February 2019: classical music celebrations and anniversaries

Every month, composers and musicians to remember! Classical music and opera have brought out tens of thousands of artists, are performed in thousands of venues and their composers have written scores in great numbers throughout 10 centuries of history. From January 1 to December 31, there are therefore many opportunities to remember a composer or discover an artist, to explore a genre or to expand a work' s knowledge.

February 2019 : essential commemorations

2019 is, as every year, an opportunity to celebrate many centenarians or multi-centenarians related to classical music and opera. In February 2019, some well-known or not so famous artists, composers or musicians, are to be commemorated: Philine Fischer (100th anniversary, Birth), Xavier Leroux (100th anniversary, Death), Ulysse Alexandre Toussaint (100th anniversary, Death), Bessie Abott (100th anniversary, Death), Josef Věnceslav Soukup (200th anniversary, Birth).

There are many more: 1919, 1819, 1719...

What's next? Every month, dozens of anniversaries are good reasons to discover a work, to rediscover a musician. March 2019? ... In a year? February 2020...

Leroux

Day by day, all celebrations for February 2019

February 2019

01

Victor Herbert, Celebrations (February 2019), Classical music, American composer

160th anniversary (Birth)

Philine Fischer, Celebrations (February 2019), Classical music, German singer and opera singer

100th anniversary (Birth)

02

Lisa della Della Casa, Celebrations (February 2019), Classical music, Swiss soprano (1919-2012)

100th anniversary (Birth)

Xavier Leroux, Celebrations (February 2019), Classical music, French composer

100th anniversary (Death)

Louis Marchand, Celebrations (February 2019), Classical music, French Baroque composer and keyboardist

350th anniversary (Birth)

Giovanni Martinelli, Celebrations (February 2019), Classical music, Italian operatic tenor

50th anniversary (Death)

Giovanni da Palestrina, Celebrations (February 2019), Classical music, Italian Renaissance composer

425th anniversary (Death)

Complete works

Jean Périer, Celebrations (February 2019), Classical music, French opera singer

150th anniversary (Birth)

03

Felix Mendelssohn, Celebrations (February 2019), Classical music, German composer, pianist, organist and conductor

210th anniversary (Birth)

Masterpieces Complete works

04

Adolphe Sax, Celebrations (February 2019), Classical music, Belgian musical instrument designer and musician

125th anniversary (Death)

Ulysse Alexandre Toussaint, Celebrations (February 2019), Classical music, French opera singer

100th anniversary (Death)

05

Opera

“The Moon”, Celebrations (February 2019), Classical music

Carl Orff

Premiere in 1939 (80th anniversary)

Bavarian State Opera

Grażyna Bacewicz, Celebrations (February 2019), Classical music, Polish musician

110th anniversary (Birth)

Curt Sachs, Celebrations (February 2019), Classical music, German musicologist

60th anniversary (Death)

06

Opera

“La voix humaine, Op. 171”, Celebrations (February 2019), Classical music

Francis Poulenc

Premiere in 1959 (60th anniversary)

Opéra-Comique

07

William Boyce, Celebrations (February 2019), Classical music, English composer and organist

240th anniversary (Death)

Witold Lutosławski, Celebrations (February 2019), Classical music, Polish composer and conductor

25th anniversary (Death)

08

Georgette Leblanc, Celebrations (February 2019), Classical music, French singer

150th anniversary (Birth)

Giuseppe Torelli, Celebrations (February 2019), Classical music, Italian violist, violinist, teacher and composer

310th anniversary (Death)

09

Bessie Abott, Celebrations (February 2019), Classical music, opera singer

100th anniversary (Death)

10

Work for choir

“Semele”, Celebrations (February 2019), Classical music

George Frideric Handel

Premiere in 1744 (275th anniversary)

Theatre Royal, Covent Garden

Jerry Goldsmith, Celebrations (February 2019), Classical music, American composer and conductor, most known for his works in film and television scoring (1924-2004)