November 17 — On This Day in Opera

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

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1839

World premiere of Verdi's first opera, 'Oberto, conte di San Bonifacio,' at Teatro alla Scala, Milan.

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1855

Birth of Italian baritone and cellist Giuseppe Campanari (later a leading baritone at the Met).

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1857

Birth of French dramatic soprano Rose Caron (noted Wagnerian at the Paris Opéra).

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1864

Birth of Cuban soprano Rosalía “Chalía” Herrera (among the first Cuban artists to be recorded).

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1866

World premiere of Ambroise Thomas's 'Mignon' at the Opéra-Comique (Salle Favart), Paris.

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1877

World premiere of Gilbert & Sullivan's comic opera 'The Sorcerer' at the Opera Comique, London.

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1898

World premiere of Umberto Giordano's 'Fedora' at the Teatro Lirico, Milan (with Enrico Caruso as Loris).

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1917

The Metropolitan Opera opens a new Joseph Urban–designed production of Gounod's 'Faust.'

Faust

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1936

Death of contralto Ernestine Schumann-Heink in Los Angeles.

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1989

Death of American conductor Emerson Buckley (longtime Greater Miami Opera music director).

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2017

Death of American composer William Mayer, known for the opera 'A Death in the Family.'

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