September 14 — On This Day in Opera

Benjamin Britten's chamber opera "The Turn of the Screw", with a libretto by Myfanwy Piper after Henry James's novella, received its world premiere at Teatro La Fenice in Venice, performed by the English Opera Group and conducted by Britten.

Anno Schreier's opera "Hamlet", with a German libretto by Thomas Jonigk drawing on Shakespeare, Saxo Grammaticus, and François de Belleforest, received its world premiere at the Theater an der Wien in Vienna.

Kris Defoort's opera "The Time of Our Singing", with a libretto by Peter van Kraaij based on Richard Powers's novel, received its world premiere in Brussels.

Birth of American soprano Ellen Beach-Yaw, who debuted as Lucia in *Lucia di Lammermoor* at the Metropolitan Opera.

Claire Croiza, French mezzo-soprano and influential singing teacher whose operatic repertoire included Charlotte in "Werther", Dalila in "Samson et Dalila", Carmen, and the title role in "Pénélope", was born in Paris.

Birth of Italian conductor Vittorio Gui, founder of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino and a central figure in early-20th-century Italian opera.

Birth of Polish soprano Ada Nordenova, known for her performances in Central Europe in the mid-20th century.

Rolf Liebermann, Swiss composer and influential opera administrator who later directed both the Hamburg State Opera and Paris Opera and composed operas including "Leonore 40/45", "Penelope", and "The School for Wives", was born in Zürich.

Siegmund Nimsgern, German bass-baritone renowned for Wagner roles including Wotan in "Der Ring des Nibelungen", Telramund in "Lohengrin", and Klingsor in "Parsifal", died at age 85.