Born on this day (16th December 1770), Ludwig van Beethoven. One of my favourite composers, but he only wrote one opera. Those of you that have been following the exploits of the Phantom Pen during NaNoWriMo will know that his opera, Fidelio, is an important element in the plot, as it was the opera with which the Vienna State Opera re-opened its doors after ten years of rebuilding, necessitated by us having flattened it in WWII.
Opera Playlist post Nano