Handel Finishes the Messiah
On September 14, 1741, Handel completed the oratorio Messiah, written in about 24 days and first performed in Dublin.
Don Giovanni Is Performed in Prague
On October 29, 1787, Mozart's opera Don Giovanni had its first performance at the theatre in Prague, with the composer conducting.
Francis Scott Key Writes the Defence of Fort McHenry
On September 14, 1814, Francis Scott Key wrote Defence of Fort McHenry, the poem that became the US national anthem.
The Metropolitan Opera House Opens
The Metropolitan Opera House opened in New York on October 22, 1883, with a performance of Faust. It became America's leading opera company.
The Jazz Singer Brings Recorded Sound to Feature Films
The Jazz Singer premiered on October 6, 1927, the first feature with synchronized singing and speech, and ended the silent era.
The Beatles Release Their First Single
On October 5, 1962, the Beatles released Love Me Do, their first single, in Britain.
Apple Introduces the iPod
Apple released the iPod on October 23, 2001, a player that held a thousand songs. It transformed music and made Apple a giant.