New York. She became a major Metropolitan Opera artist, first as a dramatic soprano and later in mezzo roles including Carmen, Klytemnestra, and Mistress Quickly.

Birth of British baritone Terence Sharpe, known for his performances in roles such as Scherasmin in Weber’s *Oberon*.

Death of Italian conductor and founder of the San Francisco Opera, Gaetano Merola, who died while conducting a performance of *Madame Butterfly*.