September 18 — On This Day in Opera

The (second) Theatre Royal, Covent Garden—now the Royal Opera House—opened in London after the 1808 fire; its price hikes sparked the Old Price Riots.

Emil Scaria, Austrian bass renowned as a leading Wagnerian singer who created the role of Gurnemanz in the world premiere of "Parsifal", appeared as Sir John Falstaff in "Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor" at the Vienna Court Opera.

World premiere of Tobias Picker’s opera "Dolores Claiborne" at San Francisco Opera.

David T. Little's "The Wake World", based on a story by Aleister Crowley, received its world premiere at the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia, presented by Opera Philadelphia and The Industry.

World premiere of David Hertzberg’s opera "The Wake World" at the Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia (Opera Philadelphia co-presentation).

Birth of Francesca Caccini in Florence—composer of the earliest surviving opera by a woman ("La liberazione di Ruggiero").

Maureen Lehane, Irish mezzo-soprano who sang with the Royal Opera House and Sadler's Wells Opera and later became a noted singing teacher, was born in Dublin.

Ruth Hesse, German mezzo-soprano celebrated for Wagner roles including Brangäne in "Tristan und Isolde" and Fricka in the "Ring" cycle, was born.

Anna Netrebko, Russian-Austrian soprano who became one of the leading international opera singers of her generation, was born in Krasnodar. Her major roles have included Donna Anna in "Don Giovanni", Violetta in "La traviata", and the title role in "Macbeth".

David DiChiera, American composer and arts administrator who founded Michigan Opera Theatre (now Detroit Opera) and Opera Pacific, died in Detroit at age 83.