Thousands of anniversaries. In 2021, 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 78 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
János Négyesy, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Hungarian musician
Death (age 75)
Victor Merzhanov, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Russian musician
Death (age 93)
Václav Zítek, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Czech music educator and opera singer
Death (age 79)
Dorothy Sarnoff, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, American opera singer
Death (age 94)
Nina Pokrovskaya, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Russian opera singer
Death (age 78)
Leon Jelonek, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, conductor
Death (age 78)
Waldemar Kazanecki, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Polish musician
Death (age 62)
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)
Arthur Rubinstein, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Polish-American classical pianist
Death (age 95)
Vittoria Yeo, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, South Korean singer
Birth (40th anniversary)
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)
André Jolivet, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, French composer
Death (age 69)
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)
Anna Utry, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, singer
Death (age 61)
Paulo Bitencourt, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Austrian singer, photographer, voice-over artist and writer
Birth (54th anniversary)
Gabriela Ortiz, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Mexican composer
Birth (56th anniversary)
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)
Liutauras Navickas, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Lithuanian opera singer
Birth (60th anniversary)
Artūrs Maskats, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Latvian composer
Birth (63th anniversary)
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)
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)
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)
Loulou Hégoburu, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, actor, cabaret artist, dancer, opera singer
Death (age 49)
Jean Gilbert, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, German composer and conductor
Death (age 63)
Barbara McAlister, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, American artist
Birth (79th anniversary)
Åke Wallgren, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Swedish actor
Death (age 66)
John Harbison, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, American composer
Birth (82th anniversary)
Leslie Adams, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, American musician
Birth (88th anniversary)
Valentina Kameníková, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Czech music educator and pianist
Birth
Donald Adams, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Opera singer, actor (1928-1996)
Birth
Juliette Bise, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, (1922-2011)
Birth
Eduardas Balsys, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Soviet composer (1919-1984)
Birth
Ernst Gruber, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, opera singer
Birth
Jozef Kresánek, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, composer, musicologist
Birth
Angelo Neumann, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, German author, opera singer and director
Death (age 72)
Vagn Holmboe, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Danish composer
Birth
Marion Talley, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, American opera singer (1906-1983)
Birth
Lillie Grandval, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, opera singer, singer
Birth
Kornél Ábrányi, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, (1822-1903) composer
Death (age 81)
Romain Bussine, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, French opera singer
Death (age 69)
Julio Gómez G Gómez, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Spanish composer
Birth
Otakar Hřímalý, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Czech conductor, music educator, composer and choirmaster
Birth
Carel Butter van Hulst, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Dutch musician
Birth
Viktor Madin, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Austrian singer and opera singer
Birth
Ambrogio Dagnini, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, XIXth century italian tenor and teacher established in Odessa
Death (age 65)
Henry Kimball Hadley, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, American composer
Birth
149th anniversary (2021)
Josef Proksch, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Czech music educator and pianist
Death (age 70)
Juan Luria, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Polish baritone
Birth
Cipriano Martínez Rücker, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Spanish composer (1861-1924)
Birth
Vincenzo Pucitta, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Italian composer
Death (age 83)
Kathinka Heinefetter, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, German singer, opera singer and harpist (soprano; 1819-1858)
Death (age 39)
Carlo Evasio Soliva, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Swiss-Italian composer (1791-1853)
Death (age 62)
Dionisio Aguado y García, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Spanish classical guitarist and composer
Death (age 65)
Anton Foerster, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Czech composer, choirmaster and organist
Birth
Luigi Fioravanti, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, opera singer
Birth
Gian Francesco Fortunati, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Italian composer
Death (age 75)
199th anniversary (2021)
Louis-Luc Loiseau de Persuis, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, French musician
Death (age 50)
Achille Peri, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Italian composer
Birth
Constantin Decker, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, composer, music pedagogue, pianist
Birth
Friedrich August Witz, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, actor, child actor, opera singer, stage actor, translator
Birth
Joseph Legros, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, French singer and composer
Death (age 54)
Pietro Raimondi, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Italian composer
Birth
Antonio Soler, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Spanish composer
Death (age 54)
Joseph Schubert, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, German composer
Birth
Jean-Joseph Mouret, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, French composer
Death (age 56)
František Xaver Pokorný, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, Czech violinist and composer
Birth
David Pohle, Anniversaries (December 20), Classical music history, German baroque composer
Death (age 71)