Today's 15 December Music in History

Photo for the article Today's 15 December Music

Barber of Seville Commissioned

1815 Italian composer Gioachino Rossini (24) gets commission from Teatro Argentina to write his opera "Almaviva", later known as "Il barbiere di Siviglia" (The Barber of Seville)

Symphony No. 9

1893 Preview performance of Antonín Dvořák's Symphony No. 9 - "New World Symphony" draws a crowd to Carnegie Hall, New York City [1]

Glenn Miller MIA

1944 American bandleader Major Glenn Miller, lost over the English Channel

Two's Company

1952 Vernon Duke, Ogden Nash and Sammy Cahn's musical revue "Two's Company", starring Bette Davis, and choreographed by Jerome Robbins, opens at Alvin Theater, NYC; runs for 90 performances

Folsom Prison Blues

1955 "Folsom Prison Blues" single released by Johnny Cash (Billboard Song of the Year 1968)

Let It Be Me

1959 Everly Brothers record "Let It Be Me", an English translation of Gilbert Bécaud's French song "Je t'appartiens"; reaches No. 7 on the charts

The First Family

1962 Comedian and impressionist Vaughn Meader's album "The First Family" hits #1 and stays #1 for 12 weeks

  • 1964 Jack Lawrence and Stan Freeman's musical "I Had a BaIl", starring Buddy Hackett, opens at Martin Beck Theater, NYC; runs for 199 performances
  • 1965 David Heneker and John Taylor's musical "Charlie Girl" opens at the Adelphi Theatre, London; runs for 2,202 performances
  • 1966 Oscar Brand and Paul Nassau's musical "A Joyful Noise", starring John Raitt, opens at Mark Hellinger Theater, NYC; runs for 12 performances
  • 1967 The Beatles release fan-club single "Christmas Time is Here Again"
  • 1970 Robert Wilson and Alan Lloyd's musical theatre work "Deafman Glance" first performance at Center for New Performing Arts in Iowa City, Iowa

Rosanne Cash

1978 German label Ariola Records releases eponymous debut album "Rosanne Cash", produced by future husband Rodney Crowell

Bowie on SNL

1979 British rocker David Bowie performs three songs on American television program Saturday Night Live - "The Man Who Sold the World", "TVC-15" and "Boys Keep Swinging"

  • 1987 First National US tour of musical "Les Misérables" opens at Shubert Theatre, Boston, Massachusetts

Nick & Nora

1991 Charles Strouse and Richard Maltby, Jr's musical "Nick & Nora" closes at Marquis Theater, NYC, after 9 performances

  • 1993 John Williams makes his final appearance as conductor of Boston Pops

Spice World

1997 "Spice World" movie directed by Bob Spiers and starring girl pop group the Spice Girls premieres in the UK

Springsteen Sells Back Catalogue

2021 Bruce Springsteen sells his music back catalogue to Sony Music Entertainment for an estimated $500 million in possibly the biggest deal ever for a single artist [1]

  • 2023 American jazz vocal quartet "The Manhattan Transfer" marks their 50th anniversary with a farewell concert at Disney Hall in Los Angeles, California [1]
  • 2023 State memorial held for Australian entertainer Barry Humphries (behind Dame Edna Everage character) at Sydney Opera House [1]

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