Music History on August 17

Götterdämmerung

1876 Richard Wagner's opera "Götterdämmerung" premieres in Bayreuth

  • 1883 The first public performance of the Dominican Republic's national anthem, Himno Nacional

The Wizard of Oz

1939 Musical film "The Wizard of Oz", starring Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr, Jack Haley, and Margaret Hamilton opens at Loews Capitol Theatre, NYC

Liturgique

1946 Arthur Honegger's 3rd Symphony "Liturgique" premieres in Zürich, Switzerland with Charles Munch conducting the Suisse Romande Orchestra

Woodstock Music and Art Fair

1969 Woodstock Festival closes with Jimi Hendrix / Band of Gypsys as final act (taking the stage at 9AM on the 18th); other performers included Joe Cocker, Country Joe MacDonald & The Fish, The Band, CSN&Y, and Sha Na Na

Monty Python's Life of Brian

1979 "Monty Python's Life of Brian" directed by Terry Jones, starring Graham Chapman, Mickael Palin, & John Cleese, and funded by George Harrison's HandMade Films, premieres in US theaters

  • 1980 "Blackstone" closes at Majestic Theater NYC after 104 performances
  • 1986 Rioting at DMC concert at Long Beaxh (California) Convention Center - 40 injured
  • 2004 The National Assembly of Serbia unanimously adopts new state symbols for Serbia: Boze Pravde becomes the new anthem and the coat of arms is adopted for the whole country.