September 22 — On This Day in Opera

Richard Wagner's "Das Rheingold", the preliminary evening of "Der Ring des Nibelungen", received its world premiere at the Königliches Hof- und Nationaltheater in Munich on the orders of King Ludwig II of Bavaria, against Wagner's wishes.

Richard Strauss's final opera, "Capriccio", received its first performance in the United Kingdom at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.

First Romanian production of George Enescu’s opera Œdipe at the Romanian National Opera, Bucharest (in Romanian translation).

George Enescu's "Oedipe" received its first Romanian production at the Bucharest National Opera during the inaugural George Enescu International Festival, conducted by Constantin Silvestri.

Paul Barroilhet, French operatic baritone who created important roles in operas by Donizetti and Halévy, was born in Bayonne.

Elisabeth Rethberg, German soprano who became one of the Metropolitan Opera's leading singers and created the title role in Richard Strauss's "Die ägyptische Helena", was born in Schwarzenberg, Saxony.

Death of Célestine Galli-Marié, the French mezzo-soprano who created the title role in Bizet’s Carmen.

John Tomlinson, English bass renowned for Wagner roles including Wotan, Hagen, Gurnemanz, and King Marke and for creating major roles in contemporary British opera, was born in Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire.

Birth of Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, a crossover artist who has recorded multiple complete operas and popularized classical vocal music worldwide.