On this day in 1993 Dvorak’s Rusalka finally appeared at the Met. Gabriela Benacková did the honors.

On this day in 1725 Handel’s Tamerlano premiered in London.

On this day in 1862 Verdi’s La forza del destino premiered in St Petersburg.

Born on this day conductor Ernest Ansermet (1883) and soprano Gertrude Grob-Prandl (1917).