FEBRUARY 15

Michael PRAETORIUS

  • 1571 Birth of composer Michael PRAETORIUS in Creuzberg an der Werra, near Eisenach to family of early German musicians of Kreuzberg. He died on his birthday in 1621 in Wolfenbuttel.
  • 1621 Death of Praetorius in Wolfenbuttel, his birthday.
  • 1686 FP of Lully's last opera Armide at the Paris Opera.CD-Lully - Armide / Laurens · Crook · Gens · Rime · Deletré · Ragon · Collegium Vocale · La Chappel Royale · Herreweghe
  • 1732 FP of Handel's opera ,Sosarmes King of Media in London. Runs for eleven performances.
  • 1760 Birth of French composer Jean-Francois LeSUEUR in Drucat-Plessiel. d-Paris, 6 OCT 1837.
  • 1789 Birth of German composer Friedrich Ernst FESCA in Magdeburg. d-Karlsruhe, 24 MAY 1826.
  • 1797 Birth of Heinrich Engelhard STEINWAY (Steinweg) in Germany. Piano builder. d-1871.
  • 1805 Birth of French composer Louise Angelique BERTIN in Roche. d-Paris, 26 APR 1887.
  • 1812 FP of Beethoven's Fifth Piano Concerto, Carl Czerny in Vienna.DVD-Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 5 & Mozart Sonatas / Gulda, Munich Philharmonic Orchestra
  • 1845 FP of G. Verdi's opera Gioavanni D'Arco at the Teatro all Scala in Milan.CD-Verdi - Giovanna d'Arco (Joan of Arc)/ Caballé · Domingo · Milnes · LSO · Levine
  • 1847 Birth of Austrian composer Robert FUCHS in Frauenthal, Styria. d-Vienna, 19 FEB 1927.
  • 1857 Death of Russian composer Mikhail Glinka in Berlin. b-Novospasskoye, 1 JUN 1804.
  • 1858 Birth of Polish American soprano Marcella SEMBRICH (Prakseda Marcelina Kochanska) d-NYC, 11 JAN 1935.
  • 1858 Birth of Marcella Sembrich Soprano Born 15 Feb 1858 Galicia Poland Died 11 Jan 1935 Debut as Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor(Donizetti) 3 Jun 1877 Teachers:- Francesco Lamperti, Giovanni Lamperti, Richard Loevy Victor von Rokitansky Pupils :- Josepine Antoine, Sophie Braslau, Josephine Forsyth Dusolina Giannini, Alma Gluck, Ethyl Hayden, Louise Jarecki, Maria Jeritza, Holda Lashanska, Queena Mario, Louise Lerch Margaret Halstead, Anna Hamlin, Polyna Stoska
  • 1860 Birth of Jacques Isnardon Bass / Teacher of Singing Born 15 Feb 1860 Marseille Died 14 Nov 1930 Debut 1885 in Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini) Teacher :- Saint-Yves Bax Pupils :- Louis Azema, Roger Bourdin, Robert Lasselle, Germaine Lubin Nellie Martyl, Gaston Micheletti, Joseph Rogatschevsky Aline Vallandri, Miguel Villabella, Jane Laval, Paul Payan Madeleine Mathieu Created Mathurin in Pilote (Urich) Baxter in Diana (Paladhile) Don Juan in Beaucoup de Bruit pour Rien (Puget) Sang in premiere Xaviere (Dubois) Chevalier D'Harmental (Messager) Jocelyn (Godard) Boheme (Leoncavallo)
  • 1867 FP of J. Strauss' An der schönen Donau "Blue Danube Waltz". ~ more.
  • 1868 First private or partial performance of Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 1 Winter Dreams in Moscow. [MUSIClassical member Howard Weiner indicates the first complete performance took place on November 15, 1868 in Moscow. Nikolai Rubinstein conducting].CD-Tchaikovsky: The Complete Symphonies and Piano Concertos
  • 1874 FP of G. Bizet's Patrie Overture, by the Concerts Pasedeoup in Paris.CD-Bizet: Carmen; Arlésienne Op23
  • 1879 Birth of Otakar Chmel Baritone Born 15 Feb 1879 Prague Died 24 June 1957 Debut as Herald in Lohengrin (Wagner) 17 Nov 1903 Teacher :- Frantisek Hynek
  • 1880 Birth of Giulio Cirino Bass Born 15 Feb 1880 Rome Died 25 July 1970 Debut as Basilio in Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini) 1903 Teacher :- Cesane, Nannetti Created Teseo in Fedra (Pizzetti) Sang in premiere in Madonna Imperia (Alfano) Semirama (Respighi) Raquel (Boero) Il Gobbo di Califfo (Casavola) La Nave (Montemezzi) Liola(Mule) Notte di Leggenda (Franchetti) La Vedova Scaltra (Wolf-Ferrari) La Bisbetica domata (Persico) Monte Ivnor (Rocca)
  • 1884 FP of Tchaikovsky's opera Mazeppa at the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow.CD-Tchaikovsky: Mazeppa
  • 1885 Death of German conductor, composer and violinist Leopold Damrosch in NYC. b-Posen, Prussia, 22 OCT 1832. A friend of Liszt and Wagner. Came came to the USAmerica in 1871. Founded the New York Symphony, conducted early Wagner performances at the MET Opera.
  • 1886 Birth of American composer Julia Lee NIEBERGALL in Indianapolis, IN. d-Indianapolis, 19 OCT 1968.
  • 1887 Death of Russian composer Alexander Borodin in St. Petersburg.
  • 1890 Birth of Eva Liebenberg Mezzo-Soprano Born 15 Feb 1890 Died 18 Nov 1971 Teacher :- Hugo Rasch Pupils :- Eric Tappy, Eva Bornemann
  • 1891 Birth of Dino Borgioli Tenor / Teacher of Singing Born 15 Feb 1891 Florence Died 12 Sep 1960 Debut as Arturo in Puritani (Bellini) 1914 Teacher :- Eugenio Giachetti Pupils :- Erick Aiken, June Bronhill, Edith Coates, Katharine Coates Charles Craig, Murray Dickie, Bevenuto Finelli, Joan Hammond John Lanigan, Kenneth MacDonald, John Perosono, Ian Wallace Elisabeth Parry, Oreste Kirkop, Janet Howe, George Hancock Thomas Round, Daria Bayan, Natale Bramley, John McHugh Hugh Beresford, Geoffrey Shovelton, Robert Card, Rosina Raisbeck, Raymond Buckingham Sang in premiere of Il Gobbo del Califfo (Casavola)
  • 1896 Birth of Hina Spani Soprano Born 15 Feb 1896 Argentina Died 11 July 1969 Debut as Anna in Loreley (Catalani) 13 Mar 1915 Teachers:- Amanda Campodonico, Vittorio Moratti Pupils :- Renato Sassola, Marta Serrano Sang in premiere of Glauco (Franchetti) Tucuman (Boero) Raquela (Boero)
  • 1899 Birth of French composer Georges AURIC in Lodève. Member of "The Six". d-Paris, 23 JUL 1983.
  • 1903 Death of Edmond-Alphonse Vergnet Tenor Born 4 Jul 1850 Montpellier Died 15 Feb 1903 Debut as Raimbaut in Robert le Diable (Meyerbeer) 1874 Teacher :- Saint-Yves Bax Pupil :- Charles Dalmores Created John the Baptist in Herodaide (Massenet) Admeto in Dejanice (Catalani) Gonthram in Ghisele (Franck) Dominique in Attaque du Moulin (Bruneau) Shahabarin in Salambo (Reyer) Zarastra in Mage (Massenet) Sang in premiere of La Reine Berthe (Joncieres) Don Giovanni d'Austria (Marchetti)
  • 1903 Death of Joseph Beck Baritone Born 11 Jun 1848 Budapest Died 15 Feb 1903 Sang in premiere of Robin Hood (Dietrich)
  • 1904 Birth of
  • 1904 Larisa Alexandrovskaya Soprano Born 15 Feb 1904 Died 23 Mar 1980 Debut as Marguerite in Faust (Gounod) 1928 Teachers:- V A Sverdkova, A P Bonatschitsch
  • 1905 Birth of American song composer Harold ARLEN aka Hyman Arluck. d-NYC, 23 APR 1986.
  • 1907 Birth of French composer and organist Jean LANGLAIS in La Fontenelle. d-Paris, 8 MAY 1991.
  • 1913 Birth of Australian composer Miriam HYDE. Obituary, d-11 JAN 2005.
  • 1916 Death of Russian composer Nikolay Nikolayevitch Lodyzhensky. b-St. Petersburg, 1 JAN 1843.
  • 1916 Death of Francesco Pandolfini Baritone Born 22 Nov 1833 Tewrmine Emerse Died 15 Feb 1916 Debut as Vergy in Gemma di Vergy (Donizetti) 1859 Teachers:- Ronconi, Luigi Vannuccini Created Arnoldo in Lituani (Ponchielli) Virginio in Virginia (Mercadante) Sang in premiere of La Duchesse di Guisa (Serrao)
  • 1919 FP of Charles Martin Loeffler's Music for Four Stringed Instruments at Aeolina Hall by the Flonzaley Quartet in NYC.CD-Charles Martin Loeffler: Music for Four Stringed Instruments; String Quartet; Quintet in One Movement
  • 1925 FP of Julian Carrillo's Preludio a Cristobal Colon in Mexico.
  • 1926 Birth of Raymond Wolansky Baritone Born 15 Feb 1926 Cleveland Died 1 Dec 1998 Teacher :- Stoya von Milinkovic Debut as Silvio in Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Created Dr Stone in help Help the Globolinks (Menotti) Urumuru in Kommt Davon (Krenek) Empedokles in Der Tod des Empedokles (Reutter) Sang in premiere of Madchen aus Domrery (Klebe) Katchen von Heilbronn (Klebe) Belagerungszustand (Keleman)
  • 1927 Death of Trajan Grosavescu Tenor Born 21 Nov 1885 Lugoj Rumania Died 15 Feb 1927 Debut as Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly (Puccini) 1920 Teacher :- Franz Steiner
  • 1928 Birth of English contralto Norris PROCTER.
  • 1929 Birth of Sumito Tachikawa Baritone Born 15 Feb 1929 Oita Japan Debut as Germont in Traviata (Verdi) 1952 Teacher :- Tiichi Nakayama
  • 1934 Birth of American composer Arthur WELWOOD.
  • 1939 FP of Miakovsky's Symphony No. 19 for winds, in Moscow.
  • 1940 Founding of the American Music Center in NYC.
  • 1945 FP of Paul Creston's Symphony No. 2. New York Philharmonic Arthur Rodzinski conducting.CD-Creston: Symphonies 1 - 3
  • 1946 Birth of James Johnson Bass-Baritone Born 15 Feb 1946 Louisiana Debut as Philip II in Don Carlos (Verdi) 1972 Teacher :- Martial Singher Created Woland in Meister und Margarita (Holler) Joaquin Miller in Angle of Repose (Imbrie)
  • 1947 Birth of Donald Stephenson Twenor Born 15 Feb 1947 Leeds Teachers:- Otakar Kraus, Frederic Cox Created Preacher in No 11 Bus (Davies)
  • 1947 FP of E. W. Korngold's Violin Concerto. St. Louis Symphony Jascha Heifetz was soloist.CD-Korngold: Violin Concerto/Goldmark: Violin Concerto No.1
  • 1947 Birth of American composer John ADAMS Worcester, MA.
  • 1948 Birth of English composer Colin BAYLESS in Mansfield, Notts. Founded music publishers Da Capo Music Ltd. in 1992.
  • 1948 Birth of Scottish composer Edward McGUIRE in Glasgow.
  • 1949 Birth of American composer Christopher ROUSE in Baltimore, MD.
  • 1951 Birth of English soprano Kathryn HARRIES in Hampton Court. Debut as Leonora in Fidelio (Beethoven) 1982 Teachers:- Flora Nielsen, Constance Shaklock Created Hedda Gabler in Hedda Gabler (Harper) Lady in From Morning to Midnight (Sawer) Sang in premiere of Reve d'un Marco Polo (Vivier)
  • 1954 Death of Erik Wirl Tenor Born 30 May 1884 Ebensee Died 15 Feb 1954 Debut as Seaman in Tristan und Isolde (Wagner) 1906 Teacher:- Schuegraf Created Narren in Der Schatzgraben (Schrecker) Sang in premiere of Neues vom Tage (Hindemith) Der Ferne Klang (Schrecker) Die gezeichneten (Schrecker) Fennimore & Gerda (Delius)
  • 1958 FP of David Diamond's orchestral suite The World of Paul Klee (pr-KLAY) in Portland, OR.CD-Portland Youth Philharmonic
  • 1962 Birth of American composer Jonathan ELLIOTT in Philadelphia PA.
  • 1965 Death of Nell Tangeman Mezzo-Soprano Born 21 Dec 1914 Columbus Ohio Died 15 Feb 1965 Debut as Mother Goose in Premiere of Rakes Progress (Stravinsky) 1951 Teachers:- Friedrich Schorr, Margaret Matzenaur, Nadia Boulanger Created Dinah in Trouble in Tahiti (Bernstein)
  • 1965 FP of B.A. Zimmermann's opera Die Soldaten at the Städtische Opera in Cologne.CD-Bernd Alois Zimmermann: Die Soldaten, Opera in 4 Acts after Jakob Michael Reinhold Lenz
  • 1967 Birth of Dutch composer Hans EIJSACKERS in The Hague.
  • 1974 Death of Swedish composer Kurt Atterberg in Stockholm, age 86. b- 12 DEC 1887.
  • 1981 Death of Dreszo Ernster Bass Born 23 Nov 1898 Pecs Hungary Died 15 Feb 1981 Debut as Landgrave in Tannhauser (Wagner) 1923 Sang in premiere of Neues vom Tage (Hindemith) Christopher Columbus (Milhaud)
  • 1985 Death of Carol Brice Mezzo-Soprano Born 16 Apl 1918 Sedalia N C Died 15 Feb 1985 Debut as Addie in premiere of Regina (Blitzstein) 1958 Teacher :- Francis Rogers, Frank Harrison Created Harriet Tubman in Gentlemen be Seated (Moross) Addie in Regina (Blitzstein)
  • 1986 Death of Galiano Masini Tenor Born 7 Feb 1896 Livorno Died 15 Feb 1986 Debut as Cavaradossi in Tosca (Puccini) 1924 Teacher :- Giovanni Lavra Sang in premiere of Caracciolo (Vittadini) Palla De Mozzi (Marinuzzi)
  • 1989 Death of Robert Kerns Baritone Born 8 Jun 1933 Highland Park Michigan Died 15 Feb 1989 Debut as Sharpless in Madama Butterfly (Puccini) 1955 Sang in premiere of Rope (Mennini) Griechische Passion (Martinu)
  • 1990 Death of Paul Wolfrum Baritone Born 1943 Kitzbuhel Died 15 Feb 1990 Debut 1967 Created Norbert in Aufstand (Eder) Sang in premiere of Ophelia (Kelterborn)
  • 1992 Death of American composer William Schuman, at age 81 in NYC. He won the Pulitzer Music Prize, 1943 for Walt Whitman cantata A Free Song. b-NYC, 4 AUG 1910.
  • 2002 FP of Daron Hagen's Concerto For The Left Hand. Gary Graffman, pianist and Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Joanne Falletta conducting.
  • 2003 FP of Robert Martin's Water of the Flowery Mill for Guitar, Flute, String Trio, Percussion, at the Kennedy Center’s Terrace Theater, with William Anderson, Guitar, and the Theater Chamber Players. Performance repeated Feb. 16th at Bradley Hills Presbyterian Church, Bethesda, MD. Find out more about the composer at Presser.