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.
February 17: Essential anniversaries
Throughout 10 centuries of history, there are thousands of anniversaries. For February 17, there are no less than 100 dates to remember: births, deaths, premieres, inaugurations... Among them: Anton Július Hiray (250th anniversary, Birth), Henri Vieuxtemps (200th anniversary, Birth), Marcos Portugal (190th anniversary, Death), Louise Kirkby Lunn (90th anniversary, Death), Kathryn Grayson (10th 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 February 17
Fan Ruijuan, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, Chinese opera singer
Death (age 93)
Elena Rizzieri, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, Italian soprano
Death (age 93)
Junetta Jones, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, American singer
Death (age 78)
Andrzej Koszewski, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, Composer, musicologist, and teacher
Death (age 92)
Vladislav Kazenin, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, Russian composer
Death (age 76)
Kathryn Grayson, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, actress from the United States
Death (age 88)
Federica Falzon, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, Maltese singer
Birth (17th anniversary)
Valery Vladimirovich Kastelsky, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, pianist
Death (age 59)
Sabine Hass, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, German opera singer
Death (age 49)
Alberto Bruni Tedeschi, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, art collector, composer, industrialist, opera composer
Death (age 81)
Gitta Alpár, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, Hungarian-born opera and operetta soprano
Death (age 87)
Alex Banfield, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, British opera and concert tenor
Birth (30th anniversary)
Gustav Křivinka, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, Czech composer
Death (age 61)
Kelly Moran, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, American musician
Birth (32th anniversary)
Kikuko Kanai, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, composer
Death (age 74)
Tancredi Pasero, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, Opera bass
Death (age 90)
Jonathan Gilad, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, French pianist
Birth (39th anniversary)
Suzanne Balguerie, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, French singer
Death (age 84)
Leonore Veenemans, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, opera singer
Death (age 38)
Gavriil Popov, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, Russian composer
Death (age 67)
Katica Illényi, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, Hungarian violinist
Birth (52th anniversary)
Dawn Padmore, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, singer
Birth (53th anniversary)
Lisa Roma, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, singer
Death (age 72)
Bruno Walter, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, German-born conductor, pianist, and composer
Death (age 85)
Olivier Charlier, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, French violinist
Birth (59th anniversary)
Hiroyuki Odagiri, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, trombonist
Birth (63th anniversary)
Yōko Matsuo, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, conductor
Birth (67th anniversary)
Elżbieta Karolak, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, organist
Birth (69th anniversary)
Nikoghayos Tigranian, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, Armenian musician
Death (age 94)
Anna Bartels, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, opera singer, singer
Death (age 80)
José Carlos Xavier, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, Portuguese operatic tenor
Birth (73th anniversary)
Hans-Joachim Ketelsen, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, opera singer, performing artist
Birth (75th anniversary)
Ilka Pálmay, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, Hungarian singer and actress
Death (age 85)
Karl Jenkins, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, Welsh musician and composer
Birth (76th anniversary)
Matti Heinikari, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, Finnish opera singer
Birth
Glyn Evans, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, (David) Glyn Evans. Tenor, b Brampton, Ont, 17 Feb 1941; Artist Diploma opera (Toronto) 1973. Professional debut: 1965, in a performance of Handel's Messiah with the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir prior to attending the University of Toronto Opera School.
Birth (79th anniversary)
Anner Bylsma, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, Dutch cellist
Birth
Karel Sklenička, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, Czech composer
Birth
Louise Kirkby Lunn, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, opera singer
Death (age 56)
Karel Sodomka, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, Czech conductor, composer and choirmaster
Birth
Friedrich Cerha, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, Austrian composer and conductor
Birth (94th anniversary)
Lee Hoiby, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, American composer
Birth
Rosl Zapf, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, Austrian singer and opera singer
Birth
Zina Krelja, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, opera singer
Birth
Alwina Valleria, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, opera singer (1848-1925)
Death (age 76)
Vlada Mikštaitė, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, opera singer
Birth
Oskar Merikanto, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, Finnish musician and composer
Death (age 55)
Giovanni Consiglio, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, Italian opera singer
Birth
Elisabeth Lindermeier, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, German operatic soprano
Birth
Anna Tassopoulos, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, Greek singer and opera singer
Birth
René Leibowitz, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, French composer and conductor
Birth
Pau Vidal i Guinovart, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, Spanish opera singer
Birth
Marjorie Lawrence, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, Australian singer
Birth
Taijirō Gō, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, Japanese composer
Birth
Joseph Parry, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, Welsh composer
Death (age 61)
Adolf von Hübbenet, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, German tenor
Death (age 45)
Work for choir
“Song of Lamentation”, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history
Premiere 120th anniversary
Song, lied
“Forest Legend”, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history
Premiere 120th anniversary
Song, lied
“The Minstrel”, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history
Premiere 120th anniversary
Song, lied
“Wedding Piece”, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history
Premiere 120th anniversary
Claire Born, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, German singer, opera singer and music educator
Birth
Francisco Asenjo Barbieri, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, Spanish composer
Death (age 70)
Frederic Caballé i Pintaluba, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, Spanish opera singer
Birth
Geoffrey Toye, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, English conductor, composer and opera producer.
Birth
Leevi Madetoja, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, Finnish composer
Birth
Wilhelm Rode, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, German singer and opera singer
Birth
Karl Düffke, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, opera singer, stage actor
Death (age 63)
Farren Soutar, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, British actor (1870-1962)
Birth
Max Dawison, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, opera singer, singer
Birth
Edward German, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, English musician and composer
Birth
Ernest Ford, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, British composer and conductor
Birth
Jan Evangelista Zelinka starší, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, Czech composer and organist
Birth
John Braham, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, English operatic tenor
Death (age 81)
Antonio Magini-Coletti, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, Italian opera singer
Birth
Mathilde Mallinger, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, Croatian opera singer
Birth
Ferdinando Carulli, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, Italian composer
Death (age 71)
Marcos Portugal, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, Portuguese classical composer
Death (age 67)
Henri Vieuxtemps, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, Belgian violinist
Birth
Jan Nepomuk Maýr, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, Czech conductor, theater manager, music educator, composer and opera singer
Birth
Josef Müller, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, Czech music educator, composer and organist
Birth
Klara Heinefetter, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, German singer and opera singer
Birth
Giovanni Belletti, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, kapellmeister, opera singer
Birth
Caroline Rellstab, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, opera singer
Death (age 18)
Giovanni Pacini, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, Italian composer
Birth
François Foignet, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, French composer (1782-1845)
Birth
Vincenzo Pucitta, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, Italian composer
Birth
Anton Július Hiray, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, composer, organist, trumpeter
Birth
Jan Jáchym Kopřiva, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, Czech composer and organist
Birth
Giacomo Facco, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, Italian composer
Death (age 77)
Opera
“L'Olimpiade”, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history
Premiere
Teatro San Angelo
Louis Marchand, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, French Baroque composer and keyboardist
Death (age 63)
Work for choir
“Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen”, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history
Premiere
José de Vaquedano, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, Spanish composer
Death (age 68)
Ernst Gottlieb Baron, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, German composer
Birth
Arcangelo Corelli, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, Italian violinist and composer
Birth
Gregorio Allegri, Anniversaries (February 17), Classical music history, Italian composer
Death (age 70)