On this day in 1956 the Metropolitan Opera celebrated the 25th anniversary of soprano Lily Pons with a special Gala performance (Act 2 Rigoletto, Lucia Mad Scene and a concert.

Birthday anniversaries of poet and librettist Pietro Metastasio (1698), composer Charles Levadé (1869), musical comedian Victor Borge (1909), conductor Rudolf Neuhaus (1914) and mezzo-soprano Nell Rankin (1926).

Happy 78th birthday conduct David Atherton.