September 20 — On This Day in Opera

Francis Poulenc's "Dialogues des Carmélites" received its United States premiere at San Francisco Opera in an English translation, conducted by Erich Leinsdorf; the performance also marked Leontyne Price's American opera debut as Madame Lidoine.

Alexander Zemlinsky's "Der Zwerg" returned to the stage at the Hamburg State Opera after roughly half a century of neglect, in a substantially altered and slightly abridged version presented under the title "Der Geburtstag der Infantin".

Birth of American tenor George Hamlin, noted in classical and operatic concert repertoire.

Ildebrando Pizzetti, Italian composer whose operas include "Fedra", "Debora e Jaele", and "Assassinio nella cattedrale", was born in Parma.

Gabriella Besanzoni, Italian contralto and mezzo-soprano celebrated in roles including Carmen in "Carmen", Amneris in "Aida", and Leonora in "La favorita", was born in Rome.

José Mojica, Mexican operatic tenor and actor who performed with the Chicago Opera and sang leading roles including the Count Almaviva in "The Barber of Seville", died in Lima, Peru.