October 1 — On This Day in Opera

Johann Joseph Fux's "Dafne in lauro", with a libretto by Pietro Pariati, received its first performance in Vienna as part of celebrations for Emperor Charles VI's birthday.

Vicente Martín y Soler's opera "L'arbore di Diana", with a libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte, received its world premiere at the Burgtheater in Vienna.

Gaetano Donizetti completed "Il Pigmalione", his first opera, at almost two in the morning; the work remained unperformed until 1960.

John Adams's "Doctor Atomic", with a libretto assembled by Peter Sellars from original sources, received its world premiere at San Francisco Opera's War Memorial Opera House.

Birth of Italian composer Alessandro Stradella, known for sacred works and operas (though many scores are lost).

Portuguese mezzo-soprano Luísa Todi died in Lisbon; she had been one of the most celebrated European opera singers of the late eighteenth century.

French composer Paul Dukas was born in Paris; his major operatic work is "Ariane et Barbe-bleue".

German tenor Gerhard Stolze was born; he became a leading character tenor, particularly associated with Wagner and Richard Strauss roles including Mime, Loge and Herod.

Hungarian soprano Erzsébet Házy was born in Pozsony, now Bratislava; she became a leading member of the Hungarian State Opera and was especially associated with Puccini and twentieth-century Hungarian opera.

Death of Slovak coloratura soprano Patricia Burda Janečková, who died on October 1, 2023, of breast cancer. (Note: her obituary often mis-dates year as 2023, but October 1 is recorded.)

American countertenor Brian Asawa was born in Fullerton, California; he became an important figure in the modern revival of the countertenor voice in opera.