Today in classical music history September 7

Francois A. PHILIDOR

1541 Baptismal of Spanish composer Hernando de CABEZON in Madrid. d- 1 OCT 1602. Son of Spanish organist and composer Antonio de Cabecon.

1631 Birth of composer Clemens Thieme

1635 Birth of composer Pal Esterhazy

1703 Birth of composer Jean Monnet

1726 (1725?) Birth of English comic opera composer and chess-player, Francois A. PHILIDOR, in Dreux. d-London, 21 AUG 1794 (1795?).He was the youngest son of André Danican Philidor (c.1647-1730) and half brother of Anne Danican Philidor (1681-1728).

1726 FP of Rameau: "La Robe de dissension, ou Le Faux Prodigue" Paris (1726).

1731 Birth of English composer and singer Elisabetta de GAMBARINI in London. d-London, 9 FEB 1765. Sang the second lead part in the first performance of Handel's Occasional Oratorio in 1746.

1731 Birth of composer Damasus Brosmann

1739 Birth of composer Joseph Legros

1741 Death of French opera composer Henri Desmarets. Composer in the court of Louis XIV, in Luneville. b-Paris, FEB 1661.

1773 FP of Floquet: "L'Union de l'amour et des arts" opera-ballet, Paris (1773).

1784 Birth of composer Frantisek Max Knize

1819 Death of French composer and cellist Jean-Louis Duport in Paris. b-Paris, 4 OCT 1749. Jean-Louis and Jean-Pierre, brothers, were both cellists.

1860 Birth of German bass Gustav Schwegler. d. Oct. 7, 1922

1862 Birth of American composer and teacher Thomas Whitney SURETTE in Concord, MA. d-Concord, 19 MAY 1941.

1864 Birth of composer Giovanni Tebaldini

1867 Birth of American tenor Evan WILLIAMS in Mineral Ridge, OH, Sep. 7, 1867; d. May 24, 1918

1880 Birth of composer Kurt von Wolfurt

1880 Birth of composer Attilio Brugnoli

1881 Birth of Boston Choirmaster, Father William J. FINN. Organized Paulist Choristers.

1881 Death of American poet, composer and flautist Sidney Clopton Lanier, in Lynn, NC. b-Macon, GA 3 FEB 1842.

1900 Birth of English soprano and teacher Joan CROSS in London. d- Aldeburgh, Dec. 12, 1993: Began her musical life as a violinist while a pupil at St Paul's Girls' School, London. Joined Lilian Baylis's Old Vic opera chorus (19240, graduating to leading roles. Principal soprano Sadler Wells Opera (1931-46), and director (1943-5). Début CG [Mimi] (1931), and sang there 1947-54. Founder member English Opera Group (1946-54). Cross and Anne Wood, est. Opera School in 1948, which in 1955, became Nat. School of Opera, being dir. 1948-64. Produced operas at SW, CG, Oslo, Amsterdam, and Toronto. Dir., Phoenix Opera Co. Joint translator of Smetana's The Bartered Bride. Created five roles in Britten operas: [Ellen Orford] Peter Grimes (1945), Female Chorus in The Rape of Lucretia (1946), [Lady Billows] Albert Herring (1947), [Elizabeth I] Gloriana (1953), and [Mrs. Grose] The Turn of the Screw (1954). CBE (1951). On assuming the directorship of the Sadler's Wells Opera Company in 1943, Cross combined administration with singing.

1906 Birth of composer Filip Gershkovich

1907 Birth of composer Ahmet Adnan Saygun

1908 Birth of Max Kaminsky, trumpeter

1914 Birth of composer Hugo Pfister

1914 Birth of Irish baritone William Dickey, in Belfast. d. 1984

1916 Death of Boston organist Junius W. Hill in Hollywood. Wellesley College professor.

1921 (8th?)Birth of Welsh tenor, actor, comedian Sir Harry SECOMBE. OBIT

1921 Birth of American pianist Arthur Ferrante of duo: Ferrante and Teicher.

1922 Birth of composer Kirill Vladimirovich Molchanov

1922 FP of Sir Arthur Bliss' Colour Symphony at the Three Choirs' Festival in Glouchester, England.

1923 Birth of English composer, violinist, singer and pianist Madeleine DRING in Hornsey. d-London, 26 MAR 1977.

1924 Birth of American composer and teacher Hugh AITKEN in NYC.

1924 Birth of American composer Leonard ROSENMAN, in Brooklyn, NYC.

1925 FP of Moore: Mary, "Narcissa" San Francisco (1925); The first grand opera by an American woman, performed under her own direction.

1926 Birth of Swiss bass Peter Lagger in Buchs. d-Sep. 17, 1979

1927 Birth of composer Graham Dudley Whettam

1930 Birth of American soprano Lucille Udovick, in Denver, CO. d. Rome, Sep. 23, 1999

1931 Birth of American tenor Herbert Doussant, in New York City.

1931 Birth of American composer Ken McINTYRE. d- 2001.

1931 Birth of composer Charles Camilleri

1936 Birth of composer Romualds Kalsons

1937 FP of Louis Gruenbergs opera Green Mansions over CBS Radio Network.

1937 Birth of composer, classical double-bassist and jazz pianist Ollie WILSON in St. Louis.

1940 Birth of Giacomini, Giuseppe (t) It. b. Veggiano, Padua, Sep. 7, 1940; MET: Début: Nov. 27, 1976 [Alvaro] La Forza del Destino, 10 seasons (1976- 80, 81-84, 86-89) 85 perf., 8 works.

1940 FP of David Diamond's Concerto for Orchestra in Yaddo, NY.

1941 FP of CARVALHO: "Tiradents" Rio de Janeiro (1941).

1948 Death of Basile, Arturo (con/opera) (1914-1968) It. b. ? 1914; d. Sep. 7, 1948.

1949 FP of Gehdini's opera Billy Budd, at Teatro la Fenice, in Venice.

1952 Birth of James, Eirian (m/s) Welch. b. Cardigan, Sep. 7, 1952;

1953 Birth of American composer Michael BYRON.

1954 Birth of American composer Robert Livingston ALDRIDGE in Richmond, VA.

1954 FP of Hershey Kay's ballet Western Symphony in NYC.

1961 Birth of French pianist Jean-Yves THIBAUDET in Lyon.

1965 Birth of Romanian soprano Angela GHEORGHIU in Adjud, Romania, Sep. 7, 1965; MET: Dec. 4, 1993 [Mimi] La Bohème: MET: thru 2000: (1993-98, 99-2000) 6 seasons, 45 perf., 5 works.

1971 FP of Leonard Bernstein's Mass, a theater piece. Dress rehearsal for the opening of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC.

1972 FP of Bussotti: "Lorenzaccio" Venice (1972).

1985 Death of Italian composer Franco Ferrara in Firenze. b-Palermo, 4 JUL 1911.