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September 15 — On This Day in Opera

This page lists notable events in opera history that happened on September 15, including world premieres, composer births, deaths, and important milestones.

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Premieres & milestones

A Viennese newspaper report provided the earliest known public reference to Mozart's work on "Die Entführung aus dem Serail", which he had begun composing only weeks earlier.
1781
A Viennese newspaper report provided the earliest known public reference to Mozart's work on "Die Entführung aus dem Serail", which he had begun composing only weeks earlier.
Die Entführung aus dem Serail
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
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1826 Premiere
"Ivanhoé", a French pastiche opera assembled by Antonio Pacini from music by Gioachino Rossini, received its first performance at the Odéon in Paris.
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1856 Premiere
First performance of Francisco Barbieri’s zarzuela "Los diamantes de la corona" in Madrid.
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1973 Premiere
Boris Blacher's final opera, "Yvonne, Prinzessin von Burgund", based on Witold Gombrowicz's play, received its world premiere at the Opernhaus Wuppertal.
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Alexander Goehr's "Arianna", an opera in eight scenes using Ottavio Rinuccini's surviving libretto for Monteverdi's lost "L'Arianna", received its world premiere at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.
1995 Premiere
Alexander Goehr's "Arianna", an opera in eight scenes using Ottavio Rinuccini's surviving libretto for Monteverdi's lost "L'Arianna", received its world premiere at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.
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Births & deaths

1851 Born
Birth of Serbian composer Josif Marinković, noted for his operetta‐like and choral works in the Serbian musical tradition.
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1858 Born
Birth of Hungarian composer and violinist Jenő Hubay, author of operas such as *Alienor* (1891) and *Moharózsa* (1903).
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1876 Born
Birth of conductor Bruno Walter (born Bruno Schlesinger), later celebrated for his work in German and American opera houses.
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1878 Born
Birth of Polish baritone Waclaw Brzezinski, active in European opera in the early 20th century.
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1917 Born
Birth of Austrian soprano Hilde Güden in Vienna, famous for her interpretations of Mozart and Strauss roles.
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Jessye Norman, American soprano celebrated for her interpretations of Wagner, Richard Strauss, Berlioz, Mozart, and other repertoire, was born in Augusta, Georgia.
1945 Born
Jessye Norman, American soprano celebrated for her interpretations of Wagner, Richard Strauss, Berlioz, Mozart, and other repertoire, was born in Augusta, Georgia.
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2021 Died
Norman Bailey, British bass-baritone especially renowned for Wagner roles including Wotan, the Dutchman, and Hans Sachs in "Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg", died at age 88.
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