On this day in 1838 Berlioz’ Benvenuto Cellini premiered in Paris.

On this day in 1868 Bizet’s Les pêcheurs de perles premiered in Paris.

Happy birthday to bass Hans Sotin (79), baritone Thomas Allen (74), stage director David Pountney and composer Adriano Guarnieri (70), soprano Francoise Pollet (69) and tenor and director Laurence Dale (61)!