On This Day in Music History - 4/27/2025

• 1749: George Frideric Handel’s Music for the Royal Fireworks premiered in Green Park, London, commissioned to celebrate the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle. The performance, attended by thousands, featured a grand orchestral suite and marked a high point in Baroque music, though it was marred by a fire during the event.

• 1867: Charles Gounod’s opera Roméo et Juliette debuted at the Théâtre Lyrique in Paris. This romantic work, based on Shakespeare’s play, became one of Gounod’s most enduring operas, known for its lush melodies and dramatic arias.

• 1877: Jules Massenet’s opera Le Roi de Lahore premiered at the Palais Garnier in Paris. The exotic and richly orchestrated work was a success, showcasing Massenet’s knack for lyrical drama and solidifying his reputation in French opera.

• 1950: The musical revue Tickets, Please opened at the Coronet Theater in New York City, later transferring to the Mark Hellinger Theatre, running for 245 performances. It featured a mix of comedy and music, reflecting the vibrant Broadway scene of the era.

• 1963: Little Peggy March, at age 15, became the youngest female singer to top the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 with her single “I Will Follow Him,” a defining pop hit of the early 1960s.

• 1964: John Lennon’s book In His Own Write, a collection of poetry and sketches, was published in the U.S. Its quirky humor and wordplay offered insight into Lennon’s creative mind beyond his Beatles fame.

• 1979: George Harrison released the single “Love Comes to Everyone,” a track from his self-titled album. The song, featuring Eric Clapton on guitar, reflected Harrison’s introspective and spiritual songwriting style.

• 1986: A revival of the musical Sweet Charity, starring Debbie Allen and Bebe Neuwirth, opened at the Minskoff Theatre in New York City. It ran for 368 performances and won four Tony Awards, celebrated for its energetic choreography and Cy Coleman’s score.

• 1994: The Fillmore Auditorium, a legendary rock venue in San Francisco, reopened with performances by The Smashing Pumpkins and American Music Club. The event marked a revival of the historic site, pivotal in the 1960s counterculture music scene.

• 1999: The Verve, a key Britpop band, announced their split after a turbulent career. Known for their seminal album Urban Hymns and hits like “Bitter Sweet Symphony,” the band’s breakup marked the end of an era for British rock, though they briefly reunited in 2007.

• 1999: Jazz trumpeter Al Hirt, nicknamed “The Round Mound of Sound,” died at age 76 from liver failure. Famous for his virtuosic playing and hits like “Java,” Hirt was a major figure in New Orleans jazz and pop crossover.

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