December 2 — On This Day in Opera

Handel's opera 'Lotario' (HWV 26) received its first performance at the King's Theatre in London.

Gaetano Donizetti's grand opera 'La favorite' premiered at the Académie Royale de Musique (Paris Opéra) in Paris.

Death of composer Giovanni Simone Mayr (Johann Simon Mayr), an influential figure in Italian opera and teacher of Donizetti, in Bergamo.

Camille Saint-Saëns's opera 'Samson et Dalila' received its world premiere at the Grand Ducal Theatre in Weimar.

Karl Goldmark's opera 'Die Königin von Saba' ('La regina di Saba') was performed for the first time in the United States at the Metropolitan Opera in New York.

Birth of soprano Maria Callas (Anna Maria Sophia Cecilia Kalogeropoulou) in Manhattan, New York, who became one of the most iconic opera singers of the 20th century.

Birth of Iranian spinto soprano and folk singer Pari Zangeneh (Parirokh Shahyalani) in Kashan, Iran.

Birth of Finnish bass Jaakko Ryhänen, noted opera singer and voice teacher, in Tampere, Finland.

Death of Swedish tenor David Stockman, long associated with the Royal Court Opera in Stockholm, in Stockholm.

Death of American operatic soprano and voice teacher Ellen Faull, known for her long association with New York City Opera and for creating the role of Abigail Borden in Beeson's 'Lizzie Borden'.

World premiere of Péter Eötvös's opera 'Valuska' at the Eiffel Art Studios (Hungarian State Opera) in Budapest.