Music History on December 8

Beethoven's 7th Symphony

1813 Ludwig van Beethoven's 7th Symphony in A, premieres in Vienna with Beethoven conducting

Luisa Miller

1849 Giuseppe Verdi's opera "Luisa Miller" premieres in Naples

The Poor of New York

1857 Dion Boucicault's stage drama "The Poor of New York" opens at Wallack's Lyceum Theatre, NYC

Watch Your Step

1914 Irving Berlin's musical "Watch your Step" premieres in NYC

Sibelius' 5th Symphony

1915 Jean Sibelius' 5th Symphony in E premieres

1925 George S. Kaufman and Irving Berlin's musical "The Cocoanuts" starring the Marx Brothers opens at the Lyric Theatre, NYC; runs for 276 performances

The New Yorkers

1930 Cole Porter's musical "The New Yorkers" opens at B. S. Moss's Broadway Theatre, NYC; runs for 169 performances

1948 Emmerich Kálmán's dramatic operetta "Marinka" closes at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre (after transfer from Winter Garden Theater), NYC. after 168 performances

On the Town

1949 "On the Town", the film adaptation of the Broadway musical, starring Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Ann Miller and Vera-Ellen, premieres

1949 Jule Styne and Leo Robin's musical "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes", starring Carol Channing, opens at Ziegfeld Theater, NYC; runs for 740 performances

Musical Finale

1951 Arthur Schwartz and Dorothy Fields' musical "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" adapted from Betty Smith's novel, and starring Shirley Booth, closes at Alvin Theater, NYC, after 267 performances

1956 Guy Mitchell's "Singing the Blues" single goes #1 for 10 weeks

The Sound of Jazz

1957 CBS broadcasts "The Sound of Jazz", live from NYC: an all-star program featuring swing era and contemporary jazz artists, including Count Basie, Red Allen, Ben Webster;, Thelonious Monk, and Gerry Mulligan; highlight is the final collaboration of Billie Holiday and Lester Young on "Fine and Mellow"

Jazz Pianist, Bandleader, and Composer Count Basie

Peter Pan

1960 Musical "Peter Pan", starring Mary Martin broadcast, for a 3rd time, on NBC as a special event, videotaped in color for future rebroadcasts

1962 "I Can Get It For You Wholesale" closes at Shubert NYC after 300 performances
1963 "Girl Who Came to Supper" opens at Broadway Theater NYC for 112 performances
1967 The Beatles' "Magical Mystery Tour" EP is released in UK; issued in US as an album, including additional singles from 1967
1973 "Seesaw" closes at Uris Theater NYC after 296 performances
1975 "Raisin" closes at 46th St Theater NYC after 847 performances

Lennon's Last Photo-shoot

1980 Annie Leibovitz has a photo-shoot with John Lennon, the last person to professionally photograph him before he is murdered on the same day

1982 "Herman Van Veen: All of Him" opens at Ambassador. NYC; runs for 6 performances

Ringo Starr Hosts SNL

1984 Ringo Starr hosts "Saturday Night Live"; Herbie Hancock is the musical guest

Beatles Drummer, Singer, and Actor Ringo Starr

Nick & Nora

1991 Charles Strouse and Richard Maltby, Jr's musical "Nick & Nora" opens at Marquis Theater, NYC; runs for 9 performances

The Homecoming

1991 Revival of Harold Pinter's stage drama "The Homecoming" closes at Criterion Theater, NYC, after limited run of 49 performances

Houston Wins

1993 4th Billboard Music Awards: Whitney Houston, The Bodyguard Soundtrack win

1994 Revival of Donald Margulies' stage dramedy "What's Wrong With This Picture?" opens at Brooks Atkinson Theatre, NYC; runs for 12 performances

Penderecki's Symphony No, 3

1995 Krzysztof Penderecki conducts the Munich Philharmonic in premiere of his Symphony No. 3

1996 Julia Sweeney's one-woman show "God Said Ha!" closes at Lyceum Theater, NYC, after 22 performances

Rimes and Spice Girls Win

1997 8th Billboard Music Awards: LeAnn Rimes & Spice Girls win

Singer and Fashion Designer Victoria Beckham

The Sunshine Boys

1997 Revival of Neil Simon's comedy "The Sunshine Boys", starring Jack Klugman and Tony Randall, opens at Lyceum Theater, NYC; runs for 230 performances