December 19 — On This Day in Opera

On 1890-12-19, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s opera "The Queen of Spades" ("Pikovaya dama") received its world premiere at the Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg, conducted by Eduard Nápravník.

On 1900-12-19, soprano Audrey Mildmay (co-founder of Glyndebourne Festival Opera) was born in Herstmonceux, Sussex.

On 1903-12-19, Umberto Giordano’s opera "Siberia" (libretto by Luigi Illica) premiered at La Scala in Milan.

On 1958-12-19, Maria Callas made her Paris Opéra debut singing Bellini’s "Norma" at the Palais Garnier.

On 2004-12-19, Italian operatic soprano Renata Tebaldi died in San Marino.

On 2005-12-19, The Royal Opera (Covent Garden) premiered its Leiser & Caurier production of Rossini’s "Il barbiere di Siviglia".