1961, from day to day
1961. With other artists, Vladimir Horowitz, Dmitri Shostakovich and Benjamin Britten influenced their time (modern & contemporary era). That year would see the birth of future classical or lyrical artists, such as Lisa Gerrard, while others would disappear. That year, new works would be composed, published or performed for the first time in public, such as “Symphony No. 4 in C minor, Op. 43” de Dmitri Shostakovich, for example. That year, halls or orchestras would be founded or ceased to operate.
All these moments, more or less notable, make the year 1961 a page in the history of classical and lyrical music to be discovered or rediscovered. soclassiq currently lists more than 370 of these moments for 1961.
The year 1961 in classical music and in lyrical art
January
01
Birth of Violeta Urmana That year: 1961, Classical music, Lithuanian opera singer
Birth of Sergei Babayan That year: 1961, Classical music, Armenian-American concert pianist
02
Birth of John Burge That year: 1961, Classical music, Canadian musician
07
Birth of Miguel da Silva That year: 1961, Classical music, French violist
Birth of David Toub That year: 1961, Classical music, composer
09
Birth of Kevin Bowyer That year: 1961, Classical music, English organist
10
Birth of Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg That year: 1961, Classical music, Italian musician
11
Death of Elena Gerhardt That year: 1961, Classical music, German classical singer (1883-1961) (born in 1883)
Birth of Louis Langrée That year: 1961, Classical music, French conductor
Birth of Hellen Kwon That year: 1961, Classical music, South Korean soprano and opera singer active in Germany
13
Birth of Wayne Marshall That year: 1961, Classical music, British pianist, organist and conductor
14
Death of Henry Geehl That year: 1961, Classical music, British musician (born in 1881)
16
Birth of Ingrid Kaiserfeld That year: 1961, Classical music, Austrian singer and opera singer
21
Death of John J. Becker That year: 1961, Classical music, American composer of contemporary classical music (born in 1886)
Premiere of Gloria, Op. 177 That year: 1961, Classical music (Work for choir), Francis Poulenc
22
Birth of Luba Orgonášová That year: 1961, Classical music, singer
24
Birth of Gualtiero Negrini That year: 1961, Classical music, American opera singer
28
Death of Theodor Bohumír Pařík That year: 1961, Classical music, Czech conductor, violinist and composer (born in 1881)
30
Birth of Johan Edholm That year: 1961, Classical music, Swedish actor
Death of Božena Stoegrová That year: 1961, Classical music, opera singer (born in 1903)
Also in January
Death of Margaret Balfour That year: 1961, Classical music, English classical contralto singer (born in 1892) .
February
04
Death of Karl Ots That year: 1961, Classical music, opera singer (born in 1882)
06
Death of Archibald Thompson Davison That year: 1961, Classical music, American conductor (1883-1961) (born in 1883)
07
Birth of Jacek Grudzień That year: 1961, Classical music, Polish composer
Death of Hans Reinmar That year: 1961, Classical music, Austrian singer and opera singer (1895-1961) (born in 1895)
10
Birth of Marc-André Dalbavie That year: 1961, Classical music, French composer
Birth of Algirdas Janutas That year: 1961, Classical music, Lithuanian singer
11
Birth of Pierre Estève That year: 1961, Classical music, Video game composer
12
Death of Edmond Appia That year: 1961, Classical music, Swiss conductor and musicologist (1894-1961) (born in 1894)
14
Birth of Craig Bakalian That year: 1961, Classical music, composer
17
Birth of Olivier Charlier That year: 1961, Classical music, French violinist
Death of Matvey Gozenpud That year: 1961, Classical music, soviet composer and pianist (1903-1961) (born in 1903)
20
Death of Percy Grainger That year: 1961, Classical music, Australian-born composer, arranger and pianist (1882–1961) (born in 1882)
Birth of Emanuela von Frankenberg That year: 1961, Classical music, Swiss actress
22
Birth of Lowell Liebermann That year: 1961, Classical music, American composer, pianist and conductor
26
Birth of Annika Tõnuri That year: 1961, Classical music, music teacher, opera singer (dead in 2009)
March
02
Birth of Simone Young That year: 1961, Classical music, Australian conductor
Birth of Sara Mingardo That year: 1961, Classical music, Italian opera singer
03
Death of Paul Wittgenstein That year: 1961, Classical music, Austrian pianist of Jewish heritage, emigrant from Nazi Austria to USA (1887-1961) (born in 1887)
07
Birth of Mats Bergström That year: 1961, Classical music, Swedish classical guitarist
08
Death of Thomas Beecham, 2nd Baronet That year: 1961, Classical music, British conductor and impresario (born in 1879)
Birth of Gabriele Lechner That year: 1961, Classical music, Austrian opera singer (dead in 2022)
10
Birth of Roman Perucki That year: 1961, Classical music, Polish organist
15
Birth of Fabio Biondi That year: 1961, Classical music, Italian violinist & conductor
16
Death of Václav Talich That year: 1961, Classical music, Czech conductor, violinist, music educator, professor, university educator and director conductor of Czech philharmony (born in 1883)
Birth of Michiru Oshima That year: 1961, Classical music, Japanese composer
18
Birth of Hanna Kulenty That year: 1961, Classical music, Polish composer
Death of Mizzi Günther That year: 1961, Classical music, Austrian operetta singer (born in 1879)
24
Death of Walter Goetze That year: 1961, Classical music, German composer (1883-1961) (born in 1883)
25
Birth of Makoto Ozone That year: 1961, Classical music, Japanese jazz pianist, composer (1961-)
28
31
Birth of Jake Heggie That year: 1961, Classical music, American opera composer and pianist
April
02
Death of Wallingford Riegger That year: 1961, Classical music, American music composer (born in 1885)
03
Death of Florence Cole Talbert That year: 1961, Classical music, American opera singer (born in 1890)
Death of Leopold Sachse That year: 1961, Classical music, German singer and opera singer (born in 1880)
04
Birth of Dagmar Pecková That year: 1961, Classical music, Czech opera singer
05
Birth of Anna Caterina Antonacci That year: 1961, Classical music, Italian mezzosoprano
06
Birth of Ragnhild Heiland Sørensen That year: 1961, Classical music, opera singer
07
Death of Jesús Guridi Bidaola That year: 1961, Classical music, Spanish composer (born in 1886)
Birth of Karen Tanaka That year: 1961, Classical music, composer
11
Death of Gizella Goda That year: 1961, Classical music, opera singer (1896–1961) (born in 1896)
Death of Roffredo Caetani That year: 1961, Classical music, Italian composer (born in 1871)
12
Birth of Lisa Gerrard That year: 1961, Classical music, Australian musician, singer and composer
Birth of Christophe Rousset That year: 1961, Classical music, French harpsichordist and conductor
Death of Nils-Eric Fougstedt That year: 1961, Classical music, Finnish composer and conductor (1910-1961) (born in 1910)
Birth of Juan Pablo Zaragoza That year: 1961, Classical music, composer
16
Death of Mammadtaghi Baghirov That year: 1961, Classical music, azerbaijani-Soviet opera singer (1890–1961) (born in 1890)
Birth of Marco Radaelli That year: 1961, Classical music, Baritone
17
Birth of Rebecca Luker That year: 1961, Classical music, American actress, singer and recording artist (dead in 2020)
18
Death of Semen Matveevich Kozolupov That year: 1961, Classical music, cellist, music teacher (born in 1884)
19
Birth of Natela Nicoli That year: 1961, Classical music, singer
Birth of Magne Fremmerlid That year: 1961, Classical music, Norwegian singer
20
Birth of Eva Urbanová That year: 1961, Classical music, Czech opera singer
21
Death of James Melton That year: 1961, Classical music, American opera singer (1904-1961) (born in 1904)
22
Birth of Alo Mattiisen That year: 1961, Classical music, Estonian composer (dead in 1996)
25
Birth of Truls Mørk That year: 1961, Classical music, Norwegian cellist.
Death of John Grant That year: 1961, Classical music, Scottish pipe-major, born 1876 (born in 1876)
26
Birth of Alexander Kniazev That year: 1961, Classical music, Russian cellist
27
Birth of Euken Ostolaza That year: 1961, Classical music, opera singer (dead in 2023)
Birth of Richard Oscar Burdick That year: 1961, Classical music, composer
28
Birth of Julia Jones That year: 1961, Classical music, British conductor
Birth of Peter Galliard That year: 1961, Classical music, Swiss singer and opera singer
29
Death of Marco Frank That year: 1961, Classical music, composer (born in 1881)
Also in April
Inauguration: Tokyo Bunka Kaikan That year: 1961, Classical music (Ueno-kōen, Japan) .
May
01
Birth of Éric Faury That year: 1961, Classical music, French opera singer and theatre director
03
Birth of Beat Weibel That year: 1961, Classical music, composer, music arranger, instrumentalist, singer, producer, production sound mixer
04
Death of Robert Pracht That year: 1961, Classical music, German composer (born in 1878)
05
Death of Marie Marville That year: 1961, Classical music, French lyric artist (born in 1873)
09
Birth of Alison Hagley That year: 1961, Classical music, English operatic soprano
Death of Walter E. Miles That year: 1961, Classical music, composer (born in 1885)
13
Birth of Yutaka Sado That year: 1961, Classical music, Japanese conductor
14
Birth of Lucio Gregoretti That year: 1961, Classical music, Italian composer
15
Death of Hélène Jourdan-Morhange That year: 1961, Classical music, French violinist (1888–1961) (born in 1888)
16
Birth of Roman Turovsky-Savchuk That year: 1961, Classical music, American artist
17
Birth of Leoš Svárovský That year: 1961, Classical music, Czech flautist and conductor
Death of Henri Gagnon That year: 1961, Classical music, Canadian musician (1887-1961) (born in 1887)
18
Death of Leslie Woodgate That year: 1961, Classical music, British musician (born in 1900)
19
Death of Joseph E. Howard That year: 1961, Classical music, American composer (born in 1867)
21
Death of Aleksey Parusinov That year: 1961, Classical music, composer (born in 1882)
24
Birth of Jukka-Pekka Kervinen That year: 1961, Classical music, composer
26
Death of Eric Åby That year: 1961, Classical music, Swedish opera singer (born in 1883)
28
Birth of María Bayo That year: 1961, Classical music, Spanish soprano
Birth of Andrzej Dobber That year: 1961, Classical music, Polish singer
29
Death of Uuno Klami That year: 1961, Classical music, Finnish composer (1900-1961) (born in 1900)
30
Birth of Jesús Rueda Azcuaga That year: 1961, Classical music, composer
June
01
Birth of Peter Machajdík That year: 1961, Classical music, Slovak composer
Birth of Irina Sokolova That year: 1961, Classical music, Russian pianist
04
Birth of Snežana Stamenković That year: 1961, Classical music, opera singer, university teacher
05
Birth of Päivi Nisula That year: 1961, Classical music, Finnish opera singer
06
Death of Anushavan Ter-Ghevondyan That year: 1961, Classical music, Armenian composer, musicologist and conductor (1887-1961) (born in 1887)
Birth of John Morris Russell That year: 1961, Classical music, American conductor
08
Birth of Kallen Esperian That year: 1961, Classical music, singer
11
Birth of Igor Borko That year: 1961, Classical music, Ukrainian opera singer
13
Birth of Monique Zanetti That year: 1961, Classical music, opera singer
Birth of Milan Steigerwald That year: 1961, Classical music, Czech composer
Birth of Markus Schäfer That year: 1961, Classical music, German tenor
14
Birth of Laurent Boutonnat That year: 1961, Classical music, French composer and film and music video director
Death of Ella Némethy That year: 1961, Classical music, Hungarian mezzo-soprano (born in 1895)
Birth of Brigitte Fournier That year: 1961, Classical music, Swiss opera singer
19
Birth of Igor Sharapov That year: 1961, Classical music, Russian concertmaster
23
Death of Nikolai Malko That year: 1961, Classical music, Russian conductor (born in 1883)
Death of Elza Karlovac That year: 1961, Classical music, Croatian opera singer (born in 1910)
29
Birth of Herman Makarenko That year: 1961, Classical music, Ukrainian conductor and music director of the Kyiv Classic Orchestra
July
01
Inception: Sapporo Symphony Orchestra That year: 1961, Classical music (Japan)
03
Birth of Shin Youngok That year: 1961, Classical music, South Korean singer
Birth of Uzi Shalev That year: 1961, Classical music, bassoonist
05
Birth of Isabelle Poulenard That year: 1961, Classical music, French soprano
09
Birth of Robert Moore That year: 1961, Classical music, composer
11
Birth of Alastair Miles That year: 1961, Classical music, British operatic and concert bass
14
Birth of Unsuk Chin That year: 1961, Classical music, South Korean composer
16
Birth of Helmut Oehring That year: 1961, Classical music, German composer
Birth of Emmanuel Séjourné That year: 1961, Classical music, French composer
17
Birth of Leon Koudelak That year: 1961, Classical music, Czech musician
20
Birth of James Rolfe That year: 1961, Classical music, Canadian composer
24
Birth of Maxim Fedotov That year: 1961, Classical music, Russian violinist and conductor
Birth of Elina Mustonen That year: 1961, Classical music, performer
25
Birth of Nobuya Sugawa That year: 1961, Classical music, Japanese saxophone player (1961-)
26
Birth of Yaroslav Lemishka That year: 1961, Classical music, Ukrainian opera singer
29
Death of Boris Sibor That year: 1961, Classical music, Soviet Russian violinist (born in 1880)
31
Death of Gambar Huseynli That year: 1961, Classical music, Azerbaijani composer (born in 1916)
Death of Zdenka Rubinstein That year: 1961, Classical music, Croatian opera singer (born in 1911)
August
04
Birth of Oľga Hromadová That year: 1961, Classical music, opera singer
Death of Alfredo Saybene That year: 1961, Classical music, composer (born in 1876)
Birth of Aleš Friedl That year: 1961, Classical music, composer
11
Birth of Rachel Laurin That year: 1961, Classical music, Canadian organist (1961–2023) (dead in 2023)
12
Birth of Marko Letonja That year: 1961, Classical music, Slovene conductor
Death of Tom Scott That year: 1961, Classical music, American composer, 1912-1961 (born in 1912)
13
Birth of Koji Kondo That year: 1961, Classical music, Japanese composer and pianist (born 1961)
14
Death of Nadezhda Obukhova That year: 1961, Classical music, Soviet singer (born in 1886)
Death of Heddle Nash That year: 1961, Classical music, British singer (born in 1894)
15
Birth of Hugo Reyne That year: 1961, Classical music, French conductor and oboist
17
Death of Carlos Salzedo That year: 1961, Classical music, French harpist, pianist, conductor and composer (born in 1885)
25
Birth of Laurent Cabasso That year: 1961, Classical music, French classical pianist
Birth of Jan Kyhle That year: 1961, Classical music, Swedish opera singer
Death of Ernst Roters That year: 1961, Classical music, film score composer (born in 1892)
26
Birth of Petteri Salomaa That year: 1961, Classical music, Finnish operatic bass-baritone
29
Death of Vladimir Sofronitsky That year: 1961, Classical music, Russian pianist (1901-1961) (born in 1901)
30
Birth of Eytan Pessen That year: 1961, Classical music, Vocal coach, Opera director
31
Birth of Neill Archer That year: 1961, Classical music, British singer and opera singer
September
02
Birth of Hasmik Papian That year: 1961, Classical music, singer
04
Death of Georgia Ann Laster That year: 1961, Classical music, American singer (1927-1961) (born in 1927)
05
Birth of Marc-André Hamelin That year: 1961, Classical music, Canadian pianist and composer
06
Birth of Michael Hofstetter That year: 1961, Classical music, German conductor
07
Birth of Jean-Yves Thibaudet That year: 1961, Classical music, French pianist
Death of Georges Brun That year: 1961, Classical music, composer (born in 1878)
10
Birth of Annette Daniels That year: 1961, Classical music, singer (1961-2004) (dead in 2004)
Birth of Cyndia Sieden That year: 1961, Classical music, singer
12
Birth of Roberto Saccà That year: 1961, Classical music, Italian singer and opera singer
14
Birth of David Sawer That year: 1961, Classical music, British composer
18
Death of Mikhail Volkonsky That year: 1961, Classical music, (1891-1961) (born in 1891)
20
Death of Martín Rodríguez That year: 1961, Classical music, composer (born in 1871)
21
Death of Maurice Delage That year: 1961, Classical music, French composer (1879-1961) (born in 1879)
22
Birth of Michael Torke That year: 1961, Classical music, American composer
Death of Carlo Galeffi That year: 1961, Classical music, Italian opera singer (born in 1884)
Death of Carl Robrecht That year: 1961, Classical music, composer (born in 1888)
24
Birth of Serge Bertocchi That year: 1961, Classical music, French saxophonist
26
Death of Bulbul That year: 1961, Classical music, Azerbaijani singer (1897-1961) (born in 1897)
27
Death of Peter Dawson That year: 1961, Classical music, Australian bass-baritone (1882-1961) (born in 1882)
October
01
Premiere of Symphony No. 12 in D minor, Op. 112, “The Year 1917” That year: 1961, Classical music (Work for orchestra), Dmitri Shostakovich
02
Birth of Mauricio Sotelo That year: 1961, Classical music, Spanish composer
Birth of François Espinasse That year: 1961, Classical music, French organist
03
Birth of Ludger Stühlmeyer That year: 1961, Classical music, German composer, music director and music historian
05
Birth of Alexander Frey That year: 1961, Classical music, American conductor
Death of Carolina White That year: 1961, Classical music, American actress and opera singer (born in 1886)
08
Death of Nikolay Aleksandrovitsj Fomenko That year: 1961, Classical music, composer, music teacher, pianist (born in 1894)
09
Death of Penka Toromanova That year: 1961, Classical music, Bulgarian opera singer and vocal pedagogue (born in 1892)
11
Death of Joseph Kromolicki That year: 1961, Classical music, German composer (born in 1882)
12
Death of Wäinö Sola That year: 1961, Classical music, Finnish opera singer (born in 1883)
14
Birth of Larisa Gogolevskaya That year: 1961, Classical music, Russian opera singer and teacher
16
Death of Olga Haselbeck That year: 1961, Classical music, Hungarian opera singer (born in 1884)
17
Birth of Thomas Mohr That year: 1961, Classical music, opera singer, first baritone, then tenor, also academic voice teacher and founder of music festival
18
Birth of Wynton Marsalis That year: 1961, Classical music, American jazz musician and educator
Death of Heinrich Allmeroth That year: 1961, Classical music, German politician (1901-1961) (born in 1901)
19
Death of John Fernström That year: 1961, Classical music, Swedish conductor and composer (born in 1897)
20
Birth of Algirdas Januševičius That year: 1961, Classical music, Lithuanian trumpeter
Birth of Mehmet K. Okonsar That year: 1961, Classical music, composer
21
Death of Alekseĭ Petrov Milkovski That year: 1961, Classical music, Bulgarian opera singer (born in 1925)
23
Birth of Brett Dean That year: 1961, Classical music, Australian composer, conductor
25
Birth of Paul Gulda That year: 1961, Classical music, Austrian composer and pianist
27
Birth of Håkan Hardenberger That year: 1961, Classical music, Swedish trumpeter
28
Birth of François Paris That year: 1961, Classical music, French composer
29
Death of Zdeněk Folprecht That year: 1961, Classical music, Czech conductor and composer (born in 1900)
November
01
Death of Ernst Kaller That year: 1961, Classical music, composer (born in 1898)
Death of Helen Howarth Lemmel That year: 1961, Classical music, composer (born in 1863)
03
Death of Henri Hirschmann That year: 1961, Classical music, French composer (born in 1872)
04
Birth of Daron Hagen That year: 1961, Classical music, American composer, conductor, pianist, librettist, stage director
05
Death of Lubomir Szopiński That year: 1961, Classical music, Polish composer (born in 1913)
06
Birth of Daniele Gatti That year: 1961, Classical music, Italian conductor
10
Death of Salvatore Pollicino That year: 1961, Classical music, Italian opera singer (born in 1884)
11
Death of Marius Jacobsen That year: 1961, Classical music, Danish opera singer (born in 1894)
12
Death of Max Hansen That year: 1961, Classical music, tenor (1897-1961) (born in 1897)
Birth of Michaela Paetsch That year: 1961, Classical music, American musician (dead in 2023)
13
Death of José Antonio de Erauzquin That year: 1961, Classical music, composer (born in 1888)
14
Birth of Luis Félix Parodi Ortega That year: 1961, Classical music, composer
18
Birth of Anthony Warlow That year: 1961, Classical music, Australian musical theatre actor
22
Birth of Stephen Hough That year: 1961, Classical music, British-born classical pianist, composer and writer
Death of Ninon Vallin That year: 1961, Classical music, French singer (1886-1961) (born in 1886)
23
Death of York Bowen That year: 1961, Classical music, English composer and pianist (1884-1961) (born in 1884)
Birth of Thomas Zehetmair That year: 1961, Classical music, Austrian violinist and conductor
Birth of Nicolas Bacri That year: 1961, Classical music, French composer
24
Premiere of Atlantis That year: 1961, Classical music (Opera), Manuel de Falla
Death of Hans Batteux That year: 1961, Classical music, German singer (1885-1961) (born in 1885)
25
Birth of Nuccia Focile That year: 1961, Classical music, singer
Birth of Ali Asgarov That year: 1961, Classical music, musician (dead in 2023)
26
Death of Alexander Goldenweiser That year: 1961, Classical music, Russian musician (1875-1961) (born in 1875)
Birth of Nicola Luisotti That year: 1961, Classical music, Italian conductor
Death of Zona Maie Griswold That year: 1961, Classical music, American opera singer (born in 1889)
27
Birth of Angela Denoke That year: 1961, Classical music, singer
Birth of Mariana Leka That year: 1961, Classical music, opera singer
28
Birth of Karl-Heinz Steffens That year: 1961, Classical music, German clarinettist and conductor
Death of James Milligan That year: 1961, Classical music, Canadian opera singer (1928-1961) (born in 1928)
29
Birth of Peter Pinoy That year: 1961, Classical music, composer
30
Death of Stanisław Kazuro That year: 1961, Classical music, Polish composer (born in 1881)
Death of Winifred Lawson That year: 1961, Classical music, singer and actress (1892-1961) (born in 1892)
December
05
Death of Grigory Ginzburg That year: 1961, Classical music, Russian pianist (born in 1904)
07
Death of Isidar Balocin That year: 1961, Classical music, Soviet singer and opera singer (1907-1961) (born in 1907)
Death of Jeanette Angell That year: 1961, Classical music, opera singer, music teacher (born in 1879)
13
Birth of Harry Gregson-Williams That year: 1961, Classical music, British composer, conductor and producer
Birth of Francesco Petrozzi That year: 1961, Classical music, opera singer, politician
Death of August Högn That year: 1961, Classical music, German composer (1878-1961) (born in 1878)
14
Birth of François Boulanger That year: 1961, Classical music, French conductor
Birth of Egils Siliņš That year: 1961, Classical music, Latvian musician
15
Birth of Lenka Šmídová That year: 1961, Classical music, Czech opera singer (1961–2022) (dead in 2022)
16
Death of Giuseppe Nessi That year: 1961, Classical music, Italian opera singer (born in 1887)
Death of Boris Seme͏̈novič Šechter That year: 1961, Classical music, Russian composer (born in 1900)
Death of Catharina Dorothea Sewing That year: 1961, Classical music, Dutch opera singer (born in 1868)
19
Death of José F. Vásquez That year: 1961, Classical music, Mexican composer (1896-1961) (born in 1896)
21
Birth of Mirna Rubim That year: 1961, Classical music, Brazilian actress
23
Death of Charles Gilbert Spross That year: 1961, Classical music, composer (born in 1874)
24
Death of Guy de Lioncourt That year: 1961, Classical music, French composer (1885-1961) (born in 1885)
Birth of Asta Krikščiūnaitė That year: 1961, Classical music, Lithuanian opera singer
27
Birth of Kirk Redmann That year: 1961, Classical music, American opera singer
30
Premiere of Symphony No. 4 in C minor, Op. 43 That year: 1961, Classical music (Work for orchestra), Dmitri Shostakovich
This was also in 1961
Inauguration: Deutsche Oper Berlin That year: 1961, Classical music (Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, Germany). Birth of Thierry Blondeau That year: 1961, Classical music, French composer . Birth of Kazufumi Yamashita That year: 1961, Classical music, conductor . Birth of Gunilla Stephen-Kallin That year: 1961, Classical music, opera singer . Death of Harold Ainsley Bellows That year: 1961, Classical music, composer (born in 1899) . Birth of Enrico Viccardi That year: 1961, Classical music . Death of Eugenio Cibelli That year: 1961, Classical music, opera singer (born in 1884) . Birth of Harry Bicket That year: 1961, Classical music, British conductor, harpsichordist and organist . Birth of José Antonio Carril That year: 1961, Classical music, Basque opera singer . Birth of Cynthia Phelps That year: 1961, Classical music, American musician . Birth of Carlos Stella That year: 1961, Classical music, Argentine composer . Birth of Nino Sandow That year: 1961, Classical music, German actor and opera singer . Birth of Tim Jones That year: 1961, Classical music, Classical horn player . Birth of Girard Rhoden That year: 1961, Classical music, American musician, singer and opera singer . Birth of Jan Broeckx That year: 1961, Classical music, Belgian dancer and music educator (dead in 1966) . Birth of Manuela Gößnitzer That year: 1961, Classical music, composer . Birth of Jonathan Jackson That year: 1961, Classical music, composer . Birth of Turid Karlsen That year: 1961, Classical music, Norwegian singer . Inception: Jackson Symphony Orchestra That year: 1961, Classical music (United States of America). Inauguration: Oper Frankfurt That year: 1961, Classical music (Frankfurt, Germany). Birth of Bas Ramselaar That year: 1961, Classical music, Dutch bass singer, conductor . Death of Ernest Kaʻai That year: 1961, Classical music, Ukulele virtuoso and master (born in 1881) . Birth of Marcus Weiss That year: 1961, Classical music, performer . Birth of Anne Manson That year: 1961, Classical music, conductor, musician . Birth of Gabriele Rossmanith That year: 1961, Classical music, German singer and opera singer . Birth of Isabel Soveral That year: 1961, Classical music, Portuguese composer . Death of Raymond Chanoine-Davranches That year: 1961, Classical music, composer (born in 1875) . Birth of Toshiya Suzuki That year: 1961, Classical music, Japanese recorder player . Birth of Gayk Aboyan That year: 1961, Classical music, composer . Inauguration: West Side Orchestral Concerts That year: 1961, Classical music (New York City, United States of America). Birth of Suzie LeBlanc That year: 1961, Classical music, singer . Death of Alberto Falcón That year: 1961, Classical music, composer, pianist (born in 1873) . Inception: Dorian Wind Quintet That year: 1961, Classical music (United States of America). Birth of Michael Schönheit That year: 1961, Classical music, German musician . Inception: Coro de la Universidad de Sevilla That year: 1961, Classical music (Spain). Birth of Jurjen Hempel That year: 1961, Classical music, Dutch conductor . Death of Frederic Krull That year: 1961, Classical music, composer (born in 1876) . Birth of Carola Höhn That year: 1961, Classical music, German opera singer . Birth of Antoni Comas i Ruano That year: 1961, Classical music, opera singer, actor, musician . Birth of Shūya Ōkatsu That year: 1961, Classical music, Japanese conductor . Birth of Rolf Lislevand That year: 1961, Classical music, Norwegian musician . Birth of Jacques Zoon That year: 1961, Classical music, Dutch flautist . Death of Reginald Benyon That year: 1961, Classical music, composer (born in 1880) . Inception: Reuss Chamber Orchestra That year: 1961, Classical music (Germany). Death of Giuseppe Piccioli That year: 1961, Classical music, composer (born in 1905) . Inception: Aeolian Chamber Players That year: 1961, Classical music (United States of America). Birth of Daniel Ottevaere That year: 1961, Classical music, Belgian musician and singer . Birth of Daniel Reuss That year: 1961, Classical music, Dutch conductor . Death of Sadettin Kaynak That year: 1961, Classical music, Turkish composer (born in 1895) . Inauguration: The Bitter End That year: 1961, Classical music (Manhattan, United States of America). Birth of Kelly Tang That year: 1961, Classical music, composer . Inception: Chinese Music Ensemble of New York That year: 1961, Classical music. Birth of Alessandro Carmignani That year: 1961, Classical music, Italian opera singer . Birth of Niklas Willén That year: 1961, Classical music, Swedish conductor . Birth of Sonia Wieder-Atherton That year: 1961, Classical music, American musician and cellist . Inception: Syracuse Symphony Orchestra That year: 1961, Classical music (United States of America). Birth of Sebastian Weigle That year: 1961, Classical music, Horn player and conductor . Birth of Shira Kammen That year: 1961, Classical music, musician . Birth of Bjørn Waag That year: 1961, Classical music, Norwegian singer, opera singer and music educator . Death of Paul Beinert That year: 1961, Classical music, German opera singer (born in 1893) . Death of George V. Predmore That year: 1961, Classical music, composer (born in 1886) . Inception: Greater Bridgeport Youth Orchestras That year: 1961, Classical music (United States of America). Inception: Hawaii Youth Opera Chorus That year: 1961, Classical music (United States of America). Birth of Constance Hauman That year: 1961, Classical music, singer . Birth of Ingeborg Danz That year: 1961, Classical music, German singer . Inception: Berliner Domkantorei That year: 1961, Classical music (Germany). Birth of Axel Bauni That year: 1961, Classical music, German pianist . Inception: Hawaii Opera Theatre That year: 1961, Classical music (United States of America). Death of Paul-Silva Hérard That year: 1961, Classical music, composer (born in 1883) . Birth of Rainer Honeck That year: 1961, Classical music, concertmaster . Birth of Éric Hervé That year: 1961, Classical music, double-bassist . Death of Isaia Billé That year: 1961, Classical music, Italian composer and journalist (born in 1874) . Birth of Jürgen Sonnentheil That year: 1961, Classical music, German church musician . Birth of Hu Nai-yuan That year: 1961, Classical music, Taiwanese classical violinist . Birth of Claron McFadden That year: 1961, Classical music, American opera singer . Birth of Heidi Brunner That year: 1961, Classical music, singer . Birth of Nadezhda Petrenko That year: 1961, Classical music, Ukrainian opera singer . Dissolution: Hollywood String Quartet That year: 1961, Classical music (United States of America). Birth of Joakim Svenheden That year: 1961, Classical music, Swedish violinist . Inception: Deutsche Oper Berlin That year: 1961, Classical music (Germany). Birth of Marco Meloni That year: 1961, Classical music, guitarist . Inauguration: Music Biennale Zagreb That year: 1961, Classical music (Zagreb, Croatia). Birth of Paul Nilon That year: 1961, Classical music, lyrical singer . Death of John Wilheim Ivimey That year: 1961, Classical music, English organist and composer (born in 1868) . Birth of Dwayne Croft That year: 1961, Classical music, American opera singer . Birth of Ricardo Moyano That year: 1961, Classical music, Argentinian guitarist and composer . Birth of Hiroki Fujii That year: 1961, Classical music, choir director, conductor . Birth of Manfred Hemm That year: 1961, Classical music, austrian bass-baritone . Birth of Mark Padmore That year: 1961, Classical music, British opera singer . Inauguration: Stresa Festival That year: 1961, Classical music (Stresa, Italy). Birth of Mark Beesley That year: 1961, Classical music, English bass singer . Dissolution: Griller Quartet That year: 1961, Classical music (United Kingdom). Birth of Dai Chunrong That year: 1961, Classical music, Chinese actress . Inauguration: Warsaw Chamber Opera That year: 1961, Classical music (Warsaw, Poland). Birth of Inna Heifetz That year: 1961, Classical music, Ukrainian pianist . Birth of Paideia Editrice That year: 1961, Classical music, composer . Inception: Escolanía del Recuerdo That year: 1961, Classical music (Spain).
Works (composition or publishing)
- Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904)
- Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 3, “Zlonické zvony” That year: 1961, Classical music (Work for orchestra), composed in 1865
- Igor Stravinsky (age 79)
- The Flood That year: 1961, Classical music (Opera), published in 1962
- A Sermon, a Narrative and a Prayer (Work for choir)
- Darius Milhaud (age 69)
- Symphony No. 12, Op. 390, “Rurale” (Work for orchestra)
- Judith, Op. 392 (Incidental music)
- Concert de chambre, Op. 389 (Work for orchestra with soloist)
- Concerto No. 2, Op. 394 (Work for orchestra with soloist)
- Traversée, Op. 393 (Work for choir)
- Neige sur la fleuve, Op. 391 (Song, lied)
- Carl Orff (age 66)
- Ludus de nato Infante mirificus (Opera)
- Francis Poulenc (age 62)
- 7 Répons des ténèbres, Opp. 181 (Work for choir), published in 1963
- La dame de Monte Carlo, Op. 180 (Song, lied)
- Dmitri Shostakovich (age 55)
- Suite from Five Days - Five Nights, Op. 111a (Work for orchestra)
- Benjamin Britten (age 48)
- War Requiem, Op. 66 That year: 1961, Classical music (Work for choir), published in 1962
- Cello Sonata in C major, Op. 65 That year: 1961, Classical music (Work for chamber orchestra), composed in 1960
- Henri Dutilleux (age 45)
- Tous les Chemins (Work for soloist)
- Iannis Xenakis (age 39)
- The Thessaloniki World Fair (Electroacoustic music)
- Pierre Boulez (age 36)
- Structures pour deux pianos deuxième livre (Work for chamber orchestra)
- Karlheinz Stockhausen (age 33)
- Piano Pieces, Opp. 4 (Work for soloist)
- Originale, Op. 12 2/3 (Theatrical music) Premiere