On this day in 1971 President Richard Nixon declared the “War on Drugs.”  

Born on this day in 1818 composer Charles-François Gounod

Born on this day in 1882 composer Igor Stravinsky

Born on this day in 1912 conductor James Robertson (Kiri’s Carmen in English!)

Born on this day in 1924 conductor Edward Downes

Happy 83rd birthday mezzo-soprano Mignon Dunn

Happy 57th birthday countertenor Derek Lee Ragin