Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Today in Music History for Feb. 25: In 1873, Enrico Caruso, universally regarded as the world's greatest operatic tenor, was born in Naples, Italy.

Today in History for Feb. 25: In 616 (traditional date): Ethelbert, first Christian English king and instigator of the first written code of British law, died.

Today in Music History for Feb. 28: In 1929, Montreal-born Wilfrid Pelletier became a regular conductor at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, a position he held until 1950.

Today in Music History for Feb. 24: In 1897, Emile Berliner took out a Canadian patent on his gramophone talking machine. Manufacturing facilities were set up in Montreal.

Today in Music History for Feb. 27: In 1924, Sir Henry Thornton, president of the CNR, opened radio station CNRO in Ottawa. It was one of a series of CNR operated studios that opened across the country.

Today in History for March 1: In 589 (traditional date): David of Wales, patron saint of Wales, died. In 1562, Roman Catholic troops killed Protestants at Vassy, France, in an incident that precipitated the Wars of Religion.

Today in Music History for March 1: In 1810, Polish composer Frederic Chopin, who brought romantic piano music to new heights, was born near Warsaw. He established the piano as a solo instrument, free from the influence of an orchestra or chorus.

Today in History for Feb. 23: In A.D. 155, Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna (present-day Izmir, Turkey) and an early Church Father who was a disciple of the Apostle John, was martyred.

Today in Music History for Feb. 23: In 1685, George Frideric Handel, one of the greatest masters of baroque music, was born in Halle, Germany. He is best known for his majestic oratorio, ``The Messiah,'' which was first performed in Dublin in 1742.

Today in Music History for Feb. 26: In 1923, the Winnipeg Male Voice Choir performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City. The New York Post said the performance placed the choir in "the very front rank.