The year 1940 in classical music and in lyrical art
1940. With other artists, Richard Strauss, Sergei Rachmaninoff and Sergei Prokofiev influenced their time (modern & contemporary era). That year would see the birth of future classical or lyrical artists, such as Riccardo Muti, while others would disappear. That year, new works would be composed, published or performed for the first time in public, such as “Suite for 2 pianos from “Cinderella”, Op. 87b” de Sergei Prokofiev, for example. That year, halls or orchestras would be founded or ceased to operate.
All these moments, more or less notable, make the year 1940 a page in the history of classical and lyrical music to be discovered or rediscovered. soclassiq currently lists more than 360 of these moments for 1940.
1940, from day to day
January
01
Birth of Nurtan Alan EsmenThat year: 1940, Classical music, composer
03
Death of Maia BangThat year: 1940, Classical music, composer (born in 1877)
05
Death of Louis DeluneThat year: 1940, Classical music, Belgian composer (born in 1876)
06
Birth of Shirley LoveThat year: 1940, Classical music, American opera singer
09
Death of Josef JiránekThat year: 1940, Classical music, Czech music educator, composer and pianist (born in 1855)
Birth of Claudine ArnaudThat year: 1940, Classical music, Belgian opera singer (dead in 2017)
11
Birth of Naoyuki InoueThat year: 1940, Classical music, Japanese pianist (dead in 2003)
Death of Miquel Jordana i PuigThat year: 1940, Classical music, Spanish musician and composer (1875-1940) (born in 1875)
14
Birth of Siegmund NimsgernThat year: 1940, Classical music, German opera singer
15
16
Death of Maximilian SchwedlerThat year: 1940, Classical music, German musician and musicologist (born in 1853)
18
Birth of Yukinori TezukaThat year: 1940, Classical music, Japanese conductor (dead in 2020)
Birth of Marijan GabrijelčičThat year: 1940, Classical music, composer, music pedagogue, university teacher (dead in 1998)
Death of Felix CorbettThat year: 1940, Classical music, composer (born in 1861)
23
Birth of Lajos MillerThat year: 1940, Classical music, opera singer
24
Death of Charles Whitney CoombsThat year: 1940, Classical music, American musician (born in 1859)
Death of Emile van BoschThat year: 1940, Classical music, Belgian opera singer (born in 1888)
25
Death of Hubert GruenderThat year: 1940, Classical music, composer (born in 1870)
27
Death of Jacques PintelThat year: 1940, Classical music, composer (born in 1881)
29
Birth of Justino DíazThat year: 1940, Classical music, Puerto Rican opera singer
30
Premiere of Les Illuminations, Op. 18That year: 1940, Classical music (Song, lied), Benjamin Britten
Birth of Helmut PampuchThat year: 1940, Classical music, opera singer (dead in 2008)
February
01
Death of Julius LiebanThat year: 1940, Classical music, German singer and opera singer (born in 1858)
02
Death of Arnold VolpeThat year: 1940, Classical music, Lithuanian American composer, conductor (born in 1869)
Death of Nikolay Kedrov, Sr.That year: 1940, Classical music, Russian singer (born in 1871)
Death of C. Roland FlickThat year: 1940, Classical music, composer (born in 1875)
04
Birth of Martin JonesThat year: 1940, Classical music, British pianist
05
Death of Maurice DuhamelThat year: 1940, Classical music, French musician (born in 1884)
06
Birth of Helga ThiedeThat year: 1940, Classical music, German singer
09
Birth of Wolfgang SchöneThat year: 1940, Classical music, German singer
11
Death of Carlo BöhmThat year: 1940, Classical music, singer from Austria (born in 1874)
12
Birth of Gilda Cruz-RomoThat year: 1940, Classical music, singer
14
Death of Otto HolldackThat year: 1940, Classical music, opera singer (born in 1861)
15
Birth of Trygve MadsenThat year: 1940, Classical music, Norwegian classical pianist
Birth of Renate LenhartThat year: 1940, Classical music, Austrian opera singer
17
Death of Ulrich HildebrandtThat year: 1940, Classical music, German church musician (1870-1940) (born in 1870)
18
Death of Emil LiepeThat year: 1940, Classical music, German opera vocalist (born in 1860)
Death of Marie DelornThat year: 1940, Classical music, French opera singer (born in 1861)
20
Birth of Christoph EschenbachThat year: 1940, Classical music, German musician
21
Birth of Heinz ZednikThat year: 1940, Classical music, austrian tenor
25
Birth of Jesús López CobosThat year: 1940, Classical music, Spanish conductor (dead in 2018)
Birth of Ryszard ArningThat year: 1940, Classical music, Polish singer (dead in 2008)
27
Birth of Barbara CollierThat year: 1940, Classical music, Canadian singer
28
Death of Arnold DolmetschThat year: 1940, Classical music, French musician and instrument maker in England (1858-1940) (born in 1858)
Death of Emil PrillThat year: 1940, Classical music, German musician (born in 1867)
Birth of Derek Reginald MorganThat year: 1940, Classical music, composer
March
01
Birth of Rotraud HansmannThat year: 1940, Classical music, Austrian soprano in opera and concert
02
Birth of Robert LloydThat year: 1940, Classical music, English operatic bass
03
Death of Karl MuckThat year: 1940, Classical music, German-born Swiss conductor of classical music (born in 1859)
05
Inauguration: Greek National OperaThat year: 1940, Classical music (Kallithea Municipality, Greece)
Inception: Greek National OperaThat year: 1940, Classical music (Greece)
Death of Ange-Marie AuzendeThat year: 1940, Classical music, composer (born in 1850)
06
Death of Alexei DavidovThat year: 1940, Classical music, Russian musician and businessman (born in 1867)
07
Birth of Tony ConradThat year: 1940, Classical music, American filmmaker, violinist and composer (1940-2016) (dead in 2016)
09
Birth of Pavel ČervinkaThat year: 1940, Classical music, Czech opera singer (1940-2015) (dead in 2015)
10
Death of Emerik BeranThat year: 1940, Classical music, Slovenian cellist (born in 1868)
12
Birth of Peter McKenzie ArmstrongThat year: 1940, Classical music, composer
14
Birth of Adolf DallapozzaThat year: 1940, Classical music, Austrian tenor
15
Death of Ferdinand HellmesbergerThat year: 1940, Classical music, Austrian musician (born in 1863)
Death of Robert LefflerThat year: 1940, Classical music, German actor (born in 1866)
Birth of Iryna ShykunovaThat year: 1940, Classical music, Soviet Belarusian opera singer and pedagogue (dead in 2020)
17
Death of Rémy ClaversThat year: 1940, Classical music, composer (born in 1891)
18
Death of Lola BeethThat year: 1940, Classical music, singer (born in 1860)
21
Birth of Paul RobinsonThat year: 1940, Classical music, Canadian conductor
Death of Oscar KlempererThat year: 1940, Classical music, composer (born in 1877)
22
Birth of Günter von KannenThat year: 1940, Classical music, (1940--) German opera singer (bass-baritone) (dead in 2016)
25
Death of Ludwig SauerThat year: 1940, Classical music, German composer (born in 1861)
26
Birth of Victor von HalemThat year: 1940, Classical music, German singer and opera singer
28
Premiere of Violin Concerto, Op. 15That year: 1940, Classical music (Work for orchestra with soloist), Benjamin Britten
29
Death of Josep Cumellas i RibóThat year: 1940, Classical music, Spanish composer (1875-1940) (born in 1875)
31
Birth of John StewartThat year: 1940, Classical music, American tenor, conductor, and voice teacher
April
01
Death of Emil ŠtolcThat year: 1940, Classical music, Czech conductor and composer (born in 1888)
02
Death of Edward Johnson BellerbyThat year: 1940, Classical music, British composer (born in 1858)
03
Birth of François LoupThat year: 1940, Classical music, opera singer
09
Birth of Ken-Ichiro KobayashiThat year: 1940, Classical music, Japanese composer and conductor
10
Death of Nestor NyzhankivskyiThat year: 1940, Classical music, Ukrainian composer, pianist and music critic (born in 1893)
13
Birth of Vladimir CosmaThat year: 1940, Classical music, Romanian-French Composer, violinist and conductor
Birth of Takaya UrakawaThat year: 1940, Classical music, Japanese violinist and concertmaster
16
Birth of Marcella CrudeliThat year: 1940, Classical music, Italian pianist
Birth of Joseph William FennimoreThat year: 1940, Classical music, American composer and pianist
17
Birth of Siegfried JerusalemThat year: 1940, Classical music, German opera vocalist
Birth of Anja SiljaThat year: 1940, Classical music, Operatic soprano
21
Birth of Lilleba Lund KvandalThat year: 1940, Classical music, Norwegian soprano (dead in 2016)
23
Birth of Bulat MinzhilkievThat year: 1940, Classical music, Soviet singer and opera singer (1940-1997) (dead in 1997)
Birth of Diane LoomerThat year: 1940, Classical music, conductor (dead in 2012)
24
Birth of Gerhart HetzelThat year: 1940, Classical music, * 24.4.1940 Neu-Werbaß (Novi Vrbas/YU), † 29.7.1992 Salzburg. Geiger. (dead in 1992)
25
Death of Emanuel Christian HedmondtThat year: 1940, Classical music, Canadian singer and singing teacher (born in 1857)
Death of Emanuel Christian HedmondtThat year: 1940, Classical music, Canadian singer and singing teacher (born in 1857)
26
Death of Rafaela HaroThat year: 1940, Classical music, actor, singer (born in 1889)
28
Death of Luisa TetrazziniThat year: 1940, Classical music, Italian opera singer (born in 1871)
29
Death of Kornélia GábosThat year: 1940, Classical music, Hungarian opera singer (soprano), singing master (born in 1868)
Death of William C. StahlThat year: 1940, Classical music, composer (born in 1869)
May
03
Inauguration: Elliott Hall of MusicThat year: 1940, Classical music (West Lafayette, United States of America)
04
Birth of Eliška PappováThat year: 1940, Classical music, opera singer, singer
05
Birth of Aatos TapalaThat year: 1940, Classical music, Finnish actor
06
Death of Ernest GilletThat year: 1940, Classical music, French musician and composer (born in 1856)
Death of James M. FultonThat year: 1940, Classical music, American conductor and composer (born in 1873)
09
Death of Leon FontbonneThat year: 1940, Classical music, composer (born in 1858)
11
Birth of Ron BottcherThat year: 1940, Classical music, American opera singer (dead in 1991)
12
Birth of Jozef SixtaThat year: 1940, Classical music, composer, music pedagogue (dead in 2007)
19
Death of Dinh GillyThat year: 1940, Classical music, French opera singer (born in 1877)
20
Birth of Karl Anton RickenbacherThat year: 1940, Classical music, Swiss conductor (1940-2014) (dead in 2014)
21
Birth of António Victorino de AlmeidaThat year: 1940, Classical music, Portuguese Composer
27
Death of Walther FalkensteinThat year: 1940, Classical music, German operatic tenor and theater actor (born in 1862)
28
Death of Theodor StreicherThat year: 1940, Classical music, Austrian composer (born in 1874)
Birth of Vernon MidgleyThat year: 1940, Classical music, British opera singer
29
Death of Mathilda GrabowThat year: 1940, Classical music, Swedish opera singer (born in 1852)
30
Death of Robert-Guillaume CasadesusThat year: 1940, Classical music, French actor and musician (born in 1878)
June
01
Death of Franz BlumenbergThat year: 1940, Classical music, composer (born in 1869)
03
Birth of Heljä AngervoThat year: 1940, Classical music, Finnish opera singer (dead in 2019)
04
Birth of Yuriko KuronumaThat year: 1940, Classical music, Japanese musician
Birth of Jiří VálekThat year: 1940, Classical music, Czech fluteist and music educator
07
Birth of Alfreda HodgsonThat year: 1940, Classical music, English contralto singer (dead in 1992)
08
Death of Frederick ConverseThat year: 1940, Classical music, American classical music composer (born in 1871)
Birth of Valeriy SobolevThat year: 1940, Classical music, Soviet Russian musician (dead in 2002)
11
Death of Fermo Dante MarchettiThat year: 1940, Classical music, Italian songwriter (born in 1876)
14
Birth of Dary John MizelleThat year: 1940, Classical music, American composer
Death of Joseph BéesauThat year: 1940, Classical music, composer (born in 1871)
15
Birth of Teruyuki NodaThat year: 1940, Classical music, Japanese composer
16
Death of Vítězslava KaprálováThat year: 1940, Classical music, Czech conductor and composer (1915-1940) (born in 1915)
Birth of Pirkko Talola-AaltonenThat year: 1940, Classical music, Finnish opera singer
19
Death of Maurice JaubertThat year: 1940, Classical music, French composer (born in 1900)
Death of Albert ReissThat year: 1940, Classical music, German opera singer (born in 1870)
20
Death of Jehan AlainThat year: 1940, Classical music, French organist and composer (born in 1911)
Death of Emma NevadaThat year: 1940, Classical music, American singer (born in 1859)
Death of Frederick RosseThat year: 1940, Classical music, British conductor and composer (born in 1867)
21
Death of Hans Ingi HedemarkThat year: 1940, Classical music, Norwegian actor (born in 1875)
23
Premiere of Semyon Kotko, Op. 81That year: 1940, Classical music (Opera), Sergei Prokofiev
Premiere of Symphonic Suite from “Semyon Kotko”, Op. 81bisThat year: 1940, Classical music (Work for orchestra), Sergei Prokofiev
25
Birth of Mary Beth PeilThat year: 1940, Classical music, singer and actress
Birth of João Carlos MartinsThat year: 1940, Classical music, Brazilian pianist and conductor
28
Death of Tekla Griebel-WandallThat year: 1940, Classical music, Danish composer (born in 1866)
29
Birth of Vyacheslav ArtyomovThat year: 1940, Classical music, Russian composer
Death of Hans FährmannThat year: 1940, Classical music, German composer (born in 1860)
Death of Marie HlouškováThat year: 1940, Classical music, opera singer (born in 1895)
Also in June
Inception: SølvgutteneThat year: 1940, Classical music (Norway) .
July
01
Birth of Carles Santos VenturaThat year: 1940, Classical music, Spanish artist (dead in 2017)
Death of Peder MøllerThat year: 1940, Classical music, Danish musician (born in 1877)
02
Birth of Dale ClevengerThat year: 1940, Classical music, American musician
03
Birth of Peer RabenThat year: 1940, Classical music, German composer and actor (dead in 2007)
Death of Bartholomeus Adrianus VerhallenThat year: 1940, Classical music, Dutch conductor and composer (born in 1870)
Birth of Bernadette GreevyThat year: 1940, Classical music, singer (dead in 2008)
05
Birth of Donald ShanksThat year: 1940, Classical music, Australian bass-baritone opera singer (dead in 2011)
06
Death of Marguerite UgaldeThat year: 1940, Classical music, French singer and actress (born in 1861)
08
Death of Marie PivodováThat year: 1940, Classical music, Czech opera signer and music teacher (born in 1862)
09
Birth of Manfred JungThat year: 1940, Classical music, German singer and operatic tenor (dead in 2017)
10
Death of Donald ToveyThat year: 1940, Classical music, British composer (born in 1875)
Birth of Helen DonathThat year: 1940, Classical music, American soprano
Death of Josef WerthThat year: 1940, Classical music, composer (born in 1873)
11
Birth of Pedro Seiji AsatoThat year: 1940, Classical music, Peruvian composer
14
Death of Walter RablThat year: 1940, Classical music, Austrian conductor and composer (born in 1873)
15
Death of Oksana PetrusenkoThat year: 1940, Classical music, opera singer (born in 1900)
16
Birth of Arthur Moreira LimaThat year: 1940, Classical music, Brazilian musician
18
Death of Lujo Šafranek-KavićThat year: 1940, Classical music, composer (born in 1882)
19
Birth of Valentin BibikThat year: 1940, Classical music, Ukrainian composer (1940-2003) (dead in 2003)
22
Death of Max WarneckeThat year: 1940, Classical music, composer (born in 1878)
23
Death of Metoděj JaníčekThat year: 1940, Classical music, Czech composer and organist (born in 1862)
25
Birth of Radmila SmiljanićThat year: 1940, Classical music, Serbian singer
28
Birth of Riccardo MutiThat year: 1940, Classical music, Italian conductor
Death of Lucie WeidtThat year: 1940, Classical music, soprano (1876-1940) (born in 1876)
29
Birth of Claudio FabiThat year: 1940, Classical music, Italian composer
August
03
Birth of Carlo CarfagnaThat year: 1940, Classical music, Italian musician
05
Birth of Gottfried HornikThat year: 1940, Classical music, lyrical singer
06
Birth of Claude MéloniThat year: 1940, Classical music, French baritone of the Paris Opera (born 1940) (dead in 2020)
07
Death of Henri de SaussineThat year: 1940, Classical music, composer (born in 1859)
08
Birth of Jozsef GregorThat year: 1940, Classical music, Hungarian singer (dead in 2006)
09
Death of Alessandro BonciThat year: 1940, Classical music, Italian opera singer (born in 1870)
Birth of Rimma VolkovaThat year: 1940, Classical music, Russian opera singer (dead in 2021)
Death of Heinrich PestalozziThat year: 1940, Classical music, composer (born in 1878)
10
Birth of Alden JenksThat year: 1940, Classical music, American composer
11
Death of Alfred ZamaraThat year: 1940, Classical music, Austrian composer (born in 1863)
12
Birth of Alexander YossifovThat year: 1940, Classical music, Bulgarian composer (dead in 2016)
Birth of Dorothea ChrystThat year: 1940, Classical music, German singer and opera singer
Birth of Yuriy RomThat year: 1940, Classical music, Soviet flautist and pedagogue (dead in 1996)
17
Birth of Hans-Joachim BeyerThat year: 1940, Classical music, German opera singer
18
Birth of Dmitri KitayenkoThat year: 1940, Classical music, Russian conductor
21
Death of Paul JuonThat year: 1940, Classical music, Russian composer (born in 1872)
23
Birth of Lieuwe VisserThat year: 1940, Classical music, Dutch singer, opera singer and musicologist (dead in 2014)
24
Death of Max MarschalkThat year: 1940, Classical music, German composer and musicologist (born in 1863)
Death of Karl NowotnyThat year: 1940, Classical music, composer (born in 1858)
25
Birth of José van DamThat year: 1940, Classical music, bass-baritone opera singer from Belgium
29
Death of Arthur De GreefThat year: 1940, Classical music, Belgian musician (born in 1862)
Birth of Heinz KruseThat year: 1940, Classical music, German singer and opera singer (dead in 2008)
30
Death of Fritz FeinhalsThat year: 1940, Classical music, German singer and opera singer (born in 1869)
September
03
Death of František ČernýThat year: 1940, Classical music, Czech music educator, composer and contrabassist (1861–1940) (born in 1861)
04
Birth of Rubén DomínguezThat year: 1940, Classical music, Venezuelan opera singer (dead in 2015)
Death of Georgiĭ Nikolaevich DulovThat year: 1940, Classical music, violinist (born in 1875)
05
Birth of Lewis SpratlanThat year: 1940, Classical music, American music academic and composer of contemporary classical music
07
Birth of Giuseppe GiacominiThat year: 1940, Classical music, Italian opera singer (dead in 2021)
09
Birth of Günter PichlerThat year: 1940, Classical music, Austrian violinist, conductor, university professor, musician and concertmaster
Death of Alexandra AhngerThat year: 1940, Classical music, Finnish singer and voice teacher (born in 1859)
10
Death of Hermine Braga-JaffThat year: 1940, Classical music, Hungarian opera singer (born in 1857)
18
Death of Waddington CookeThat year: 1940, Classical music, composer (born in 1868)
22
Death of István ThománThat year: 1940, Classical music, Hungarian musician (born in 1862)
23
Death of Emmanuel Rhené-BatonThat year: 1940, Classical music, French musician (born in 1879)
27
Birth of Josephine BarstowThat year: 1940, Classical music, singer
Birth of Evgenia GorokhovskayaThat year: 1940, Classical music, Russian singer and teacher (1940-)
Death of Paul DecourcelleThat year: 1940, Classical music, composer (born in 1854)
30
Death of Walter KolloThat year: 1940, Classical music, German composer (born in 1878)
Birth of Taijirō IimoriThat year: 1940, Classical music, conductor
Also in September
Death of Mathilde SaïmanThat year: 1940, Classical music, French soprano (born in 1891) .
October
01
Birth of Louise Le CavelierThat year: 1940, Classical music, Canadian soprano
02
Birth of José TodaroThat year: 1940, Classical music, Italian opera singer
04
Birth of Alain LombardThat year: 1940, Classical music, French conductor
05
Death of Silvestre RevueltasThat year: 1940, Classical music, Mexican composer, violinist and conductor (born in 1899)
06
Death of Hermann GenssThat year: 1940, Classical music, German musician (born in 1856)
07
Birth of Rakhilia MiftakhovaThat year: 1940, Classical music, Russian singer (1940-2000) (dead in 2000)
08
Death of Anna EdströmThat year: 1940, Classical music, Swedish actress (born in 1884)
09
Birth of Ruthild Engert-ElyThat year: 1940, Classical music, German singer and opera singer (1940-2013) (dead in 2013)
16
Birth of Valentin TimaruThat year: 1940, Classical music, composer, musicologist, pedagogue
17
Birth of Stephen KovacevichThat year: 1940, Classical music, American pianist and conductor
20
Birth of Joanna SimonThat year: 1940, Classical music, American opera singer (mezzosoprano)
Death of Emanuela FrankThat year: 1940, Classical music, opera singer (born in 1870)
24
Death of Victor HollaenderThat year: 1940, Classical music, German composer and conductor (born in 1866)
Birth of Dany BarraudThat year: 1940, Classical music, French opera singer (dead in 2016)
25
Birth of Hana JankůThat year: 1940, Classical music, Czech opera singer (dead in 1995)
Birth of Jörn W. WilsingThat year: 1940, Classical music, German singer and opera singer (dead in 2010)
26
Death of Alice GuszalewiczThat year: 1940, Classical music, singer (born in 1879)
27
Death of Fini HenriquesThat year: 1940, Classical music, Danish composer (born in 1867)
30
Birth of Luis CobosThat year: 1940, Classical music, Composer and music conductor
Also in October
Inception: Latvian Radio ChoirThat year: 1940, Classical music .
November
01
Birth of Alain M. JacquesThat year: 1940, Classical music, composer
05
Birth of Anthony Rolfe JohnsonThat year: 1940, Classical music, British opera singer (dead in 2010)
07
Premiere of Symphony in C majorThat year: 1940, Classical music (Work for orchestra), Igor Stravinsky
Birth of Frank GersthoferThat year: 1940, Classical music, German singer and opera singer (dead in 2011)
08
Death of Leo PortnoffThat year: 1940, Classical music, musician, composer, teacher (born in 1875)
Birth of Franz LukasovskyThat year: 1940, Classical music, An Austrian operatic tenor and music educator.
10
Birth of Ralf WeikertThat year: 1940, Classical music, Austrian conductor and music educator
12
Death of Alejandro García CaturlaThat year: 1940, Classical music, Cuban musician (born in 1906)
13
Death of Aleksandr BorkhmanThat year: 1940, Classical music, composer (born in 1872)
15
Death of Johanna MugrauerThat year: 1940, Classical music, Austrian opera singer (born in 1869)
16
Death of Jindřich SoučekThat year: 1940, Classical music, Czech composer and choirmaster (born in 1863)
19
Birth of Václav KozelThat year: 1940, Classical music, Czech conductor, music educator and composer
23
Premiere of Piano Quintet in G minor, Op. 57That year: 1940, Classical music (Work for chamber orchestra), Francis Poulenc
24
Death of Ivar F. AndresenThat year: 1940, Classical music, Norwegian singer (born in 1896)
25
Birth of Jean-Claude MalgoireThat year: 1940, Classical music, French musician (dead in 2018)
Death of Hans WuzélThat year: 1940, Classical music, German opera vocalist (born in 1865)
27
Death of Emilio PizziThat year: 1940, Classical music, Italian composer (born in 1861)
28
Death of James Hotchkiss RogersThat year: 1940, Classical music, American organist and composer (born in 1857)
30
Death of Fritz VolbachThat year: 1940, Classical music, German conductor, composer and musicologist (born in 1861)
December
03
Death of Leokadiya KashperovaThat year: 1940, Classical music, composer, pianist (born in 1872)
05
Death of Jan KubelíkThat year: 1940, Classical music, Czech violinist and composer (born in 1880)
06
Death of Carl HagmanThat year: 1940, Classical music, Norwegian singer (born in 1872)
13
Birth of Urszula KoszutThat year: 1940, Classical music, Polish opera singer
15
Death of Blanche MarchesiThat year: 1940, Classical music, French lyric artist (born in 1863)
Premiere of Chamber Symphony No. 2 in E-flat minor, Op. 38That year: 1940, Classical music (Work for chamber orchestra), Arnold Schoenberg
Death of Carrie B. Wilson AdamsThat year: 1940, Classical music, American musician (born in 1858)
16
Death of William WallaceThat year: 1940, Classical music, Scottish composer and writer (1860-1940) (born in 1860)
19
Death of Joan Viladomat MassanasThat year: 1940, Classical music, Spanish composer and musician born in Manlleu (Barcelona) in 1885 and died and Barcelona in 1940. (born in 1885)
24
Death of Rudolf PiskáčekThat year: 1940, Classical music, Czech composer (born in 1884)
26
Birth of Kay GriffelThat year: 1940, Classical music, Operatic spinto soprano
27
Birth of Vladimir KomarovThat year: 1940, Classical music, Soviet composer
28
Birth of Alvin SingletonThat year: 1940, Classical music, American composer
Death of Yonejirō SuzukiThat year: 1940, Classical music, composer (born in 1868)
This was also in 1940
Death of Bertram ShapleighThat year: 1940, Classical music, American composer (born in 1871). Death of Désiré WalterThat year: 1940, Classical music, composer (born in 1861). Death of Gerard TonningThat year: 1940, Classical music, composer (born in 1860). Death of Josef TadraThat year: 1940, Classical music, Czech composer and organist (born in 1877). Death of Giulio de De MicheliThat year: 1940, Classical music, Italian composer (born in 1899). Inauguration: State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre of Tajikistan Sadriddin AyniThat year: 1940, Classical music (Dushanbe, Tajikistan). Death of Ward StephensThat year: 1940, Classical music, composer (born in 1872). Death of Olga PewnyThat year: 1940, Classical music, opera singer (born in 1872). Death of Margaret HobergThat year: 1940, Classical music, composer (born in 1890). Death of Charles-Olivier-René Charles-RenéThat year: 1940, Classical music, French composer (born in 1863). Death of Mathäus RömerThat year: 1940, Classical music, composer (born in 1871). Death of Oskar BraunThat year: 1940, Classical music, opera singer, singer, stage actor (born in 1867). Inauguration: Tanglewood Music CenterThat year: 1940, Classical music (Lenox, United States of America). Birth of Jacqueline MartelThat year: 1940, Classical music, musician, opera singer . Birth of Ingrid Sala SantamariaThat year: 1940, Classical music, Filipino musician . Inception: BBC Scottish Radio OrchestraThat year: 1940, Classical music (United Kingdom). Death of Louis-Jean-Baptiste BasThat year: 1940, Classical music, composer (born in 1863). Inception: Chicago Opera CompanyThat year: 1940, Classical music (United States of America). Inception: Montreal Women's Symphony OrchestraThat year: 1940, Classical music. Death of Edward LankowThat year: 1940, Classical music, american opera singer (bass) (born in 1883). Inception: Toronto Light Opera AssociationThat year: 1940, Classical music. Birth of Josephte ClémentThat year: 1940, Classical music, sopran (1940-) . Death of Alphonse CaryThat year: 1940, Classical music, composer (born in 1886). Birth of Roxolana RoslakThat year: 1940, Classical music, musician, opera singer . Death of Jean PietrapertosaThat year: 1940, Classical music, musician and composer (born in 1855). Death of Gustav KrenkelThat year: 1940, Classical music, composer (born in 1876). Inception: Végh QuartetThat year: 1940, Classical music. Death of Karolina PietraszewskaThat year: 1940, Classical music, Polish opera singer (born in 1870). Death of Heinrich NealThat year: 1940, Classical music, German composer (born in 1870). Inception: Holman Climax Male Voice ChoirThat year: 1940, Classical music (United Kingdom). Inception: Lithuanian National Symphony OrchestraThat year: 1940, Classical music (Lithuania). Birth of Beverley BergenThat year: 1940, Classical music, New Zealand opera singer . Birth of Bronisław PekowskiThat year: 1940, Classical music, Polish singer (dead in 2014). Death of Marcel RouherThat year: 1940, Classical music, classical composer, organist (born in 1857). Death of René PollainThat year: 1940, Classical music . Birth of Marcello PanniThat year: 1940, Classical music, Italian conductor and composer . Death of Joan Antoni Hava i FerréThat year: 1940, Classical music, Spanish composer (1873-1940) (born in 1873). Death of Giacomo GianniniThat year: 1940, Classical music, composer (born in 1856). Death of Camillo MorenaThat year: 1940, Classical music, composer (born in 1867). Death of Edward LoosThat year: 1940, Classical music, composer . Death of Charles T. StraightThat year: 1940, Classical music, composer (born in 1891). Birth of Marja Toppinen-SchumacherThat year: 1940, Classical music, Finnish opera singer (dead in 2016). Death of Edward WittichThat year: 1940, Classical music, composer (born in 1857). Birth of Bożena BetleyThat year: 1940, Classical music, Polish operatic soprano . Inception: RCA Victor Symphony OrchestraThat year: 1940, Classical music (United States of America). Inception: EASO ChoirThat year: 1940, Classical music (Spain). Death of Otto SteinwenderThat year: 1940, Classical music, composer (born in 1868). Death of Joseph Matthias SchäferThat year: 1940, Classical music, composer (born in 1882). Inception: Utah Symphony – Utah OperaThat year: 1940, Classical music (United States of America). Death of Luigi Rossi MorelliThat year: 1940, Classical music, Italian singer (born in 1887). Death of Xiao YoumeiThat year: 1940, Classical music, Chinese composer (born in 1884). Birth of Claude CorbeilThat year: 1940, Classical music, musician, opera singer . Inauguration: P. I. Tchaikovsky Concert HallThat year: 1940, Classical music (Moscow, Russia). Closing: De DoelenThat year: 1940, Classical music (Rotterdam, Netherlands). Death of Émile BaudotThat year: 1940, Classical music, composer . Inception: Spanish National OrchestraThat year: 1940, Classical music (Spain).
Works (composition or publishing)
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Richard Strauss (age 74) - The Love of Danae, Op. 83That year: 1940, Classical music (Opera)
- Japanese Festival Music, Op. 84 (Work for orchestra)
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Sergei Rachmaninoff (age 67) - Symphonic Dances, Op. 45That year: 1940, Classical music (Work for orchestra)
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Béla Bartók (age 59) - Concerto for 2 pianos, percussions and orchestraThat year: 1940, Classical music (Work for orchestra with soloist), published in 1937
- DivertimentoThat year: 1940, Classical music (Work for chamber orchestra), composed in 1939
- 7 Pieces from “Mikrokosmos” (Work for chamber orchestra)
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Igor Stravinsky (age 58) - TangoThat year: 1940, Classical music (Work for orchestra)
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Zoltán Kodály (age 58) - Concerto for orchestra (Work for orchestra)
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Sergei Prokofiev (age 49) - Suite for 2 pianos from “Cinderella”, Op. 87bThat year: 1940, Classical music (Work for chamber orchestra)
- Piano Sonata No. 6 in A major, Op. 82That year: 1940, Classical music (Work for soloist)
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Darius Milhaud (age 48) - Sonatina for 2 violins, Op. 221 (Work for chamber orchestra)
- Indicatif et marche pour les bons d'armement, Op. 212 (Work for orchestra)
- Moïse, Op. 219 (Ballet)
- Opus Americanum No.2, Op. 219b (Work for orchestra)
- Sornettes, Op. 214 (Work for choir)
- Un petit ange de rien du tout, Op. 215 (Incidental music)
- 2 Children's Songs, Opp. 217 (Work for choir)
- Introduction and Allegro, Op. 220 (Work for orchestra)
- 4 Poems, Opp. 223 (Song, lied)
- 4 Songs, Opp. 223 (Song, lied)
- Cantate de la guerre, Op. 213 (Work for choir)
- La Couronne de gloire, Op. 211 (Song, lied)
- La Couronne de gloire, Op. 211 (Song, lied)
- Le voyage d'été, Op. 216 (Song, lied)
- String Quartet No. 10, Op. 218, “Anniversaire” (Work for chamber orchestra)
- Sonatine à 3, Op. 221b (Work for chamber orchestra)
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Arthur Honegger (age 48) - Christopher Colombus (Music for radio)
- The Birth of Colors (Ballet)
- Sonata for violin in D minor (Work for chamber orchestra)
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Carl Orff (age 45) - Claudio Monteverdis Klage der Ariadne, Orpheus (Work for choir)
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Erich Wolfgang Korngold (age 43) - The Sea Hawk (Film score)
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Francis Poulenc (age 41) - Banalités, Opp. 107 (Song, lied)
- Les chemins de l’amour – Valse chantée (Léocadia), Op. 106 (Song, lied)
- Katyusha Maslova (Opera)
- King Lear, Op. 58a (Incidental music)
- The Adventures of Korzinkina, Op. 59 (Film score)
- Léocadia, Op. 106 (Theatrical music)
- Mélancolie, Op. 105 (Work for soloist)
- Colloque pour soprano, baritone et piano, Op. 108 (Song, lied)
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Aaron Copland (age 40) - Quiet City (Work for chamber orchestra)
- Our Town (Film score)
- John Henry (Work for orchestra)
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Samuel Barber (age 30) - 4 Songs, Opp. 13 (Song, lied)
- Reincarnations, Opp. 16 (Work for choir)
- A Stopwatch and Ordnance Map, Op. 15 (Work for choir)
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Benjamin Britten (age 27) - Diversions, Op. 21That year: 1940, Classical music (Work for orchestra with soloist)
- 7 Sonnets of Michelangelo, Opp. 22That year: 1940, Classical music (Song, lied)
- Op. 23, Opp. 23 (Work for chamber orchestra)
