December 9 — On This Day in Opera

On 1836-12-09, Mikhail Glinka's patriotic opera "A Life for the Tsar" (originally titled "Ivan Susanin") received its premiere at the Bolshoi Kamenny Theatre in Saint Petersburg, establishing a foundation for the Russian national opera tradition.

On 1842-12-09, Mikhail Glinka's second opera "Ruslan and Lyudmila" premiered at the Bolshoi Theatre in Saint Petersburg, further defining the style of Russian national opera.

On 1850-12-09, American operatic soprano Emma Abbott, later famous as the "People’s Prima Donna" and founder of the Emma Abbott English Grand Opera Company, was born in Chicago, Illinois.

On 1862-12-09, Czech composer and conductor Karel Kovařovic, later director of the National Theatre in Prague and composer of several operas including "Psohlavci," was born in Prague.

On 1905-12-09, Richard Strauss's one-act opera "Salome" received its world premiere at the Königliches Opernhaus (Semperoper) in Dresden, an event that became a landmark in early 20th-century opera.

On 1906-12-09, Dutch soprano Greet Koeman, who sang at major houses and took part in contemporary opera premieres, was born in Zaandam, North Holland.

On 1915-12-09, German-born lyric soprano Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, later one of the most influential opera and lieder singers of the 20th century, was born in Jarotschin (now Jarocin, Poland).

On 1915-12-09, future German–British opera and recital singer Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (Olga Maria Elisabeth Friederike Schwarzkopf) was born, noted especially for her Mozart and Richard Strauss roles.

On 1974-12-09, Austrian bass Ludwig Weber, renowned for his Wagnerian and other major bass roles on the leading opera stages of Europe, died in Vienna.

On 1974-12-09, celebrated Austrian bass Ludwig Weber, long associated with the Vienna State Opera and Bayreuth, died, closing the career of one of the century’s most imposing operatic basses.

On 1976-12-09, Italian operatic tenor Nino Martini, who combined an international opera career with appearances in Hollywood films and performances at the Metropolitan Opera, died in Verona, Italy.