What happened on December 26
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1709317 yrs ago
Handel's opera Agrippina premieres in Venice
The first-night audience cheered him at almost every pause, and the opera went on to an unheard-of 27 performances in a row. Its success established Handel's international reputation.
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1871155 yrs ago
Gilbert and Sullivan's Thespis opens in London
It ran for 63 performances at the Gaiety Theatre. The score was never published, and only three pieces of its music are known to survive.
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1926100 yrs ago
Sibelius's Tapiola gets its first performance in New York
Walter Damrosch commissioned the tone poem and conducted the New York Symphony Society at its premiere. Sibelius lived three more decades but never wrote another major work.
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196363 yrs ago
Capitol rushes out "I Want to Hold Your Hand" in the US
A Washington DJ had been spinning a British import after a teenage fan asked for it, so Capitol moved the release up by two weeks. By February the song was No. 1, where it stayed seven weeks.
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197056 yrs ago
"My Sweet Lord" makes George Harrison the first solo Beatle at No. 1
The song topped the Hot 100 for four weeks. Years later a court ruled he had unknowingly borrowed the tune of "He's So Fine."
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193987 yrs ago
Wall of Sound producer Phil Spector is born
He called his densely layered, orchestral records "little symphonies for the kids." His hits included the Ronettes' "Be My Baby" and the Righteous Brothers' "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'."
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195175 yrs ago
Jazz guitarist John Scofield is born
He first drew wide notice playing in Miles Davis's band. He has won three Grammys, including back-to-back Best Jazz Instrumental Album awards in 2016 and 2017.
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196363 yrs ago
Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich is born in Denmark
He grew up in a tennis family and moved to California to train, then ran a newspaper ad seeking bandmates. It led him to James Hetfield, and to Metallica.
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199927 yrs ago
Soul singer-songwriter Curtis Mayfield dies at 57
He wrote "People Get Ready" for the Impressions, and his Super Fly soundtrack topped the albums chart. He entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, with his group and on his own.
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201016 yrs ago
Teena Marie, "Lady T," dies at 54
Her collaborator Rick James gave her the nickname, and she left Motown as its most successful white solo act. "Ooo La La La" went to No. 1 on the R&B chart, and "Lovergirl" reached No. 4 on the Hot 100.
Nothing matches these filters on December 26.