Thousands of anniversaries. In 2020, classical music and opera offer many opportunities for music lovers to commemorate composers, conductors, performers and operatic artists, to celebrate the first performances of essential works or the opening of emblematic concert halls. From January to December, there are 365 opportunities to revisit a repertoire, a recording or simply to explore 10 centuries of classical music. Something to satisfy all the inquiring minds.
December 17: Essential anniversaries
Throughout 10 centuries of history, there are thousands of anniversaries. For December 17, there are no less than 60 dates to remember: births, deaths, premieres, inaugurations... Among them: Gabriel Bataille (390th anniversary, Death), Elizabeth Craven (270th anniversary, Birth), Karl Anton Eckert (200th anniversary, Birth), Saverio Mercadante (150th anniversary, Death), Peter Warlock (90th anniversary, Death)... to name only some of the artists, composers or performers, known or less known throughout the world.
All important anniversaries to commemorate a December 17
2014
Ivan Růžička, Anniversaries (December 17), Classical music history, Czech conductor, actor and composer
Death (age 87)
2013
Ivanka Miteva-Koralova, Anniversaries (December 17), Classical music history, Bulgarian opera singer
Death (age 102)
2009
Jacques Doucet, Anniversaries (December 17), Classical music history, French singer
Death (age 84)
2008
Turgun Alimatov, Anniversaries (December 17), Classical music history, Uzbek classic music and shashmaqam virtuoso and composer
Death (age 86)
2003
Neli Karova, Anniversaries (December 17), Classical music history, Bulgarian opera singer
Death (age 91)
2002
Mieko Kako, Anniversaries (December 17), Classical music history, Japanese singer
Death (age 86)
2001
Martha Mödl, Anniversaries (December 17), Classical music history, German opera singer
Death (age 89)
Débria Brown, Anniversaries (December 17), Classical music history, American operatic mezzo-soprano
Death (age 65)
1999
Angelo Mercuriali, Anniversaries (December 17), Classical music history, Italian opera singer
Death (age 90)
1993
Timothy Chooi, Anniversaries (December 17), Classical music history, Canadian violin player
Birth (27th anniversary)
1991
Antonio Savastano, Anniversaries (December 17), Classical music history, Italian opera singer
Death (age 43)
1982
Leonid Kogan, Anniversaries (December 17), Classical music history, Soviet musician
Death (age 58)
Karel Šejna, Anniversaries (December 17), Classical music history, Czech conductor and contrabassist
Death (age 86)
1981
Eugene Tzigane, Anniversaries (December 17), Classical music history, American conductor
Birth (39th anniversary)
1980
Johannes Klumpp, Anniversaries (December 17), Classical music history, German conductor
Birth (40th anniversary)
Dinara Aliyeva, Anniversaries (December 17), Classical music history, Azerbaijani operatic soprano
Birth (40th anniversary)
Slavomír Hořínka, Anniversaries (December 17), Classical music history, Czech composer
Birth (40th anniversary)
Erik Lee, Anniversaries (December 17), Classical music history, Swedish opera singer
Birth (40th anniversary)
Margarida Elias i Casals, Anniversaries (December 17), Classical music history, Spanish opera singer
Death (age 57)
1976
Mark Kosower, Anniversaries (December 17), Classical music history, American musician
Birth (44th anniversary)
1974
Ağababa Bünyadzadə, Anniversaries (December 17), Classical music history, musician, singer
Death (age 59)
1972
Erwin Dressel, Anniversaries (December 17), Classical music history, German musician
Death (age 63)
1966
Alla Zahaikevych, Anniversaries (December 17), Classical music history, Ukrainian composer
Birth (54th anniversary)
1959
Michael Stern, Anniversaries (December 17), Classical music history, American conductor
Birth (61th anniversary)
1954
Georg Oeggl, Anniversaries (December 17), Classical music history, Austrian singer and opera singer
Death (age 54)
1952
Raquel Pierotti, Anniversaries (December 17), Classical music history, Uruguayan mezzo-soprano opera singer
Birth (68th anniversary)
1951
Marie Kalivodová, Anniversaries (December 17), Classical music history, opera singer, singer
Death (age 73)
1949
David Stanley Smith, Anniversaries (December 17), Classical music history, American composer
Death (age 72)
1947
Zakhar Bron, Anniversaries (December 17), Classical music history, Russian musician
Birth (73th anniversary)
1944
Vyacheslav Ganelin, Anniversaries (December 17), Classical music history, Lithuanian musician
Birth (76th anniversary)
Carlos Barbosa-Lima, Anniversaries (December 17), Classical music history, Classical guitarist and arranger
Birth (76th anniversary)
1934
Levon Sayan, Anniversaries (December 17), Classical music history, French-Armenian impresario, producer, and operatic tenor
Birth (86th anniversary)
1933
Walter Buczynski, Anniversaries (December 17), Classical music history, Canadian musician
Birth (87th anniversary)
Mieczysław Makowski, Anniversaries (December 17), Classical music history, composer, pianist, music theory, pedagogue
Birth
1930
Makoto Moroi, Anniversaries (December 17), Classical music history, Japanese composer
Birth
Peter Warlock, Anniversaries (December 17), Classical music history, British composer and music critic
Death (age 36)
1927
Hans Rössling, Anniversaries (December 17), Classical music history, German opera singer (bass)
Birth
1922
Alfredo Corda, Anniversaries (December 17), Classical music history, Swiss singer and opera singer (1922-1978)
Birth
1919
Clara Weber, Anniversaries (December 17), Classical music history, German opera singer
Death (age 54)
1917
Ludwig Minkus, Anniversaries (December 17), Classical music history, Austrian composer and violinist
Death (age 91)
1913
Stefano Gobatti, Anniversaries (December 17), Classical music history, Italian opera composer
Death (age 61)
1912
Mary Henderson, Anniversaries (December 17), Classical music history, opera singer
Birth
1906
Fernando Lopes-Graça, Anniversaries (December 17), Classical music history, Portuguese composer
Birth
1904
Dmitri Kabalevsky, Anniversaries (December 17), Classical music history, Russian composer
Birth
1900
George Lambert, Anniversaries (December 17), Classical music history, English baritone and voice teacher in Canada
Birth
1894
Arthur Fiedler, Anniversaries (December 17), Classical music history, American conductor
Birth
1887
Anna Dočkalová, Anniversaries (December 17), Classical music history, choir director, opera singer
Birth
1881
Giulio Briccialdi, Anniversaries (December 17), Classical music history, Italian musician
Death (age 63)
1870
Saverio Mercadante, Anniversaries (December 17), Classical music history, Italian composer
Death (age 75)
150th anniversary (2020)
1859
Emilie Welti, Anniversaries (December 17), Classical music history, (1859-1923)
Birth
1857
Niccolò van Westerhout, Anniversaries (December 17), Classical music history, Italian composer
Birth
1855
Josef August Heller, Anniversaries (December 17), Classical music history, Czech composer
Death (age 55)
1841
Aglaja Orgeni, Anniversaries (December 17), Classical music history, Hungarian operatic coloratura soprano
Birth
1820
Karl Anton Eckert, Anniversaries (December 17), Classical music history, German composer, conductor and choirmaster
Birth
200th anniversary (2020)
1815
Gustave-Hippolyte Roger, Anniversaries (December 17), Classical music history, French opera singer
Birth
1798
Wilhelmine von Wrochem, Anniversaries (December 17), Classical music history, stage actor, opera singer
Birth
1750
Elizabeth Craven, Anniversaries (December 17), Classical music history, British noble
Birth
1749
Domenico Cimarosa, Anniversaries (December 17), Classical music history, Italian opera composer of the Neapolitan school
Birth
1699
Charles-Louis Mion, Anniversaries (December 17), Classical music history, French composer
Birth
1630
Gabriel Bataille, Anniversaries (December 17), Classical music history, French composer and luth player
Death (age 55)