December 7 — On This Day in Opera

Birth of Italian composer Pietro Mascagni in Livorno, later famed for the verismo opera "Cavalleria rusticana" and other stage works.

Birth of American dramatic coloratura soprano Sibyl Sanderson in Sacramento, California, muse to Jules Massenet and creator of roles in "Esclarmonde" and "Thaïs".

Birth of American coloratura soprano Bernice de Pasquali (born Bernice W. James) in Hull, Massachusetts; she later sang at the Metropolitan Opera and became the first American woman elected to the Accademia Filarmonica Romana.

World premiere in Paris (Théâtre du Châtelet / Cirque d’Hiver) of Hector Berlioz’s "La prise de Troie", the first part of the dilogy "Les Troyens", given in concert form after the composer’s death.

Birth of Platon Tsesevych (Platon Tsesevyč) in Niahnevichy, Minsk gubernia; he became a Ukrainian bass and opera singer active in Kharkiv and other theatres.

Birth of Welsh contralto Helen Watts in Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire; she later enjoyed an international career in opera and concert, including work with Glyndebourne and major orchestras.

Birth of American concert and opera tenor David Gordon in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, noted especially as an interpreter of Bach and for his long association with the Carmel Bach Festival.

Birth of American operatic baritone Frederick Burchinal in Wichita, Kansas; he later sang more than two decades at the Metropolitan Opera, specializing in Verdi and verismo roles.

Death of Norwegian soprano Kirsten Flagstad in Oslo; renowned as one of the greatest Wagnerian singers of the 20th century and often described as having "the voice of the century".

Birth of Ukrainian operatic tenor Bogdan Volkov, later winner of major competitions such as Operalia (second prize, 2016) and the Paris Opera Competition (first prize, 2015).

World premiere of Jimmy López’s multi-lingual opera "Bel Canto" at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, based on Ann Patchett’s novel and conducted by Sir Andrew Davis.

Teatro alla Scala in Milan opens its 2024–25 opera season on the traditional feast of St Ambrose with a new production of Verdi’s "La forza del destino".