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 18: Essential anniversaries
Throughout 10 centuries of history, there are thousands of anniversaries. For February 18, there are no less than 88 dates to remember: births, deaths, premieres, inaugurations... Among them: Christian Heinrich Rinck (250th anniversary, Birth), George Henschel (170th anniversary, Birth), Cezar Florin Cezar (40th anniversary, Birth), Sungbong Choi (30th anniversary, Birth), Ariel Ramírez (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 18
Jean Périsson, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, French conductor
Death (age 94)
Elahiu von Erlenbach, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, conductor
Death (age 52)
Elizabeth Connell, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, South African-born operatic soprano
Death (age 65)
Ervin Lukács, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, conductor
Death (age 82)
Ariel Ramírez, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, Argentine composer, pianist and music director
Death (age 88)
Mikel Dean, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, American baritone
Death (age 53)
Raymond Vaillant, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, French composer
Death (age 71)
Eric Fenby, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, British composer
Death (age 90)
Rinko Matsubara, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, Japanese singer and actress
Birth (28th anniversary)
Sungbong Choi, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, South Korean singer
Birth
Václav Smetáček, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, Czech conductor, oboist, music educator and composer
Death (age 79)
Daniel Cohen, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, Israeli conductor
Birth (36th anniversary)
Merūnas Vitulskis, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, Lithuanian singer
Birth (37th anniversary)
Isabel Leonard, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, American operatic mezzo-soprano
Birth (38th anniversary)
Cezar Florin Cezar, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, Romanian opera countertenor, singer and pianist
Birth (40th anniversary)
Muriel Brunskill, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, British opera singer
Death (age 80)
Manuel Palau Boix, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, Spanish composer, music teacher, and conductor (1893–1967)
Death (age 74)
Krzysztof Szydzisz, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, Polish conductor, singer, teacher and academic lecturer
Birth (54th anniversary)
Jan Vogler, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, cellist
Birth (56th anniversary)
Decima Moore, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, singer and actress (1871-1964)
Death (age 92)
Ali Zulalov, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, actor, Khananda, opera singer
Death (age 69)
Marianne James, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, French singer and actress
Birth (58th anniversary)
Albert Guinovart i Mingacho, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, Catalan composer and pianist
Birth (58th anniversary)
Dirk Brossé, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, composer, conductor
Birth (60th anniversary)
Ari Rasilainen, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, Finnish conductor
Birth (61th anniversary)
Erich Zeisl, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, Austrian composer
Death (age 53)
Jaroslav Kvapil, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, Czech composer, pianist and choirmaster
Death (age 65)
Gustave Charpentier, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, French composer
Death (age 95)
Ralph McLane, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, American musician
Death (age 43)
Spéranza Calo-Séailles, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, Greek painter, singer, inventor and opera singer (1885-1949)
Death (age 63)
Alice Shields, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, American composer
Birth (77th anniversary)
Penka Dilova, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, opera singer, singer
Birth
Artashes Hayriyan, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, Armenian opera singer
Birth (78th anniversary)
Marie Delorn, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, French opera singer
Death (age 79)
Emil Liepe, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, German opera vocalist
Death (age 80)
Marek Janowski, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, German conductor
Birth (81th anniversary)
Marlos Nobre, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, composer
Birth (81th anniversary)
Dominique Merlet, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, French organist, pianist and music educator
Birth (82th anniversary)
György Korondi, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, Hungarian opera singer
Birth
Sergei Cortez, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, Belarusian composer
Birth
Gennady Gladkov, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, Soviet and Russian composer
Birth (85th anniversary)
Aldo Ceccato, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, Italian conductor
Birth (86th anniversary)
Bella Jasper, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, opera singer
Birth
Victor Martens, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, Victor Martens. Tenor, teacher, conductor, b Yarrow, east of Vancouver, 18 Feb 1931; ARCT 1955, BA (Waterloo Lutheran) 1963. Victor Martens. Tenor, teacher, conductor, b Yarrow, east...
Birth
Karel Janovický, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, Czech composer
Birth (90th anniversary)
André Mathieu, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, Canadian composer
Birth
Rita Gorr, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, opera singer
Birth
Victor Capoul, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, French opera singer
Death (age 84)
Isabelle Andréani, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, opera singer
Birth
Oscar Feltsman, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, Russian composer
Birth
99th anniversary (2021)
Rolande Falcinelli, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, French musician
Birth
Sembiin Gonchigsumlaa, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, Mongolian musician
Birth
Milada Červenková, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, vocalist (sopran) in Germany, music teacher in Prague
Death (age 60)
Eva Gustavson, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, Norwegian opera singer
Birth
Marcel Landowski, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, French composer
Birth
Victoria Bundsen, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, Swedish opera singer
Death (age 69)
Martha Heublein, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, opera singer
Birth
Dimitri Mitropoulos, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, Greek conductor, pianist, and composer
Birth
Camillo Sivori, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, Italian musician
Death (age 78)
Opera
“La Damnation de Faust, Op. 24”, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history
Premiere
Opéra-Comique
Georges Monier, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, Belgian composer
Birth
Erik Enderlein, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, German opera singer
Birth
Zofia Iwanowska-Płoszko, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, Polish violinist and composer
Birth
Charlotte von Sainton-Dolby, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, Operatic contralto
Death (age 63)
Fernand Halphen, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, French Jewish composer
Birth
Casimir Gide, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, French choreographer, composer and editor
Death (age 63)
Work for orchestra
“Artists' Life, Op. 316”, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history
Premiere
Ferdinand Neukäufler, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, actor, opera singer, stage actor
Death (age 74)
Ondřej Kadlec, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, Czech violinist, music educator and composer
Birth
George Henschel, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, German-born British baritone, pianist, conductor, and composer
Birth
Jan Křtitel Kuchař, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, Czech harpsichordist, composer and organist
Death (age 77)
František Brava, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, opera singer, stage actor
Birth
Brigida Banti, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, Italian opera singer
Death (age 49)
Alexey Verstovsky, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, Russian composer
Birth
Maurus Haberhauer, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, Czech composer and organist
Death (age 52)
Elisabeth Augusta Wendling, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, opera singer, singer
Death (age 41)
Max Johann Seidel, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, opera singer, stage actor
Birth
John Parry, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, Welsh harpist and composer
Birth
Christian Heinrich Rinck, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, German composer and organist
Birth
Giuseppe Matteo Alberti, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, Italian Baroque composer and violinist
Death (age 65)
Nicola Fago, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, Italian composer
Death (age 67)
Antonín Gerber, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, Czech fluteist, violinist and composer
Birth
Giovanni Domenico Partenio, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, Italian composer, presbyter and opera singer
Death (age 67)
Giovanni Battista Vitali, Anniversaries (February 18), Classical music history, Italian composer
Birth