Events in Music History in 1920

"Chant de Nigamo"

Jan 3 Arthur Honegger's symphonic poem "Chant de Nigamon," premieres at the Cirque d'Hiver in Paris, France

Le tombeau de Couperin

Feb 28 Maurice Ravel's orchestral suite "Le tombeau de Couperin" premieres in Paris

  • Apr 24 Fritz Kreisler, Victor Jacobi, and William LeBaron's operetta "Apple Blossoms" closes at the Globe Theatre, NYC;, after 256 performances

Music History

Jul 28 Sigmund Romberg and Alex Gerber's musical "Poor Little Ritz Girl", with additional songs by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart (marking their Broadway debut), opens at the Central Theatre, NYC; runs for 93 performances

  • Aug 10 Mamie Smith and her Jazz Hounds record “Crazy Blues” for Okeh Records, first significant Blues hit by African American artist

Enrico Caruso's Final Recording Session

Sep 20 Italian tenor Enrico Caruso finishes what becomes his final recording session, singing the "Domine Deus" and "Crucifixus" from Gioachino Rossini's "Petite messe solennelle", at Victor's Trinity Church studio in Camden, New Jersey

Music History

Oct 16 Sigmund Romberg and Alex Gerber's musical "Poor Little Ritz Girl", with additional songs by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart (marking their Broadway debut), closes at the Central Theatre, NYC, after 93 performances

The Emperor Jones

Nov 1 Eugene O'Neill's drama "The Emperor Jones" opens at Provincetown Playhouse, NYC; runs for 204 performances

"Sally"

Dec 21 Jerome Kern and Buddy DeSylva's musical "Sally" premieres in NYC