The year 1939 in classical music and in lyrical art
1939. With other artists, Béla Bartók, Igor Stravinsky and Sergei Rachmaninoff influenced their time (modern & contemporary era). That year would see the birth of future classical or lyrical artists, such as Elena Obraztsova, while others would disappear. That year, new works would be composed, published or performed for the first time in public, such as “The Moon” de Carl Orff, for example. That year, halls or orchestras would be founded or ceased to operate.
All these moments, more or less notable, make the year 1939 a page in the history of classical and lyrical music to be discovered or rediscovered. soclassiq currently lists more than 390 of these moments for 1939.
1939, from day to day
January
01
Death of John PetersenThat year: 1939, Classical music, German composer (born in 1860)
03
Birth of Delores Ivory DavisThat year: 1939, Classical music, opera singer
04
Birth of Jon AppletonThat year: 1939, Classical music, American composer
09
Death of Johann Strauss IIIThat year: 1939, Classical music, Austrian composer (born in 1866)
Death of Julius BittnerThat year: 1939, Classical music, Austrian composer (born in 1874)
11
Birth of Mircea MoisaThat year: 1939, Classical music, Romanian opera singer
12
Death of Hariclea DarcléeThat year: 1939, Classical music, Romanian singer (born in 1860)
Death of Eugenio PiraniThat year: 1939, Classical music, Italian pianist and composer (born in 1852)
16
Death of Abe HolzmannThat year: 1939, Classical music, American composer (born in 1874)
19
Death of Ferdinand PourThat year: 1939, Classical music, opera singer (born in 1894)
20
Inauguration: Bashkir State PhilharmonicThat year: 1939, Classical music (Ufa, Russia)
Birth of Valeriy UspenskiyThat year: 1939, Classical music, Soviet Russian choir conductor and teacher (dead in 2019)
21
Birth of Gian Paolo ChitiThat year: 1939, Classical music, Italian musician
23
Birth of Enrico FissoreThat year: 1939, Classical music, musician, singer, opera singer
24
Death of Manuel PenellaThat year: 1939, Classical music, Spanish composer (born in 1880)
Birth of Svetlana ColosaryanThat year: 1939, Classical music, Armenian opera singer
27
Birth of Tigran MansurianThat year: 1939, Classical music, Armenian composer
29
Birth of Ermanno MauroThat year: 1939, Classical music, Italian/Canadian Operatic Tenor
31
Birth of Chikashi TanakaThat year: 1939, Classical music, Japanese violinist and concertmaster (1939-2009) (dead in 2009)
February
01
Birth of Aleksandr LomonosovThat year: 1939, Classical music, Soviet Russian singer
03
Death of Gizella BlätterbauerThat year: 1939, Classical music, opera singer (born in 1870)
05
Premiere of The MoonThat year: 1939, Classical music (Opera), Carl Orff
Birth of Evžen ZámečníkThat year: 1939, Classical music, Czech conductor, violinist, music educator and composer (dead in 2018)
Death of Jan Václav NovákThat year: 1939, Classical music, Czech composer and clarinettist (born in 1876)
06
Birth of Jan SødalThat year: 1939, Classical music, singer, opera singer
07
Birth of Lois McDonallThat year: 1939, Classical music, singer
Death of Gennaro De TuraThat year: 1939, Classical music, opera singer (born in 1875)
08
Birth of Rayisa KolesnykThat year: 1939, Classical music, opera singer, singer
10
Death of Regine KleinThat year: 1939, Classical music, stage actor, singer, opera singer (born in 1856)
Death of Gustav Frederik LangeThat year: 1939, Classical music, composer (born in 1861)
11
Death of Franz SchmidtThat year: 1939, Classical music, Austrian composer, cellist and pianist (born in 1874)
12
Death of François-Xavier MathiasThat year: 1939, Classical music, composer (born in 1871)
13
Birth of Anatoliy Trofimovitsj KapoestinThat year: 1939, Classical music, singer, opera singer (dead in 2020)
14
Birth of Ángeles GulínThat year: 1939, Classical music, Spanish operatic soprano (dead in 2002)
16
Birth of Marita NapierThat year: 1939, Classical music, South African singer (dead in 2004)
Death of Ferdinand VachThat year: 1939, Classical music, Czech conductor, composer, choirmaster and organist (born in 1860)
Birth of Christer SolénThat year: 1939, Classical music, opera singer (dead in 2012)
Birth of Reinhard LeisenheimerThat year: 1939, Classical music, German singer and opera singer (dead in 2014)
18
Birth of Marek JanowskiThat year: 1939, Classical music, German conductor
Birth of Marlos NobreThat year: 1939, Classical music, composer
19
Birth of Vladimir AtlantovThat year: 1939, Classical music, Russian singer
20
Birth of Adele HaasThat year: 1939, Classical music, Austrian singer and opera singer
21
Birth of Nijolė AmbrazaitytėThat year: 1939, Classical music, opera singer and politician (dead in 2016)
22
Birth of Ingo GoritzkiThat year: 1939, Classical music, German musician
23
Birth of Jonas AleksaThat year: 1939, Classical music, Lithuanian conductor and university teacher (1939-2005) (dead in 2005)
25
Birth of Hartmut BauerThat year: 1939, Classical music, opera singer (dead in 2018)
28
Death of Andrea Avelina CarreraThat year: 1939, Classical music, Spanish opera singer (born in 1871)
March
01
Birth of Leo BrouwerThat year: 1939, Classical music, Cuban composer, conductor, and guitarist (dead in 2003)
02
Birth of Irina BogachevaThat year: 1939, Classical music, opera singer (dead in 2019)
06
Death of Stanislao GastaldonThat year: 1939, Classical music, Italian composer (born in 1861)
Death of Emma JuchThat year: 1939, Classical music, singer (born in 1861)
Death of Emma JuchThat year: 1939, Classical music, singer (born in 1861)
07
Death of Amadeo RoldánThat year: 1939, Classical music, Cuban musician (born in 1900)
08
Birth of Robert TearThat year: 1939, Classical music, Welsh tenor singer and conductor (dead in 2011)
Birth of Liu ShikunThat year: 1939, Classical music, Pianist, composer
Birth of Horst LaubenthalThat year: 1939, Classical music, German singer
09
Birth of Benjamin ZanderThat year: 1939, Classical music, English orchestral conductor
Death of Russell King MillerThat year: 1939, Classical music, composer (born in 1871)
11
Death of Olena MuravyovaThat year: 1939, Classical music, Ukrainian opera singer and music educator (1867-1939) (born in 1867)
12
Birth of Veriano LuchettiThat year: 1939, Classical music, Italian opera singer (dead in 2012)
Birth of Lyndsie HollandThat year: 1939, Classical music, singer and actress (dead in 2014)
14
Death of Varvara Mikhailovna ZarudnayaThat year: 1939, Classical music, opera singer, music pedagogue (born in 1857)
15
Birth of Arkady LuxemburgThat year: 1939, Classical music, American composer
16
Death of Duška VronskáThat year: 1939, Classical music, opera singer (born in 1885)
17
Birth of Klaus OfczarekThat year: 1939, Classical music, Austrian actor and opera singer (dead in 2020)
18
Birth of Jean-Pierre WallezThat year: 1939, Classical music, French musician
19
Birth of Hermann BechtThat year: 1939, Classical music, German opera singer (dead in 2009)
Birth of Beatriz ParraThat year: 1939, Classical music, Ecuadorian classical soprano
21
Death of Evald AavThat year: 1939, Classical music, Estonian composer and choirmaster. (born in 1900)
Birth of Delfina AmbroziakThat year: 1939, Classical music, Polish opera singer
22
Birth of Frank LittleThat year: 1939, Classical music, Operatic tenor (dead in 2006)
Birth of Kurt WestiThat year: 1939, Classical music, Danish opera singer (dead in 1996)
23
Birth of Boris TishchenkoThat year: 1939, Classical music, Soviet composer (dead in 2010)
24
Death of Anton DianovThat year: 1939, Classical music, composer (born in 1882)
26
Birth of Peter SchneiderThat year: 1939, Classical music, conductor
27
Death of Franz Joseph MoserThat year: 1939, Classical music, composer (born in 1880)
29
Death of Frank D. B. ByngThat year: 1939, Classical music, composer (born in 1866)
April
04
Birth of Guillermina HigaredaThat year: 1939, Classical music, Mexican opera singer (dead in 2005)
08
Death of Emilio Serrano y RuizThat year: 1939, Classical music, Spanish composer (born in 1850)
09
Death of Adolfina ZimajerThat year: 1939, Classical music, actor, opera singer (born in 1852)
10
Birth of Ángeles López ArtigaThat year: 1939, Classical music, Spanish singer and composer
12
Birth of Sylvio GualdaThat year: 1939, Classical music, French musician and percussionist
14
Birth of Theodor GuschlbauerThat year: 1939, Classical music, Austrian conductor
20
Birth of Hans KennelThat year: 1939, Classical music, composer, music arranger, instrumentalist, singer, producer
21
Death of Herman FinckThat year: 1939, Classical music, British composer (born in 1872)
22
Birth of Jaroslav KrčekThat year: 1939, Classical music, Czech conductor, composer and musician
23
Premiere of Violin Concerto No. 2That year: 1939, Classical music (Work for orchestra with soloist), Béla Bartók
25
Death of John FouldsThat year: 1939, Classical music, British composer (born in 1880)
Birth of Gjergj KaçinariThat year: 1939, Classical music, Kosovo composer (dead in 2019)
Birth of Richard J. ClarkThat year: 1939, Classical music, Operatic baritone
26
Death of Viktor ZackThat year: 1939, Classical music, Austrian teacher (born in 1854)
Death of J. G. Adolf StierlinThat year: 1939, Classical music, opera singer (born in 1859)
27
Birth of Leonid SkirkoThat year: 1939, Classical music, Canadian opera singer (dead in 2012)
29
Birth of František Xaver ThuriThat year: 1939, Classical music, Czech oboist, music educator and composer (dead in 2019)
May
01
Birth of Victor DaviesThat year: 1939, Classical music, Canadian composer
Birth of Natalya GaydaThat year: 1939, Classical music, Soviet actor
03
Birth of Jonathan HarveyThat year: 1939, Classical music, British composer (dead in 2012)
Death of Jørgen Ditleff BondesenThat year: 1939, Classical music, composer, music theorist (born in 1855)
06
Death of Franco EscherThat year: 1939, Classical music, composer (born in 1859)
07
Birth of José Antonio Abreu AnselmiThat year: 1939, Classical music, Venezuelan musician (1939-2018) (dead in 2018)
09
Birth of Bruce MatherThat year: 1939, Classical music, Canadian composer
Birth of Giorgio ZancanaroThat year: 1939, Classical music, Italian opera singer
11
Death of George Alfred Grant-SchaeferThat year: 1939, Classical music, composer (born in 1872)
13
Birth of Kari LøvaasThat year: 1939, Classical music, singer, opera singer
Birth of Ona GlinskaitėThat year: 1939, Classical music, Lithuanian opera singer
15
Birth of Ulrik ColdThat year: 1939, Classical music, Danish operatic baritone (dead in 2010)
Birth of Dugarzhap DashievThat year: 1939, Classical music, Soviet singer and opera singer (1939-2003) (dead in 2003)
19
Birth of Tomasz SikorskiThat year: 1939, Classical music, Polish composer (dead in 1988)
20
Death of Alexandra ČvanováThat year: 1939, Classical music, singer (born in 1897)
Birth of Raisa Vasilevna KotovaThat year: 1939, Classical music, Russian opera singer (dead in 2019)
21
Birth of Heinz HolligerThat year: 1939, Classical music, Swiss oboist, composer and conductor
22
Birth of Edith ÁgostonThat year: 1939, Classical music, opera singer
23
Birth of Darina MauréryThat year: 1939, Classical music, Slovak opera singer
Death of Reinhard Frederik BokelmannThat year: 1939, Classical music, Dutch politician (born in 1851)
25
Birth of Valery SagaidatschnyThat year: 1939, Classical music, Soviet pianist (1939-2009) (dead in 2009)
June
02
Death of Enrique Fernández ArbósThat year: 1939, Classical music, Spanish musician (born in 1863)
Death of Josef ReiterThat year: 1939, Classical music, Austrian composer and conductor (born in 1862)
03
Death of Emile LévêqueThat year: 1939, Classical music, composer
05
Birth of Ludovic KonyaThat year: 1939, Classical music, opera singer (dead in 2014)
06
Birth of Louis AndriessenThat year: 1939, Classical music, Dutch composer and pianist
Birth of Giacomo AragallThat year: 1939, Classical music, Spanish opera singer
Birth of Grayr Grayrovitsj HanedanjanThat year: 1939, Classical music, opera singer
07
Birth of Eri KlasThat year: 1939, Classical music, Estonian conductor (dead in 2016)
Birth of Yuli TurovskyThat year: 1939, Classical music, cellist and conductor (dead in 2013)
Death of José Mauri EsteveThat year: 1939, Classical music, violinist (born in 1855)
08
Death of Varvara MalamaThat year: 1939, Classical music, Estonian opera singer (born in 1870)
Death of Walter Bulkeley CoventryThat year: 1939, Classical music, composer (born in 1850)
09
Birth of Ileana CotrubașThat year: 1939, Classical music, Romanian operatic soprano singer
16
Death of Viktor Roman MoserThat year: 1939, Classical music, Czech violinist, music educator and composer (born in 1864)
18
Birth of Oleg YanchenkoThat year: 1939, Classical music, Russian composer (dead in 2002)
19
Death of Ferruccio CorradettiThat year: 1939, Classical music, Italian baritone (born in 1867)
20
Death of Ernest HalseyThat year: 1939, Classical music, composer (born in 1867)
21
Premiere of Concerto for organ and orchestra in G minor, Op. 93That year: 1939, Classical music (Work for orchestra with soloist), Francis Poulenc
Birth of Evan Alva TonsingThat year: 1939, Classical music, composer (dead in 2017)
23
Death of Aleksandr AlekseevThat year: 1939, Classical music, Soviet Russian singer (born in 1895)
25
Death of Pierre DonkThat year: 1939, Classical music, composer (born in 1871)
26
Birth of Margit ErcseThat year: 1939, Classical music, opera singer, voice teacher (dead in 2019)
28
Death of Ossip SchnirlinThat year: 1939, Classical music, violinist (born in 1874)
29
Birth of Lilian SukisThat year: 1939, Classical music, singer
Also in June
Death of Percy SherwoodThat year: 1939, Classical music, Composer and pianist (born in 1866) .
July
02
Birth of Giancarlo LuccardiThat year: 1939, Classical music, operatic bass (1939-)
03
Birth of Brigitte FassbaenderThat year: 1939, Classical music, singer
04
Birth of Jurij Alekszejevics MalininThat year: 1939, Classical music, singer, opera singer (dead in 2000)
06
Death of Sława Orłowska-CzerwińskaThat year: 1939, Classical music, opera singer (born in 1897)
07
Birth of Elena ObraztsovaThat year: 1939, Classical music, Soviet and russian opera singer (dead in 2015)
Birth of Vladimir ShcherbakovThat year: 1939, Classical music, Soviet Russian singer and pedagogue
09
Death of Henry TolhurstThat year: 1939, Classical music, composer (born in 1854)
13
Death of Věra PivoňkováThat year: 1939, Classical music, czech opera singer (born in 1866)
14
Birth of Eduard BrunnerThat year: 1939, Classical music, Swiss musician (1939-2017) (dead in 2017)
17
Birth of MilvaThat year: 1939, Classical music, Italian singer, stage and film actress
Death of Pierre VellonesThat year: 1939, Classical music, French composer (born in 1889)
18
Death of Witold MaliszewskiThat year: 1939, Classical music, Polish-Russian composer (born in 1873)
20
Birth of Jaromír VavruškaThat year: 1939, Classical music, opera singer, music pedagogue (dead in 2010)
24
Birth of Anoushiravan RohaniThat year: 1939, Classical music, Iranian Accordion, pianist and songwriter
25
Birth of Richard Aaker TrythallThat year: 1939, Classical music, American Italian composer
26
Death of Francesco Paolo FrontiniThat year: 1939, Classical music, Italian composer (born in 1860)
Death of William Arthur AikinThat year: 1939, Classical music, composer (born in 1857)
29
Death of Waldo Selden PrattThat year: 1939, Classical music, composer (born in 1857)
31
Birth of Steuart BedfordThat year: 1939, Classical music, British conductor
August
02
Death of Otakar MařákThat year: 1939, Classical music, Czech opera singer (born in 1872)
03
Death of August EnnaThat year: 1939, Classical music, Danish composer (born in 1859)
06
Birth of Paul TrépanierThat year: 1939, Classical music, Canadian singer
07
Death of Eino RautavaaraThat year: 1939, Classical music, Finnish opera singer (born in 1876)
08
Death of Jac. van KempenThat year: 1939, Classical music, singer, tenor (born in 1875)
Death of Josef EgemThat year: 1939, Classical music, Czech music educator, composer and singer (born in 1874)
Death of Gustav BeckmannThat year: 1939, Classical music, composer (born in 1865)
11
Birth of Attila BozayThat year: 1939, Classical music, Hungarian composer and university professor (dead in 1999)
12
Death of G. Rudolf PreissThat year: 1939, Classical music, composer (born in 1881)
13
Birth of Hélène GarettiThat year: 1939, Classical music, French opera singer
14
Birth of Reijo LahtinenThat year: 1939, Classical music, Finnish actor
15
Birth of Ben KimuraThat year: 1939, Classical music, Japanese politician
16
Birth of Janis MartinThat year: 1939, Classical music, opera singer (dead in 2014)
17
Birth of Valery GavrilinThat year: 1939, Classical music, Russian composer (dead in 1999)
18
Birth of Norbert OrthThat year: 1939, Classical music, opera singer
Birth of Gennadiy PiskunovThat year: 1939, Classical music, Soviet Russian singer (dead in 2020)
Death of Friedrich Max AntonThat year: 1939, Classical music, conductor, composer, music pedagogue (born in 1877)
20
Death of Sybil GreyThat year: 1939, Classical music, British singer and actress (born in 1860)
25
Death of Geneviève VixThat year: 1939, Classical music, French opera singer (born in 1879)
26
Birth of Gwendolyn KillebrewThat year: 1939, Classical music, American contralto
Birth of Nicholas BraithwaiteThat year: 1939, Classical music, English conductor
27
Premiere of Young Apollo, Op. 16That year: 1939, Classical music (Work for orchestra with soloist), Benjamin Britten
29
Birth of Walton GrönroosThat year: 1939, Classical music, Finnish opera singer (dead in 1999)
30
Death of Fritz BirrenkovenThat year: 1939, Classical music, opera singer (born in 1878)
September
01
Birth of Roger SoyerThat year: 1939, Classical music, French opera singer
Birth of Carl-Axel DominiqueThat year: 1939, Classical music, Swedish pianist
Death of Jozef BellensThat year: 1939, Classical music, composer (born in 1876)
03
Birth of Yoko KawaharaThat year: 1939, Classical music, Japanese opera singer
Death of Rosa EthoferThat year: 1939, Classical music, German opera singer (1877-1939) (born in 1877)
06
Death of Karl HammesThat year: 1939, Classical music, German singer and opera singer (born in 1896)
08
Death of Lawrence GilmanThat year: 1939, Classical music, American music critic (born in 1878)
10
Death of Hugo RiesenfeldThat year: 1939, Classical music, American conductor (born in 1879)
Birth of Elisabeth ChojnackaThat year: 1939, Classical music, Polish musician (dead in 2017)
Birth of Judith NelsonThat year: 1939, Classical music, opera singer (dead in 2012)
Birth of Hans SotinThat year: 1939, Classical music, German operatic bass
13
Birth of Arleen AugerThat year: 1939, Classical music, singer (dead in 1993)
Death of Walerian BayerleinThat year: 1939, Classical music, singer, opera singer (born in 1867)
14
Birth of Milan TurkovićThat year: 1939, Classical music, Austrian musician
Death of Armenak ShahmuradyanThat year: 1939, Classical music, Armenian opera singer (born in 1878)
Death of Giuseppina GarganoThat year: 1939, Classical music, Italian opera singer (born in 1853)
16
Death of John Augustine O'SheaThat year: 1939, Classical music, composer (born in 1864)
18
Birth of Julian Raoul BessetThat year: 1939, Classical music, composer
19
Death of Cornelis DopperThat year: 1939, Classical music, Dutch composer and conductor (born in 1870)
21
Birth of Andrzej BujakiewiczThat year: 1939, Classical music, conductor
25
Death of Alfred WotquenneThat year: 1939, Classical music, Belgian music librarian (born in 1867)
Birth of Svyatlana DanilyukThat year: 1939, Classical music, Soviet singer and opera singer (1939-2003) (dead in 2003)
Birth of Robert GazizovThat year: 1939, Classical music, Soviet composer and music educator
26
Death of Camille DecreusThat year: 1939, Classical music, French composer and pianist (born in 1876)
28
Death of Felicjan SzopskiThat year: 1939, Classical music, Polish composer and music educator (born in 1865)
Also in September
Closing: Grand TheatreThat year: 1939, Classical music (Śródmieście, Poland) .
October
02
Birth of Mirjana BohanecThat year: 1939, Classical music, Croatian opera singer and actor
04
Birth of Angelo MichajlovThat year: 1939, Classical music, Czech composer (dead in 1998)
Birth of Frank LendorThat year: 1939, Classical music, singer, opera singer
07
Premiere of Die Kathrin, Op. 28That year: 1939, Classical music (Opera), Erich Wolfgang Korngold
08
Birth of Andrew ThomasThat year: 1939, Classical music, American composer
Inauguration: Wisconsin Union TheaterThat year: 1939, Classical music (Madison, United States of America)
09
Birth of Márta SzirmayThat year: 1939, Classical music, opera singer, jazz singer (dead in 2015)
Death of Evelyn ParnellThat year: 1939, Classical music, American opera singer (born in 1888)
13
Birth of Eike Wilm SchulteThat year: 1939, Classical music, German operatic baritone
14
Death of Adolf JellouscheggThat year: 1939, Classical music, Austrian opera singer (born in 1874)
15
Death of Marie WollnerováThat year: 1939, Classical music, opera singer (born in 1858)
16
Death of Ludolf NielsenThat year: 1939, Classical music, Danish composer (born in 1876)
17
Birth of Reiner GoldbergThat year: 1939, Classical music, German opera singer
18
Birth of Jean-Claude AmiotThat year: 1939, Classical music, French musician
19
Death of Marie RenardThat year: 1939, Classical music, Austrian mezzo-soprano (born in 1864)
20
Death of Josef OmáčkaThat year: 1939, Classical music, Czech composer, choirmaster and organist (born in 1869)
Birth of Fausto CepedaThat year: 1939, Classical music, singer, opera singer
24
Death of Prince Joachim Albert of PrussiaThat year: 1939, Classical music, member of the House of Hohenzollern (born in 1876)
Birth of Keiichi AsaiThat year: 1939, Classical music, choir director, conductor
Birth of Mirjana IroschThat year: 1939, Classical music, Austrian singer and opera singer
25
Birth of Minna NyhusThat year: 1939, Classical music, Danish opera singer (dead in 1989)
27
Death of Nelly BromleyThat year: 1939, Classical music, singer and actress (born in 1850)
29
Death of Giulio CrimiThat year: 1939, Classical music, Italian opera singer (born in 1885)
Also in October
Composition of Sinfonia da Requiem, Op. 20That year: 1939, Classical music (Work for orchestra), Benjamin Britten .
November
03
Birth of Ute Trekel-BurckhardtThat year: 1939, Classical music, German singer and opera singer
04
Death of Charles Arnold TournemireThat year: 1939, Classical music, French composer (born in 1870)
Death of Alois BartschmidThat year: 1939, Classical music, composer (born in 1863)
05
Premiere of Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 54That year: 1939, Classical music (Work for orchestra), Dmitri Shostakovich
06
Birth of Maurice BourgueThat year: 1939, Classical music, French conductor, composer and oboist (dead in 2009)
Birth of Eberhard BüchnerThat year: 1939, Classical music, German singer and opera singer
12
Birth of Lucia PoppThat year: 1939, Classical music, Slovak operatic soprano (dead in 1993)
15
Birth of Yōji KawahitoThat year: 1939, Classical music, flautist
18
Birth of Tom JohnsonThat year: 1939, Classical music, American composer
20
Death of Borghild LangaardThat year: 1939, Classical music, Norwegian singer (born in 1883)
Death of Désiré PâqueThat year: 1939, Classical music, Belgian composer (1867-1939) (born in 1867)
22
Birth of Stefan DimitrovThat year: 1939, Classical music, Bulgarian singer (dead in 2004)
24
Birth of Maria ChiaraThat year: 1939, Classical music, singer
27
Death of Karel HolíkThat year: 1939, Classical music, opera singer (born in 1876)
28
Birth of Sevda IbrahimovaThat year: 1939, Classical music, opera composer, composer
29
Death of Johannes PughThat year: 1939, Classical music, composer (born in 1851)
30
Birth of Walter WellerThat year: 1939, Classical music, Austrian conductor (dead in 2015)
December
01
Death of Max FiedlerThat year: 1939, Classical music, German conductor and composer (born in 1859)
05
Death of William LuggThat year: 1939, Classical music, British actor and singer (1852-1939) (born in 1852)
06
Death of Charles DalmorèsThat year: 1939, Classical music, French opera singer (born in 1871)
08
Birth of James GalwayThat year: 1939, Classical music, Flutist from Northern Ireland
Death of Ernest SchellingThat year: 1939, Classical music, American conductor (born in 1876)
10
Death of Wilhelm GroszThat year: 1939, Classical music, Austrian composer, pianist and conductor (born in 1894)
Death of Alexander von DuschThat year: 1939, Classical music, composer (born in 1877)
11
Birth of Inger WikströmThat year: 1939, Classical music, composer
Birth of Jeffrey LawtonThat year: 1939, Classical music, British opera singer (dead in 2018)
12
Birth of Ján ZemkoThat year: 1939, Classical music, opera singer
14
Death of Marie DietrichThat year: 1939, Classical music, opera singer (1868-1939) (born in 1868)
15
Birth of Éva AndorThat year: 1939, Classical music, opera singer (dead in 2014)
Birth of Hildegard Kronstein-UhrmacherThat year: 1939, Classical music, German singer and opera singer
16
Birth of Philip LangridgeThat year: 1939, Classical music, British opera singer (dead in 2010)
18
Death of Jeanne GranierThat year: 1939, Classical music, French singer (born in 1852)
20
Death of Åke WallgrenThat year: 1939, Classical music, Swedish actor (born in 1873)
21
Birth of Giuliano BernardiThat year: 1939, Classical music, Italian opera singer (dead in 1977)
Premiere of Zdravitsa (Hail to Stalin), Op. 85That year: 1939, Classical music (Work for choir), Sergei Prokofiev
Birth of Vyacheslav NagovitsinThat year: 1939, Classical music, Russian composer
22
Birth of Franz KalchmairThat year: 1939, Classical music, Austrian singer (dead in 2020)
23
Birth of Nina GrigorievaThat year: 1939, Classical music, operatic singer
24
Death of Walter B. RogersThat year: 1939, Classical music, American cornet player, conductor and composer (born in 1865)
25
Death of Emil MattiesenThat year: 1939, Classical music, German composer, philosopher and academic (born in 1875)
26
Birth of Yuriy GorbunovThat year: 1939, Classical music, Soviet Russian singer
31
Birth of Larry CombsThat year: 1939, Classical music, American musician
This was also in 1939
Inception: Poznań NightingalesThat year: 1939, Classical music. Death of Frederick BevanThat year: 1939, Classical music, British singer and music pedagogue (born in 1856). Inauguration: Navoi TheaterThat year: 1939, Classical music (Tashkent, Uzbekistan). Birth of Marie HaywardThat year: 1939, Classical music, singer (dead in 2011). Birth of Jean AndersonThat year: 1939, Classical music, Canadian composer . Death of Ludwig BonvinThat year: 1939, Classical music, composer (born in 1850). Death of Georges BurgairollesThat year: 1939, Classical music, composer . Death of Augusto ScampiniThat year: 1939, Classical music, Italian opera singer (born in 1880). Inauguration: Buryat Academic Opera and Ballet TheaterThat year: 1939, Classical music (Republic of Buryatia, Russia). Inception: MVD EnsembleThat year: 1939, Classical music (Russia). Death of Mauricy AuberThat year: 1939, Classical music, composer (born in 1862). Birth of Ilse GramatzkiThat year: 1939, Classical music, German singer and opera singer . Death of Charles GouldingThat year: 1939, Classical music, British singer and actor (born in 1887). Inauguration: Kazan Opera and Ballet TheatreThat year: 1939, Classical music (Kazan, Russia). Death of Charles WoodhouseThat year: 1939, Classical music, composer (born in 1879). Death of Alma StrettellThat year: 1939, Classical music, British translator and poet (born in 1856). Inauguration: Robinson CenterThat year: 1939, Classical music (Little Rock, United States of America). Birth of Berna KousemakerThat year: 1939, Classical music, Dutch opera singer . Death of Semyon BarmotinThat year: 1939, Classical music, composer (born in 1877). Birth of Edna GarabedianThat year: 1939, Classical music, singer and opera director . Inception: Philadelphia Youth OrchestraThat year: 1939, Classical music (United States of America). Birth of Evelyn DalbergThat year: 1939, Classical music, opera singer . Inception: Juan de Dios Filiberto National Orchestra of Argentine MusicThat year: 1939, Classical music (Argentina). Inception: West Virginia Symphony OrchestraThat year: 1939, Classical music (United States of America). Inauguration: Teatr MuzycznyThat year: 1939, Classical music (Poznań, Poland). Inauguration: Pittsburgh OperaThat year: 1939, Classical music (Pittsburgh, United States of America). Birth of Helga DerneschThat year: 1939, Classical music, singer . Inauguration: Philharmonic HallThat year: 1939, Classical music (Liverpool, United Kingdom). Birth of Ada SvetlovaThat year: 1939, Classical music, Latvian opera singer . Birth of Peggy Ann JonesThat year: 1939, Classical music, British opera singer and actress . Death of Franz NavalThat year: 1939, Classical music, Austrian singer and opera singer (born in 1865). Inauguration: Quincena Musical de San SebastiánThat year: 1939, Classical music (Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain). Death of William Heller NichollsThat year: 1939, Classical music, composer (born in 1874). Death of Hilarión LeloupThat year: 1939, Classical music, composer (born in 1876). Inception: San Antonio SymphonyThat year: 1939, Classical music (United States of America). Birth of Giorgio MerighiThat year: 1939, Classical music, Italian singer and opera singer (dead in 2020). Inception: Hollywood String QuartetThat year: 1939, Classical music (United States of America). Death of Gastone BernheimerThat year: 1939, Classical music, composer (born in 1880). Birth of Norberto MacedoThat year: 1939, Classical music, composer . Birth of Jose Antonino OliveraThat year: 1939, Classical music, composer . Death of Frederick A. WilliamsThat year: 1939, Classical music, American composer (born in 1875). Death of Eric FoggThat year: 1939, Classical music, British composer and conductor (born in 1903). Death of Per Maximilian StrandbergThat year: 1939, Classical music, Swedish opera singer (born in 1854). Death of Francesco Mauro GuariniThat year: 1939, Classical music, composer (born in 1883). Death of Bénoni LagyeThat year: 1939, Classical music, composer (born in 1858). Inception: Greek National OperaThat year: 1939, Classical music (Greece). Death of Henryk SkirmunttThat year: 1939, Classical music, composer (born in 1868). Inception: Australian Boys' ChoirThat year: 1939, Classical music. Inception: Danish National Chamber OrchestraThat year: 1939, Classical music (Denmark). Birth of Jorma FalckThat year: 1939, Classical music, Finnish actor (dead in 2017). Death of Charles HugueninThat year: 1939, Classical music, composer (born in 1870). Death of Arthur Sydney WarrellThat year: 1939, Classical music, composer (born in 1883). Inception: Bistritsa BabiThat year: 1939, Classical music (Bulgaria). Death of Vitus RathsachThat year: 1939, Classical music, composer (born in 1883). Birth of Edwin PenhorwoodThat year: 1939, Classical music, American composer . Death of Isidre Roselló i VilellaThat year: 1939, Classical music, Spanish composer (1880-1939) (born in 1880). Inception: Pittsburgh OperaThat year: 1939, Classical music (United States of America). Birth of Emmy LiskenThat year: 1939, Classical music, German opera singer (dead in 2020). Death of Ida Krzyzanowski-DoxatThat year: 1939, Classical music, Austrian opera singer (born in 1867). Inauguration: Bolshoi Theatre of BelarusThat year: 1939, Classical music (Minsk, Belarus). Death of Homer TourjéeThat year: 1939, Classical music, composer (born in 1881). Death of William Conrad PollaThat year: 1939, Classical music, composer (born in 1876). Death of Otto Viktor MaeckelThat year: 1939, Classical music, composer (born in 1884).
Works (composition or publishing)
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Richard Strauss (age 75) - Durch Einsamkeiten (Work for choir)
- München, commemorative waltz (1) (Work for orchestra)
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Arnold Schoenberg (age 65) - Chamber Symphony No. 2 in E-flat minor, Op. 38 (Work for chamber orchestra)
- Mr. Saunders I owe you thanks (Work for choir)
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Manuel de Falla (age 63) - Homages (Work for orchestra)
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Béla Bartók (age 58) - DivertimentoThat year: 1939, Classical music (Work for chamber orchestra), published in 1940
- String Quartet No. 6 (Work for chamber orchestra)
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Zoltán Kodály (age 57) - Te Deum (Work for choir)
- Peacock Variations (Work for orchestra)
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Sergei Prokofiev (age 48) - Semyon Kotko, Op. 81That year: 1939, Classical music (Opera)
- Symphonic Suite from “Semyon Kotko”, Op. 81bisThat year: 1939, Classical music (Work for orchestra)
- 3 Songs from “Alexander Nevsky”, Opp. 78bThat year: 1939, Classical music (Song, lied)
- Alexander Nevsky, Op. 78That year: 1939, Classical music (Work for choir)
- 7 Mass Songs for voice and piano, Opp. 79 (Song, lied)
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Darius Milhaud (age 47) - Symphony No. 1, Op. 210 (Work for orchestra)
- La Cheminée du Roi René, Op. 205 (Work for chamber orchestra)
- Gulf Stream, Op. 208 (Film score)
- The Islanders, Op. 198 (Film score)
- Concerto, Op. 197 (Work for orchestra with soloist)
- Cortège funèbre, Op. 202 (Work for orchestra)
- Man's Hope, Op. 202 (Film score)
- Fanfare, Op. 209 (Work for orchestra)
- Hamlet, Op. 200 (Incidental music)
- Voyage au pays du rêve, Op. 203 (Music for radio)
- 3 Incantations, Opp. 201 (Work for choir)
- Quatrains valaisans, Op. 206 (Work for choir)
- 3 Elegy, Opp. 199 (Song, lied)
- La reine de Saba, Op. 207 (Work for chamber orchestra)
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Arthur Honegger (age 47) - Cavalcade d'amour (Film score)
- Le Déserteur (Film score)
- Nicolas de Flue (Incidental music)
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Erich Wolfgang Korngold (age 42) - Juarez (Film score)
- The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (Film score)
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Francis Poulenc (age 40) - Fiançailles pour rire (6 mélodies), Op. 101 (Song, lied)
- 2 Préludes posthumes et une Gnossienne, Opp. 104 (Work for orchestra)
- Bleuet, Op. 102 (Song, lied)
- Ce doux petit visage, Op. 99 (Song, lied)
- Française d’après Claude Gervaise, Op. 103 (Work for soloist)
- Miroirs brûlants, Opp. 98 (Song, lied)
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Aaron Copland (age 39) - Of Mice and Men (Film score)
- The City (Film score)
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Dmitri Shostakovich (age 33) - Seven Finnish Folk Songs, Op. 56a (Song, lied)
- Music to the animated film The Silly Little Mouse, Op. 56 (Film score)
- The Great Citizen (II), Op. 55 (Film score)
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Samuel Osborne Barber (age 29) - Violin Concerto, Op. 14That year: 1939, Classical music (Work for orchestra with soloist)
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Benjamin Britten (age 26) - Les Illuminations, Op. 18That year: 1939, Classical music (Song, lied)
- Canadian Carnival overture, Op. 19 (Work for orchestra)
- A.M.D.G. (Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam) (Work for choir)
- Ballad of Heroes, Op. 14 (Work for choir)
