June Classical Music Anniversaries: Complete Guide

June is a genuinely remarkable month in classical music history.

It’s the birth month of Elgar, Grieg, Stravinsky, and Schumann. It saw the premieres of Peter Grimes, The Firebird, and the Enigma Variations. And it’s the month that claimed Bizet, Delius, and one of the most talented young composers of the twentieth century, Vítězslava Kaprálová, at just 25 years old.

Below, we’ve gathered the anniversaries, premieres, births, and deaths that make June one of the most eventful months in the classical calendar – along with the articles and listening recommendations to go deeper on each one.

1 June 1804

Birth of Mikhail Glinka

Glinka: Ruslan and Ludmila – Overture (Benjamin Zander, Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra)

Sometimes called the father of Russian classical music, Glinka helped establish a distinctly national style that influenced generations of composers.

His dazzling overture to his opera Ruslan and Ludmila remains one of the most exhilarating curtain-raisers in the orchestral repertoire.

Mikhail Glinka

We looked at his childhood – and why he never saw his parents for his first few years of life.

2 June 1857

Birth of Sir Edward Elgar

Elgar: Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85: I. Adagio; Moderato | Gautier Capuçon, LSO, Pappano

Sir Edward Elgar became one of Victorian Britain’s most celebrated composers, known for grand, noble music of great emotional depth.

Works like his Enigma Variations and Pomp and Circumstance marches helped define English music at the turn of the twentieth century.

Learn more about the story of Edward Elgar’s childhood.

3 June 1875

Death of Georges Bizet

Bizet – L’Arlésienne Suite No. 1 & Suite No. 2 / Nathalie Stutzmann

French composer Georges Bizet died at just 36 years old, only months after the premiere of his opera Carmen.

Georges Bizet, 1875 (Photo by Étienne Carjat)

Though initially controversial, Carmen would go on to become one of the most beloved and frequently performed operas in history – and the publicity behind Bizet’s sudden death was one of the first reasons for its reassessment.

Read our article celebrating 150th anniversary of Bizet’s death in 2025.

4 June 1951

Death of Serge Koussevitzky

Serge Koussevitzky conducts…

Serge Koussevitzky was an influential conductor, double bassist, and champion of modern music who was the music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra for a quarter century.

He commissioned and premiered important works by composers including Bartók, Copland, and Ravel.

Discover why Koussevitzky might have been one of the most important musicians ever.

5 June 1941

Birth of Martha Argerich

Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 | Martha Argerich, Charles Dutoit & the Verbier Festival Orchestra

Widely regarded as one of the greatest pianists of her generation, Martha Argerich is celebrated for her electrifying technique, intensely expressive performances, and artistic free-spiritedness.

Her interpretations of composers like Chopin, Prokofiev, and Ravel have inspired audiences for decades.

Here are fifteen facts about Martha Argerich you may not know.

6 June 1903

Birth of Aram Khachaturian

Khachaturian: Sabre Dance / Rattle · Berliner Philharmoniker

Aram Khachaturian brought Armenian folk influences into the concert hall through vivid orchestral colour and rhythmic energy.

He is best remembered for works such as the ballet Spartacus and the “Sabre Dance” from the ballet Gayane.

Aram Khachaturian

We wrote about his piano concerto – and how it became an overnight sensation.

7 June 1945

Premiere of Peter Grimes

Peter Grimes: “Now the Great Bear and the Pleiades”

Benjamin Britten‘s opera Peter Grimes premiered in London in 1945 and is a landmark of twentieth-century British music.

Its dramatic portrait of isolation and community prejudice helped revive English opera on the international stage.

Discover all about the premiere of Peter Grimes.

8 June 1810

Birth of Robert Schumann

Yuja Wang: Schumann Piano Concerto in A minor Op. 54 [HD]

Robert Schumann was a central figure of the Romantic era, admired for the music he composed, blending poetic imagination with deep emotional intensity.

Alongside his wife, pianist and composer Clara Schumann, he shaped nineteenth-century musical culture through his composition and music criticism.

Read about his childhood, as well as how he struggled choosing between literature and music.

9 June 1865

Birth of Carl Nielsen

Carl Nielsen’s Helios Overture (Danish National Symphony Orchestra & Fabio Luisi)

Carl Nielsen is regarded as Denmark’s greatest composer, known for symphonies and other orchestral works that combine carefully crafted structure with a raw, striking originality.

His music often explores themes of struggle, vitality, and human resilience.

Georg Lindstrøm: Carl Nielsen carte de visite, ca 1908

Read about his upbringing, with details straight from his autobiography.

10 June 1934

Death of Frederick Delius

Delius’s On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring

Frederick Delius composed atmospheric, richly textured music inspired by themes like nature and memory.

Although many of his works have been slow to gain recognition, others, such as On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring, have earned audiences’ lasting admiration.

Discover about the difficult death of Frederick Delius.

11 June 1864

Birth of Richard Strauss

Strauss: Also sprach Zarathustra ∙ hr-Sinfonieorchester ∙ Andrés Orozco-Estrada

Richard Strauss was one of the leading composers of the late Romantic era, renowned for his brilliant orchestration and dramatic imagination.

His tone poems and operas, including Also sprach Zarathustra and Der Rosenkavalier, remain staples of the concert and operatic repertoire.

We took a look at Strauss’s childhood, as well as what it was like for him growing up with a famous horn-playing father.

12 June 1917

Death of Teresa Carreño

Romance for violin and piano – Teresa Carreño

Teresa Carreño was an internationally celebrated pianist, singer, and composer whose extraordinary career began when she was still a child prodigy.

Teresa Carreño

Admired for her commanding technique and charismatic performances, she became one of the most prominent musicians of her generation – and a major inspiration for girls who wanted to be concert pianists.

Here are thirteen facts about the life and career of this boundary-breaking pianist.

13 June 1911

Premiere of Petrushka

Strawinsky: Petruschka (Fassung 1947) ∙ hr-Sinfonieorchester ∙ Andrés Orozco-Estrada

On this day in 1911, Igor Stravinsky’s ballet Petrushka premiered in Paris with the Ballets Russes under the direction of Sergei Diaghilev.

Its vibrant orchestration, rhythmic vitality, and vivid storytelling helped establish Stravinsky as one of the twentieth century’s most revolutionary composers.

We wrote about how Stravinsky wrote this masterpiece.

14 June 1982

Birth of Lang Lang

Lang Lang – Chopin: Nocturne No. 2 in E-Flat Major, Op. 9 No. 2

Chinese-born pianist Lang Lang rose to international fame through his dazzling virtuosity, expressive performances, and charismatic stage presence.

He has also become a major advocate for music education, inspiring new generations of young pianists around the world.

We delved into the story of Lang Lang’s difficult childhood.

15 June 1843

Birth of Edvard Grieg

Grieg: Piano Concerto ∙ hr-Sinfonieorchester ∙ Jan Lisiecki ∙ Alain Altinoglu

During a time of rising nationalism, Edvard Grieg helped shape a distinctly Norwegian musical identity through works inspired by folk melodies and landscapes.

Edvard Grieg

His lyrical style is especially beloved in pieces such as the Piano Concerto in A minor and the music for Peer Gynt.

We rounded up a top ten list of Grieg’s most beloved works.

16 June 1940

Death of Vítězslava Kaprálová

Four April Preludes, op. 13 by Vítězslava Kaprálová played by Kirill Gerstein at the Wigmore Hall

Vítězslava Kaprálová was a gifted Czech composer and conductor whose promising career was cut tragically short when she died of a sudden illness – possibly typhoid fever; possibly tuberculosis – at just 25 years old.

Despite her brief life, her music has gained growing recognition for its intense originality and striking orchestral color.

Vítězslava Kaprálová

Here are thirteen facts you might not know about Kaprálová’s astonishing career.

17 June 1882

Birth of Igor Stravinsky

Stravinsky: Le sacre du printemps / The Rite of Spring – Jaap van Zweden

Igor Stravinsky transformed twentieth-century music through bold rhythms, shocking harmonies, and the constant, obsessive reinvention of his personal style.

From The Firebird and Petrushka to The Rite of Spring and beyond, his works shaped what twentieth-century classical music would become.

Learn about his endless artistic transformations.

18 June 1821

Premiere of Der Freischütz

Weber – Ouvertüre „Der Freischütz“ | Eschenbach | SWR Symphonieorchester

Carl Maria von Weber‘s Der Freischütz premiered in Berlin and quickly became a landmark of German Romantic opera.

Blending folklore and supernatural elements with richly atmospheric music, it anticipated generations of future composers, including Wagner.

Caroline Bardua: Carl Maria von Weber, 1821 (Berlin: Alte Nationalgalerie)

We broke down exactly why this opera was such a hit in 1821 – and why it’s still relevant today.

19 June 1899

Premiere of the Enigma Variations

Elgar: Enigma-Variationen ∙ hr-Sinfonieorchester ∙ Alain Altinoglu

Edward Elgar’s Enigma Variations for orchestra premiered in London in the summer of 1899. It would mark the composer’s international breakthrough.

Each variation portrays one of Elgar’s friends and acquaintances, combining humour, affection, and emotional depth in a uniquely personal orchestral work.

Read about the origin story behind the variations.

20 June 1819

Birth of Jacques Offenbach

Anna Netrebko & Elīna Garanča – Offenbach: Les Contes d’Hoffmann: Barcarolle

Jacques Offenbach became the undisputed master of French operetta, delighting audiences with music full of wit and sparkle.

Works such as Orpheus in the Underworld helped shape modern musical comedy and remain beloved in pop culture today.

21 June 1732

Birth of Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach

J.C.F. Bach – Sinfonia in d-minor – Barrocada – Amit Tiefenbrunn

Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach, one of Johann Sebastian Bach’s sons, became known as the “Bückeburg Bach” after the court where he spent most of his career.

Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach

His music bridges the Baroque and Classical eras, combining elegance and lyricism with the influence of his famous musical family.

22 June 1974

Death of Darius Milhaud

Milhaud : Le Boeuf sur le toit (Orchestre philharmonique de Radio France)

Darius Milhaud was a prolific twentieth-century composer associated with the French group Les Six.

His music is noted for its rhythmic vitality, polytonality, and eclectic influences, including jazz and Brazilian music.

Darius Milhaud

We delved into one of Milhaud’s most popular works, the irresistibly jazzy Le Boeuf sur le toit.

23 June 1956

Death of Reinhold Glière

Reinhold Glière’s Sailors Dance from The Red Poppy Teatro dell’Opera di Roma

Reinhold Glière composed richly melodic orchestral, chamber, and ballet music rooted in the late Romantic tradition.

Though his style remained conservative during a period of rapid musical change, his ballets in particular remain popular.

Reinhold Glière

We wrote about his unusual concerto for coloratura soprano and orchestra.

24 June 1906

Birth of Pierre Fournier

Pierre Fournier plays the Sarabande from Bach’s Cello Suite No. 3

Cellist Pierre Fournier was celebrated for his refined tone and graceful phrasing, earning him the nickname “the aristocrat of cellists.”

To this day, his recordings are admired for their warmth and clarity.

We looked at Fournier and his colleagues in this article about the greatest cellists of the twentieth century.

25 June 1910

Premiere of The Firebird

Stravinsky’s The Firebird – Ballettmusik (1910) ∙ hr-Sinfonieorchester ∙ Andrés Orozco-Estrada

Stravinsky’s The Firebird premiered in Paris with the Ballets Russes and brought the young composer international acclaim.

Its vivid orchestration and magical storytelling marked the beginning of Stravinsky’s extraordinary rise to prominence.

26 June 1926

Premiere of Leoš Janáček‘s Sinfonietta

Leoš Janáček – Sinfonietta op. 60 | Semyon Bychkov | WDR Sinfonieorchester

Leoš Janáček’s Sinfonietta premiered in Prague and quickly became one of the composer’s most beloved orchestral works.

Leoš Janáček

Famous for its brilliant brass fanfares and energetic spirit, the piece reflects Janáček’s pride in Czech culture and independence.

27 June 1729

Death of Élisabeth-Claude Jacquet de La Guerre

Elisabeth-Claude Jacquet de la Guerre – Suite in A minor

Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre was one of the most remarkable musicians of the French Baroque era, acclaimed as both a composer and virtuoso harpsichordist.

Supported by the court of Louis XIV, she became one of the few professional women composers of her time to achieve wide-scale recognition.

Here is a biography about her and her work.

28 June 1831

Birth of Joseph Joachim

Joachim plays the Adagio from Bach’s Sonata No. 1 for Solo Violin

Joseph Joachim was one of the nineteenth century’s greatest violinists and an important champion of composers including Brahms and Beethoven.

Johannes Brahms and Joseph Joachim

His close friendship with Johannes Brahms deeply influenced the development and performance of Romantic chamber and orchestral music.

We looked at that friendship with Brahms – and the divorce drama that nearly broke it up.

29 June 1963

Birth of Anne-Sophie Mutter

Anne-Sophie Mutter plays Sarasate’s Zigeunerweisen

Anne-Sophie Mutter gained international attention as a teenager under the mentorship of Herbert von Karajan.

Renowned for her brilliant technique, expressive artistry, and impeccable onstage fashion sense, she has become one of the world’s leading violinists and a strong advocate for contemporary music.

Explore some of her most beloved performances.