November 24 — On This Day in Opera

Premiere of Carl Maria von Weber’s early opera "Das Waldmädchen" in Freiberg (Buttermarkt), his first staged opera.

Richard Wagner married actress Christine Wilhelmine 'Minna' Planer

Adelina Patti made her operatic debut at age 16 in the title role of Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor at the Academy of Music, New York

Commonly cited birthdate of composer Scott Joplin (composer of the opera "Treemonisha").

World premiere of Antonín Dvořák’s comic opera "Král a uhlíř" (King and Charcoal Burner) at Prague’s Provisional Theatre.

Premiere (Old Style date; New Style Dec 6, 1876) of Tchaikovsky’s opera "Vakula the Smith" at the Mariinsky Theatre, St. Petersburg.

Victorien Sardou's play La Tosca premiered at the Théâtre de la Porte Saint-Martin in Paris with Sarah Bernhardt in the title role. This play became the basis for Puccini's opera Tosca

World premiere of Werner Egk’s opera "Peer Gynt" at the Berlin State Opera, conducted by the composer.

Birth of German soprano Lilli Lehmann, famed Isolde and leading Wagnerian.

Scott Joplin was born (birth date disputed, possibly between June 1867 and mid-January 1868, but November 24, 1868 is frequently cited). He composed the opera Treemonisha, considered the first important American opera

Giacomo Puccini died in Brussels from complications following throat cancer surgery. His final opera Turandot remained unfinished and was later completed by Franco Alfano

Birth of Spanish tenor Alfredo Kraus in Las Palmas, one of the 20th century’s great bel canto stylists.

Death of baritone Robert McFerrin Sr., the first Black male soloist at the Metropolitan Opera.

Death of American soprano Carol Neblett in Los Angeles.