On this day in 2002 tenor Salvatore Licitra made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Cavardossi. 

On this day in 1881 Smetana’s Libuse premiered in Prague

Birthday anninversaries of composer William Grant Still (1895) and soprano Bidu Sayao (1902).

Happy birthday to bass Arnold Voketaitis (88), composer Judith Weir (64) and tenor Giuseppe Sabbatini (61.)