October 28 — On This Day in Opera

Mozart reportedly pulled an all-nighter to complete the overture to Don Giovanni in Prague, the night before the premiere.

Richard Strauss’s final opera, "Capriccio", with a libretto by Strauss and Clemens Krauss, received its world premiere at the Staatsoper in Munich, conducted by Krauss.

The revised version of Hans Werner Henze’s opera "Elegy for Young Lovers" received its semi-scenic world premiere at Teatro La Fenice in Venice, conducted by Markus Stenz.

Moscow’s Bolshoi Theatre reopened after a six-year restoration with a gala featuring leading opera and ballet stars.

Chandler Carter’s opera "This Little Light of Mine", with a libretto by Diana Solomon-Glover about civil-rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer, received its world premiere at the Lensic Performing Arts Center in Santa Fe.

Jeanine Tesori’s opera "Grounded", with a libretto by George Brant based on his play, received its world premiere at Washington National Opera.

Death of Stefano Landi in Rome, an early Baroque composer whose Sant’Alessio is among the earliest historical operas.

Dmytro Bortniansky, composer of operas including "Creonte", "Alcide" and "Quinto Fabio", was born in Hlukhiv in the Cossack Hetmanate.

Death of Joseph Bodin de Boismortier, prolific French Baroque composer of opéra-ballets and vocal works.

American composer and conductor Howard Hanson was born in Wahoo, Nebraska; his only opera, "Merry Mount", later became one of the notable American operas produced by the Metropolitan Opera in the 1930s.

Birth of American contralto Claramae Turner, noted for roles at San Francisco Opera and New York City Opera and for the film Carousel.

Birth of American soprano Loretta Di Franco, who sang more than 900 performances at the Metropolitan Opera.

Birth of American baritone Alan Titus, an internationally recognized opera singer.

American operatic soprano Audrey Schuh, a longtime leading artist of New Orleans Opera who also appeared with New York City Opera, San Francisco Opera and Houston Grand Opera, died at age 92.