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.
May 2: Essential anniversaries
Throughout 10 centuries of history, there are thousands of anniversaries. For May 2, there are no less than 90 dates to remember: births, deaths, premieres, inaugurations... Among them: Alessandro Scarlatti (360th anniversary, Birth), Hans Christian Lumbye (210th anniversary, Birth), Jean-Marie Auberson (100th anniversary, Birth), Petra Nadvornik (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 May 2
Herman Krebbers, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, Dutch musician
Death (age 94)
Norma Procter, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, English operatic contralto
Death (age 89)
Clarice Carson, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, soprano
Death (age 85)
Maurice Moerlen, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, French organist
Death (age 86)
Claude Lefebvre, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, composer and poet from France
Death (age 80)
Wojciech Dzieduszycki, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, Polish actor, singer and theatre critic
Death (age 95)
Aldo Bertocci, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, Italian singer
Death (age 88)
Anahit Tsitsikian, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, Armenian violinist, musicologist, teacher
Death (age 72)
Hanns Nocker, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, German singer and opera singer
Death (age 65)
Hans Braun, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, Austrian singer and opera singer
Death (age 74)
Vladimir Valaytis, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, musician, opera singer, singer
Death (age 64)
Yeol Eum Son, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, South Korean pianist
Birth (34th anniversary)
Gourgen Baveyan, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, Armenian opera singer
Birth (34th anniversary)
Heinz Bongartz, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, German conductor and composer (1894-1978)
Death (age 83)
Yusif Eyvazov, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, Azerbaijani tenor singer
Birth (43th anniversary)
Yekaterina Syurina, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, Russian opera singer
Birth (45th anniversary)
Conchita de Badía, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, Catalan singer
Death (age 77)
Garðar Thór Cortes, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, Icelandic tenor
Birth (46th anniversary)
Pavel Černoch, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, opera singer
Birth (46th anniversary)
Georg Nigl, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, Austrian baritone singer
Birth (48th anniversary)
Allan Bergius, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, German singer
Birth (48th anniversary)
Matthew Barley, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, British cellist
Birth (55th anniversary)
Petra Nadvornik, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, German singer and opera singer
Birth (60th anniversary)
Helen Jahren, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, Swedish musician
Birth (61th anniversary)
Andrés Cárdenes, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, Cuban musician
Birth (63th anniversary)
Robert Dean Smith, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, American opera singer
Birth (64th anniversary)
Richard Sallaba, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, Austrian opera singer
Death (age 50)
Elliot Goldenthal, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, American composer
Birth (66th anniversary)
Valery Gergiev, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, Russian conductor and opera company director
Birth (67th anniversary)
Gotthold Schwarz, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, opera singer
Birth (68th anniversary)
Roberto Cappello, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, Italian pianist
Birth (69th anniversary)
Jos Watelet, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, Belgian composer, musicologist, pianist and organist
Death (age 70)
Vladimir Matorin, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, Russian singer
Birth (72th anniversary)
Jeannine Altmeyer, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, singer
Birth (72th anniversary)
Philippe Herreweghe, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, Belgian conductor
Birth (73th anniversary)
Zoya Andreyeva, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, opera singer, singer
Birth
Louie Henri, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, singer and actress
Death (age 83)
Anna Hagelstam, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, Finnish singer and songwriter
Death (age 62)
Lars Kullenbo, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, opera singer
Birth (78th anniversary)
Elisabeth Dons, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, Danish opera singer
Death (age 78)
Grigory Kontsur, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, Soviet Russian opera singer
Birth
Michael Rabin, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, American violinist
Birth
Leon Juřica, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, Czech music educator and composer
Birth
Werner Haseleu, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, German musician, singer and opera singer (1935-2012)
Birth
Louis Danto, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, Polish singer
Birth
Horst Stein, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, German conductor
Birth
Work for chamber orchestra
“Trio for piano, oboe and bassoon, Op. 43”, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history
Premiere
Svatopluk Havelka, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, Czech music educator and composer
Birth
Aafje Heynis, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, Dutch singer
Birth
Florence Kopleff, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, American opera singer
Birth
Carlotta Ordassy, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, (1921--2006) Hungarian born American opera singer
Birth
99th anniversary (2021)
Jean-Marie Auberson, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, Swiss musician (1920-2004)
Birth
Emilio Bozzano, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, Italian composer and organist
Death (age 78)
Jan Hanuš, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, Czech composer
Birth
Kurt Wöss, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, Austrian conductor
Birth
Kulyash Baiseitova, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, Soviet-Kazakh singer
Birth
Charles Bruck, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, American conductor
Birth
Józef Szczepkowski, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, opera singer
Death (age 60)
Nino D'Aurelio, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, Italian opera singer
Birth
Heinz Schröter, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, German pianist
Birth
Aulikki Rautawaara, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, Finnish soprano
Birth
Alan Rawsthorne, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, British composer
Birth
Øivin Fjeldstad, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, Norwegian conductor and violinist
Birth
Pietro Abbà Cornaglia, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, Italian musician
Death (age 43)
Michael Bohnen, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, German opera singer (1887-1965)
Birth
Julián Dobrski, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, Polish operatic tenor
Death (age 74)
Samuil Samosud, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, Music Conductor
Birth
Jeanne Darlays, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, French opera singer (1874-1958)
Birth
Giacomo Meyerbeer, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, German Jewish opera composer
Death (age 72)
Herbert Bunning, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, composer, conductor
Birth
Maurice Emmanuel, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, French composer
Birth
Zygmunt Noskowski, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, Polish musician
Birth
Karl Michael Ziehrer, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, Austrian composer
Birth
Quido Havlasa, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, Czech music educator, composer, choirmaster and organist
Birth
Adolph Grimminger, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, opera singer, poet, sculptor
Birth
Zikmund Kolešovský, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, Czech music reviewer, music educator, composer and organist
Birth
Wenzel Krumpholz, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, Czech violinist and composer
Death (age 67)
Achille Graffigna, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, Italian composer and conductor
Birth
Hans Christian Lumbye, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, Danish composer
Birth
Henri-Joseph Rigel, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, French composer of German birth
Death (age 58)
Giuseppe Balducci, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, Italian composer
Birth
Anders Nordén, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, cantor, opera singer
Death (age 46)
Alanus Plumlovský, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, Czech composer and roman catholic priest
Death (age 56)
Vicente Martín y Soler, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, Spanish composer
Birth
Ludwig August Lebrun, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, German oboist and composer
Birth
Jean-Baptiste Barrière, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, French cellist and composer (1707–1747)
Birth
Opera
“The Fairy-Queen”, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history
Premiere
Dorset Garden Theatre
Alessandro Scarlatti, Anniversaries (May 2), Classical music history, Italian composer
Birth