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 20: Essential anniversaries
Throughout 10 centuries of history, there are thousands of anniversaries. For December 20, there are no less than 76 dates to remember: births, deaths, premieres, inaugurations... Among them: Constantin Decker (210th anniversary, Birth), Angelo Neumann (110th anniversary, Death), Valentina Kameníková (90th anniversary, Birth), Arturo Márquez (70th anniversary, Birth), Liutauras Navickas (60th anniversary, Birth)... to name only some of the artists, composers or performers, known or less known throughout the world.
All important anniversaries to commemorate a December 20
2013
János Négyesy, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Hungarian musician
Death (age 75)
2012
Victor Merzhanov, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Russian musician
Death (age 93)
2011
Václav Zítek, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Czech music educator and opera singer
Death (age 79)
2008
Dorothy Sarnoff, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, American opera singer
Death (age 94)
1997
Nina Pokrovskaya, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Russian opera singer
Death (age 78)
1994
Leon Jelonek, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, conductor
Death (age 78)
1991
Waldemar Kazanecki, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Polish musician
Death (age 62)
1989
Kurt Böhme, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, German opera singer
Death (age 81)
Irma Beilke, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, opera singer
Death (age 85)
1982
Arthur Rubinstein, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Polish-American classical pianist
Death (age 95)
1980
Vittoria Yeo, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, South Korean singer
Birth (40th anniversary)
1974
André Jolivet, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, French composer
Death (age 69)
Vasyl Slipak, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Ukrainian opera singer
Birth
Domonkos Héja, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Hungarian conductor
Birth (46th anniversary)
1969
Éric Morin, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Canadian classical music composer and educator
Birth (51th anniversary)
Adolf Vogel, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, German opera singer
Death (age 72)
Eleanor Evans, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, British singer, actress and stage director
Death (age 76)
1968
Anna Utry, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, singer
Death (age 61)
1966
Paulo Bitencourt, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Austrian singer, photographer, voice-over artist and writer
Birth (54th anniversary)
1964
Gabriela Ortiz, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Mexican Composer
Birth (56th anniversary)
1963
Paul Constantinescu, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Romanian composer
Death (age 54)
Maxim Karolik, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, American opera singer
Death (age 70)
1960
Liutauras Navickas, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Lithuanian opera singer
Birth (60th anniversary)
1954
Trond Halstein Moe, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Norwegian opera singer
Birth (66th anniversary)
Milena Morača, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Slovene opera singer
Birth (66th anniversary)
1950
Arturo Márquez, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Mexican composer
Birth (70th anniversary)
Stanisław Nawrocki, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, composer, pianist
Death (age 56)
1948
Mitsuko Uchida, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Japanese-British pianist
Birth (72th anniversary)
Antonín Jakl, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Czech composer and educator
Death (age 75)
1947
Loulou Hégoburu, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, opera singer, actor, dancer, cabaret artist
Death (age 49)
1942
Jean Gilbert, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, German composer and conductor
Death (age 63)
1941
Barbara McAlister, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, American artist
Birth (79th anniversary)
1939
Åke Wallgren, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Swedish actor
Death (age 66)
1938
John Harbison, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, American composer
Birth (82th anniversary)
1932
Leslie Adams, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, American musician
Birth (88th anniversary)
1930
Valentina Kameníková, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Czech music educator and pianist
Birth
1928
Donald Adams, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Opera singer, actor (1928-1996)
Birth
1922
Juliette Bise, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, (1922-2011)
Birth
1919
Eduardas Balsys, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Soviet composer (1919-1984)
Birth
1918
Ernst Gruber, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, opera singer
Birth
1913
Jozef Kresánek, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, musicologist, composer
Birth
1910
Angelo Neumann, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, German author, opera singer and director
Death (age 72)
1909
Vagn Holmboe, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Danish composer
Birth
1906
Marion Talley, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, American opera singer (1906-1983)
Birth
1904
Lillie Grandval, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, singer, opera singer
Birth
1903
Kornél Ábrányi, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, (1822-1903) composer
Death (age 81)
1899
Romain Bussine, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, French opera singer
Death (age 69)
1895
1886
Julio Gómez García, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Spanish composer
Birth
1883
Otakar Hřímalý, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Czech conductor, music educator, composer and choirmaster
Birth
1881
Carel Butter van Hulst, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Dutch musician
Birth
1879
1876
Viktor Madin, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Austrian singer and opera singer
Birth
1872
Ambrogio Dagnini, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, XIXth century italian tenor and teacher established in Odessa
Death (age 65)
1871
Henry Kimball Hadley, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, American composer
Birth
1864
Josef Proksch, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Czech music educator and pianist
Death (age 70)
1862
Juan Luria, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Polish baritone
Birth
1861
Vincenzo Pucitta, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Italian composer
Death (age 83)
Cipriano Martínez Rücker, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Spanish composer (1861-1924)
Birth
1858
Kathinka Heinefetter, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, German singer, opera singer and harpist (soprano; 1819-1858)
Death (age 39)
1853
Carlo Evasio Soliva, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Swiss-Italian composer (1791-1853)
Death (age 62)
1849
Dionisio Aguado y García, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Spanish classical guitarist and composer
Death (age 65)
1837
Anton Foerster, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Czech composer, choirmaster and organist
Birth
1821
Gian Francesco Fortunati, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Italian composer
Death (age 75)
1819
Louis-Luc Loiseau de Persuis, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, French musician
Death (age 50)
1812
Achille Peri, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Italian composer
Birth
1810
Constantin Decker, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, composer, pianist, music pedagogue
Birth
1806
Friedrich August Witz, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, child actor, translator, actor, stage actor, opera singer
Birth
1793
Joseph Legros, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, French singer and composer
Death (age 54)
1786
Pietro Raimondi, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Italian composer
Birth
1783
Antonio Soler, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Spanish composer
Death (age 54)
1738
Jean-Joseph Mouret, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, French composer
Death (age 56)
1729
František Xaver Pokorný, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Czech violinist and composer
Birth
1695
David Pohle, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, German baroque composer
Death (age 71)