On this day in 1863 Georges Bizet’s opera Les Pêcheurs de Perles premiered in Paris.  

Born on this day in 1659 composer Henry Purcell

Born on this day in 1941 conductor Christopher Hogwood

Born on this day in 1714 composer Niccolò Jommelli

Happy 76th birthday bass Hans Sotin

Born on this day in 1939 soprano Judith Nelson

Happy 71st birthday baritone Thomas Allen

Happy 68th birthdays stage director David Pountney and composer Adriano Guarnieri

Happy 66th birthday soprano Francoise Pollet

Happy 58th birthday tenor and director Laurence Dale