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October 17 — On This Day in Opera

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

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Premieres & milestones

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s "Ascanio in Alba" received its first performance at the Teatro Regio Ducale in Milan.
1771 Premiere
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s "Ascanio in Alba" received its first performance at the Teatro Regio Ducale in Milan.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Source
Franz Liszt’s only completed opera, "Don Sanche, ou Le château de l'amour", received its world premiere at the Paris Opera; Liszt was thirteen years old.
1825 Premiere
Franz Liszt’s only completed opera, "Don Sanche, ou Le château de l'amour", received its world premiere at the Paris Opera; Liszt was thirteen years old.
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1955 Premiere
Verdi’s "Otello" received its Covent Garden Opera Company premiere at the Royal Opera House in London.
Otello
Giuseppe Verdi
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1980 Premiere
A new version of Salvatore Sciarrino’s opera "Cailles en sarcophage", with a libretto by Giorgio Marini, received its world premiere at Teatro La Fenice in Venice.
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1998 Premiere
Heinz Holliger’s opera "Schneewittchen", based on Robert Walser, received its world premiere at the Opernhaus Zürich.
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2013 Premiere
Verdi’s "Les Vêpres siciliennes" received its Royal Opera and Royal Opera House premiere at Covent Garden in London.
Les vêpres siciliennes
Giuseppe Verdi
Source

Births & deaths

1909 Died
Italian opera composer Nicola Spinelli, best known for the verismo opera "A basso porto", died in Rome.
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Italian baritone Rolando Panerai was born in Campi Bisenzio near Florence; his career spanned more than six decades and was particularly associated with the Italian repertoire.
1924 Born
Italian baritone Rolando Panerai was born in Campi Bisenzio near Florence; his career spanned more than six decades and was particularly associated with the Italian repertoire.
Source
1977 Born
Birth of American operatic soprano Nicole Cabell, winner of the 2005 BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Competition.
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1984 Died
French operatic tenor Georges Thill, one of the leading French singers of the 20th century and a major interpreter of the French repertoire, died.
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