We mark the premiere performance on June 21, 1868 – 153 years ago today – of Richard Wagner’s music drama The Mastersingers of Nuremberg.

We mark the death on June 14, 1994 – 27 years ago today - of the composer, songwriter, conductor, and arranger Enrico Nicola “Henry” Mancini

On June 7, 1727 – 294 years ago today – a long-running feud between the sopranos Francesca Cuzzoni and Faustina Bordoni broke out into open warfare

We mark the death, on May 31, 1809 – 212 years ago today – of the incomparable Joseph Haydn, at his home in Vienna at Kleine Steingasse 73 (today, the address is Haydngasse 19).

When published in 1805, it was dedicated to the French violinist Rodolphe Kreutzer, and has been known as the “Kreutzer Sonata” ever since.

We mark the birth, on May 17, 1866 – 155 years ago today – of the French composer and provocateur Erik Alfred-Leslie Satie.

We mark the deadly riot on May 10, 1849 – 172 years ago today – that took place at the Astor Place Opera House in New York City.

May 3 is a date rich in birthdays for American popular music including Pete Seeger, James Brown, Frankie Valli, and our main focus - Betty Comden.

We mark the arrival in New York City on April 26, 1891, of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. He had come to America to conduct and to help inaugurate Carnegie Hall.

Music History Monday: We mark the posthumous premiere on April 19, 1936 of Alban Berg’s breathtaking Violin Concerto. Its score bears the dedication “To the Memory of an Angel”