June 15 — On This Day in Opera

Franz Danzi, German composer, conductor, cellist, and composer of operas, was born in Schwetzingen.

Birth of Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg in Bergen, known for his contributions to Norwegian music and his famous works 'Peer Gynt' and 'Piano Concerto in A Minor'.

Ernestine Schumann-Heink, Bohemian-born operatic contralto especially noted in Wagner repertory, was born near Prague.

Death of Belgian composer Albert Grisar, known for his contributions to comic opera, at the age of 60.

Death of Swedish composer Johan Peter Cronhammar, known for his operatic works, at the age of 72.

Ferenc Erkel, founding figure of Hungarian national opera and composer of "Bánk bán" and "Hunyadi László", died in Budapest.

Mary Ellis, American lyric soprano who created Genovieffa in Puccini’s "Suor Angelica", was born in New York.

Birth of German-American composer Otto Luening in Milwaukee, known for his pioneering work in electronic music.

Gavin Bryars’s opera "Doctor Ox’s Experiment" received its world premiere at the London Coliseum.

Anthony Davis’s opera "The Central Park Five" received its world premiere at Long Beach Opera.

Franco Zeffirelli, Italian opera, theatre, and film director known for large-scale opera productions, died in Rome.