On This Day

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On This Day
22 February: Niels Gade Was Born
The Danish composer, violinist, organist, educationist, and administrator Niels Gade, born in Copenhagen on 22 February 1817, ranks among the most important figures in 19th-century Danish music. A supremely talented and multifaceted musician, roughly half of his compositions remained unpublished
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On This Day
17 February: Arcangelo Corelli Was Born
The life of the exceptional Italian composer and violinist Arcangelo Corelli (1653-1713) is surrounded by a wealth of anecdotes and legends. Such tall tales are particularly plentiful when history is attempting to reconstruct the doings of discreetly homosexual composers. Corelli
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On This Day
16 February: Eldbjørg Hemsing Was Born
Acclaimed for her radiant and sophisticated performances, Eldbjørg Hemsing is one of the leading young violinists on the international scene today. A subtle and sensitive performer, Hemsing creates a sense of magic through her warm and gentle tones. She is
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On This Day
13 February: Joyce DiDonato Was Born
Composer Jake Heggie writes, “The staggering, joyful artistry of Joyce DiDonato reminds us that in any generation, there are a few giants. Joyce is not only a great, brave, and inspiring artist – one of the finest singers of our
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On This Day
11 February: Donizetti’s La Fille du Regiment Was Premiered
Not everything went according to plan when Gaetano Donizetti introduced his opéra comique La Fille du regiment (The Daughter of the Regiment) to the general public on 11 February 1840. The “Salle de la Bourse” was filled to the brim,
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10 February: Leontyne Price Was Born
Leontyne Price, born on 10 February 1927 in Laurel, Mississippi, was the first African American superstar in the world of music. Growing up in the segregated South, Price was a true lirico-spinto soprano, noted for her subtle musical interpretations and
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On This Day
8 February: Giuseppe Torelli Died
Giuseppe Torelli, who made major contributions to the instrumental concerto and to the Bolognese repertory for trumpet and strings, forever closed his eyes on 8 February 1709. He was buried by the Confraternity of the Guarding Angel in Bologna, with
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On This Day
7 February: Mozart’s Schauspieldirektor (The Impresario) Was Premiered
On 7 February 1786, the Schönbrunn castle on the outskirts of Vienna saw the premiere performance of Mozart’s Schauspieldirektor (The Impresario). On the same playbill was Antonio Salieri’s Prima la Musica, poi le Parole (First the Music and then the
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