1840day.year
Gaetano Donizetti's opera La fille du régiment receives its first performance in Paris, France.
Gaetano Donizetti's opera 'La fille du régiment' premieres in Paris, showcasing his melodic gift and comedic flair.
On February 11, 1840, Donizetti’s 'La fille du régiment' received its debut at the Opéra-Comique in Paris.
The comic opera weaves a lighthearted tale about a French soldier’s adopted daughter, blending humor with heartfelt emotion.
Its famous aria 'Ah! mes amis' became legendary for its nine high Cs and virtuosic demands on tenors.
Audiences embraced its charming melodies and spirited ensemble writing.
The premiere solidified Donizetti’s standing in French opera and enriched the bel canto repertoire.
1840
Gaetano Donizetti
La fille du régiment
1843day.year
Giuseppe Verdi's opera I Lombardi alla prima crociata receives its first performance in Milan, Italy.
Giuseppe Verdi’s 'I Lombardi alla prima crociata' debuts in Milan, reflecting his evolving dramatic style and patriotic themes.
First performed on February 11, 1843, at La Scala in Milan, 'I Lombardi alla prima crociata' was Verdi’s third opera.
Set during the First Crusade, the work dramatizes themes of faith, love, and national identity.
Verdi expanded his musical palette with bold choruses and expressive orchestration.
Though initial reviews were mixed, the opera demonstrated his growing compositional ambition.
It laid the groundwork for his later masterpieces and cemented his role in the Italian operatic tradition.
1843
Giuseppe Verdi
I Lombardi alla prima crociata
Milan
1903day.year
Anton Bruckner's 9th Symphony receives its first performance in Vienna, Austria.
Anton Bruckner’s Symphony No.9 receives its inaugural performance in Vienna in 1903.
On February 11, 1903, Anton Bruckner's Ninth Symphony premiered in Vienna under the baton of Gustav Mahler. Although the composer died before completing the fourth movement, the existing three movements were performed to great acclaim. The symphony's rich orchestration and harmonic innovations showcase Bruckner's mature style and his visionary approach to symphonic form. Audiences and critics recognized the work's emotional depth and architectural grandeur. Despite controversies over its structure, the Ninth has become a cornerstone of the late Romantic repertoire. This premiere cemented Bruckner's posthumous reputation as one of Austria's foremost symphonists.
1903
Anton Bruckner
9th Symphony
Vienna
1933day.year
LAPD Red Squad raid on John Reed Club art show in the U.S. results in the destruction of a dozen political artworks.
In 1933, the LAPD Red Squad raids a John Reed Club art exhibition, destroying politically charged artworks.
On February 11, 1933, the Los Angeles Police Department's Red Squad stormed an art show hosted by the John Reed Club, a gathering place for leftist writers and artists. The raid targeted works deemed subversive or Communist in content and resulted in the destruction of over a dozen pieces. Artists criticized the action as an assault on free expression and political dissent. The event highlighted broader tensions between law enforcement and political activists during the Depression era. Public outcry over censorship and civil liberties intensified following the raid. The incident remains a notable example of government suppression of radical art in American history.
1933
LAPD Red Squad raid on John Reed Club art show
1938day.year
BBC Television produces the world's first ever science fiction television programme, an adaptation of a section of the Karel Čapek play R.U.R., that coined the term "robot".
BBC Television broadcasts the world’s first science fiction programme in 1938, adapting part of Karel Čapek’s play R.U.R. and introducing the term robot.
On February 11, 1938, BBC Television debuted a televised adaptation of part of Karel Čapek's play R.U.R. This broadcast is widely recognized as the world's first science fiction television programme. The production dramatized themes of artificial life and mechanization, reflecting Čapek's original exploration of android creation. It also introduced the term robot into the public consciousness, shaping future portrayals of artificial beings. The live broadcast showcased early television's potential for imaginative storytelling. This pioneering programme laid the groundwork for decades of science fiction on screen worldwide.
1938
BBC Television
science fiction television
Karel Čapek
R.U.R.
robot
1946day.year
The New Testament of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, the first significant challenge to the Authorized King James Version, is published.
The Revised Standard Version New Testament is published in 1946, challenging the dominance of the King James Bible.
On February 11, 1946, the New Testament portion of the Revised Standard Version (RSV) of the Bible was published. The RSV sought to provide a modern English translation that was both accurate to original manuscripts and accessible to contemporary readers. Scholars from various Protestant denominations collaborated to update archaic language found in the King James Version. The revision introduced clearer syntax and incorporated recent discoveries in biblical scholarship. Its publication marked the first major English translation in over three centuries. The RSV New Testament sparked widespread discussion and influenced later translations across Christian traditions.
1946
New Testament
Revised Standard Version
Bible
Authorized King James Version
1963 — The Beatles recorded their first album Please Please Me
In 1963, The Beatles recorded their debut album Please Please Me, marking the start of their meteoric rise.
On February 11, 1963, The Beatles recorded their debut album "Please Please Me" at Abbey Road Studios.
The band recorded most of the album in a single marathon session lasting over ten hours.
Produced by George Martin, it featured early hits like "I Saw Her Standing There" and the title track.
The album captured the raw energy of the band and launched Beatlemania in the UK.
Its success set the stage for the band's global rise and revolutionized popular music.
1963
The Beatles
Please Please Me