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.