LibrettoArchive Opera Libretti • Translations • History

September 17 — On This Day in Opera

This page lists notable events in opera history that happened on September 17, including world premieres, composer births, deaths, and important milestones.

← September 16 | September 18 →

Premieres & milestones

Mozart's "Don Giovanni" received its first performance at the Paris Opéra, where it was presented as "Don Juan" in a substantially altered French version.
1805 Premiere
Mozart's "Don Giovanni" received its first performance at the Paris Opéra, where it was presented as "Don Juan" in a substantially altered French version.
Don Giovanni
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Source

Births & deaths

1818 Born
Birth of Danish operatic soprano Louise Sahlgreen, known for her work at the Royal Danish Theatre, including roles in Rossini works such as "William Tell".
Source
1885 Born
Birth of Azerbaijani composer Üzeyir Hacıbəyov, known for writing the opera "Leyli və Məcnun" (1908), a foundational work in Azerbaijani opera history.
Source
1907 Died
Ignaz Brüll, Austrian composer and pianist whose opera "Das goldene Kreuz" became an international repertory success in the late nineteenth century, died in Vienna.
Source
Fritz Wunderlich, German lyric tenor celebrated especially for Mozart opera and noted for roles including Tamino in "Die Zauberflöte" and Don Ottavio in "Don Giovanni", died in Heidelberg at age 35.
1966 Died
Fritz Wunderlich, German lyric tenor celebrated especially for Mozart opera and noted for roles including Tamino in "Die Zauberflöte" and Don Ottavio in "Don Giovanni", died in Heidelberg at age 35.
Source
Nicola Moscona, Greek-born bass who sang 719 performances at the Metropolitan Opera in roles including Ramfis in "Aida", Sarastro in "Die Zauberflöte", and Oroveso in "Norma", died in Philadelphia.
1975 Died
Nicola Moscona, Greek-born bass who sang 719 performances at the Metropolitan Opera in roles including Ramfis in "Aida", Sarastro in "Die Zauberflöte", and Oroveso in "Norma", died in Philadelphia.
Source

Browse by date

January 12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031

February 12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728

March 12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031

April 123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930

May 12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031

June 123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930

July 12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031

August 12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031

September 123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930

October 12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031

November 123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930

December 12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031