December 10 — On This Day in Opera

Australian singer and contralto Reba Rangan is born in Melbourne; she later becomes a noted concert and oratorio soloist in Britain and Australia, appearing at venues including the Royal Albert Hall.

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's opera "Christmas Eve" receives its world premiere at the Mariinsky Theatre in St Petersburg under Eduard Nápravník, launching one of his key Gogol-inspired stage works.

Austrian operatic baritone Hans Feodor von Milde, long associated with the Weimar court opera and creator of Telramund in the premiere of Wagner's "Lohengrin," dies in Weimar.

Giacomo Puccini's opera "La fanciulla del West" has its world premiere at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the first world premiere ever produced by the Met, with Enrico Caruso as Dick Johnson and Emmy Destinn as Minnie conducted by Arturo Toscanini.

Italian baritone Sesto Bruscantini is born in Civitanova Marche; he will become one of the outstanding post-war buffo and character baritones, especially renowned in Mozart and Rossini roles.

American operatic mezzo-soprano Vera Little (Vera Pearl Little-Augustithis) is born in Memphis, Tennessee; for over four decades she will be a leading member of the Deutsche Oper Berlin and take part in major Henze opera premieres.

French coloratura soprano Mado Robin, famed for her exceptionally high register and recordings of roles such as Lucia and Lakmé, dies in Paris at the age of 41.

Russian mezzo-soprano Anna Goryachova is born in Leningrad; she later gains international recognition for bel canto roles and appearances at major European opera houses and festivals.

Swiss soprano Lisa Della Casa, celebrated for her Mozart and Richard Strauss interpretations and long associations with Vienna State Opera and the Salzburg Festival, dies in Münsterlingen, Switzerland.