14 May 1747 – the first performance of Williams Gluck’s opera, La Semiramide riconosciuta. Gluck had joined a travelling opera troupe led by Pietro Mingotti, which had resulted in the composer’s first successful opera outing. As a result, he was commissioned to produce this piece to celebrate the birthday of Maria Theresa of Austria. The opera was a success, despite the librettist, Metastasio’s utter disregard for the music of Gluck.
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