September 1, 1854:
Engelbert Humperdinck is born in a house on the Marktplatz (presently Markt 46, the city museum) in Siegburg in the Kingdom of Prussia.
April 7, 1878:
Herbstlied for chorus and piano by Engelbert Humperdinck (23), to words of G. Humperdinck, is performed for the first time, in the Musikschule, Munich.
July 15, 1878:
Die Wallfahrt nach Kevlaar for alto, tenor, chorus, and orchestra by Engelbert Humperdinck (23) to words of Heine, is performed for the first time, in the Königliche Musikschule, Munich.
July 15, 1879:
Das Glück von Edenhall, a cantata for chorus and orchestra by Engelbert Humperdinck (24) to words of Uhland, is performed for the first time, in Munich.
October 13, 1879:
Engelbert Humperdinck (25) wins the Berlin Mendelssohn Prize which is set up to pay for a year of study in Italy.
December 6, 1879:
Engelbert Humperdinck (25) leaves Munich for study in Italy as a result of his winning the Berlin Mendelssohn Prize.
March 9, 1880:
Engelbert Humperdinck (25) meets Richard Wagner (66) for the first time, in Naples.
November 19, 1881:
Incidental music to Aristophanes’ play Die Frösche by Engelbert Humperdinck (27) is performed for the first time, in the Stadttheater, Cologne.
July 26, 1882:
Richard Wagner's (69) Bühnenweihfestspiel Parsifal to his own words is performed for the first time, in the Bayreuth Festspielhaus. Among the audience is a passionate Wagnerian named Anton Bruckner (57). The boys’ chorus has been prepared by Engelbert Humperdinck (37).
December 18, 1882:
Engelbert Humperdinck (28) arrives in Venice, summoned by Richard Wagner (69) to help in the preparation for the performance of Wagner’s Symphony in C.
December 25, 1882:
The Symphony in C by Richard Wagner (69) is performed for the first time in almost 50 years, in Venice, conducted by the composer. Also present is Wagner’s father-in-law, Franz Liszt (71), and Engelbert Humperdinck (28).
November 19, 1883:
Incidental music to Calderón de la Barca’s play Der Richter von Zalamea by Engelbert Humperdinck (29) is performed for the first time, in the Stadttheater, Cologne.
January 12, 1885:
Engelbert Humperdinck (30) meets Richard Strauss (20) at a rehearsal for Strauss’ Symphony in f minor.
January 24, 1885:
On the advice of Richard Strauss (20), Engelbert Humperdinck (30) meets the wealthy industrialist Alfred Krupp. Krupp hires him as a pianist at the Villa Hügel where he will stay until 1 August.
May 16, 1890:
Hänsel und Gretel, a Liederspiel by Engelbert Humperdinck (35) to words of A. Wette (sister of the composer), is performed for the first time, privately, in the home of Dr. Hermann Wette in Cologne.
October 23, 1890:
Engelbert Humperdinck (36) brings Dr. Strecker of Schott publishers to Mainz to meet Hugo Wolf (30) for the first time. While working at Schott, Humperdinck became an admirer of Wolf and wins Strecker to the idea of publishing his work.
May 19, 1892:
Engelbert Humperdinck (37) marries Hedwig Taxer. They will spend the summer at the Bayreuth Festival.
December 23, 1893:
Hänsel und Gretel, a Märchenoper by Engelbert Humperdinck (39) to words of A. Wette, H. Wette, and the composer after Grimm, is performed for the first time, in the Weimar Court Theatre, conducted by Richard Strauss (29). It is an instant success.
June 1, 1894:
Engelbert Humperdinck (39) meets Gustav Mahler (33) for the first time, in Weimar.
December 19, 1895:
Die sieben Geisslein, a Märchenspiel by Engelbert Humperdinck (41) to words of Wette after Grimm, is performed for the first time, in the Schillertheater, Berlin.
January 23, 1897:
Königskinder, a melodrama by Engelbert Humperdinck (42) to words of Rosmer (pseud. of Bernstein-Porges), is performed for the first time, in the Munich Court Theatre. It is an enormous success.
April 9, 1897:
While in a Vienna restaurant with Engelbert Humperdinck (42) and Frau Humperdinck, Hugo Wolf (37) shows the first signs of his impending illness. He seems irritable and changes his seat several times so that he will not be seen by acquaintances.
August 17, 1897:
Arthur Farwell (25) meets Engelbert Humperdinck (42) in Bayreuth. Humperdinck agrees to give Farwell lessons in the Fall.
September 24, 1897:
Arthur Farwell (25) arrives at his lodgings in Boppard am Rhein. In the evening, he dines at the estate of Engelbert Humperdinck (43) with whom he will presently study.
October 7, 1898:
Maurische Rhapsodie for orchestra by Engelbert Humperdinck (44) is performed for the first time in Leeds, conducted by the composer.
May 2, 1899:
Arthur Farwell (27) returns to the United States aboard the steamer Menominee after two years of travel and study in Europe. Farwell spent much time studying with Engelbert Humperdinck (44).
June 9, 1902:
The first complete performance of the Symphony no.3 by Gustav Mahler (42) is conducted by the composer at Krefeld, Germany. It is an enormous success. The audience, which includes Richard Strauss (37) and Engelbert Humperdinck (47), applauds for 15 minutes. The press is positive, but not without reservation. See 9 November 1896 and 9 March 1897.
November 12, 1902:
The Märchenoper Dornröschen, with words by Ebeling and Filhès after Perrault and music by Engelbert Humperdinck (48), is performed for the first time, at the Stadttheater of Frankfurt-am-Main. The press is not kind.
January 14, 1903:
Richard Strauss (38), Engelbert Humperdinck (48), and several other composers form the Association of German Composers in an attempt to apply the German Copyright law which went into effect last year. The pact will become effective on 1 July. See 1 July 1903.
April 14, 1905:
Engelbert Humperdinck’s (50) comic opera Die Heirat wider Willen, to words of H. Humperdinck (wife of the composer) and the composer after Dumas, is performed for the first time, at the Royal Opera House, Berlin, conducted by Richard Strauss (40).
October 21, 1905:
Charles T. Griffes (21) visits Engelbert Humperdinck (51) at his home in Grunewald near Berlin. Griffes plays some of his compositions and Humperdinck agrees to take him as a student.
October 27, 1905:
Charles T. Griffes (21) has his first lesson with Engelbert Humperdinck (51) at Humperdinck’s home in Grunewald near Berlin.
November 9, 1905:
Incidental music to Shakespeare’s play (tr. Schlegel) Der Kaufmann von Venedig, by Engelbert Humperdinck (51), is performed for the first time, at the Deutsches Theater, Berlin.
February 24, 1906:
Festgesang for soprano, tenor, chorus, and orchestra by Engelbert Humperdinck (51) is performed for the first time, in the Berlin Musikhochschule.
May 1, 1906:
Charles T. Griffes (21) has his last lesson with Engelbert Humperdinck (51) at Humperdinck’s home near Berlin. Griffes thinks that Humperdinck is going away to compose.
September 15, 1906:
Incidental music to Shakespeare’s play (tr. Tieck) Das Wintermärchen, by Engelbert Humperdinck (52) is performed for the first time, at the Deutsches Theater, Berlin.
October 26, 1906:
Incidental music to Shakespeare’s play (tr. Schlegel) Der Sturm, by Engelbert Humperdinck (52) is performed for the first time, in the Neues Schauspielhaus, Berlin.
December 30, 1906:
The melodramatisches Krippenspiel Bübchens Weihnachtstraum, by Engelbert Humperdinck (52) to words of Falke, is performed for the first time, in Berlin.
October 17, 1907:
Incidental music to Shakespeare’s play (tr. Schröder) Was ihr wollt (Twelfth Night) by Engelbert Humperdinck (53) is performed for the first time, in the Deutsches Theater, Berlin.
February 27, 1908:
Incidental music to Aristophanes’ play Lysistrata by Engelbert Humperdinck (53) is performed for the first time, in the Berlin Kammerspiele.
November 28, 1910:
Engelbert Humperdinck (56), his wife and eldest daughter sail for New York for the premiere of his new opera Königskinder.
December 10, 1910:
La fanciulla del West, an opera by Giacomo Puccini (51) to words of Civinini and Zangarini after Belasco, is performed for the first time, before a glittering audience (which includes Engelbert Humperdinck (56)) at the Metropolitan Opera, New York. Although there is no applause through the first act, Puccini, Toscanini, and the cast receive 14 curtain calls at the intermission, 19 after the second act, and 14 at the end. Even though the critics are mixed, the production is a spectacular success.
December 28, 1910:
Engelbert Humperdinck’s (56) Märchenoper Königskinder, to words of Rosmer (pseud. of Bernstein-Porges), is performed for the first time, at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York. It is very successful and even does better than Puccini’s (52) La fanciulla del West currently playing in the city.
December 23, 1911:
Das Wunder, a pantomime by Engelbert Humperdinck (57) to a story of von Heisterbach and Maeterlinck, is performed for the first time, at the Olympia Theatre, London.
January 5, 1912:
Engelbert Humperdinck (57) suffers a severe stroke in Berlin. He will recover, but will never use his left hand again.
December 23, 1912:
Incidental music to Maeterlinck’s play (tr. Epstein) Der blaue Vogel by Engelbert Humperdinck (58) is performed for the first time, in the Deutsches Theater, Berlin.
February 7, 1914:
Camille Saint-Saëns (78), Felipe Pedrell (72), Engelbert Humperdinck (59), Edward Elgar (56), and Claude Debussy(51) are awarded honorary membership in the Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome.
May 10, 1914:
Engelbert Humperdinck’s (59) Spieloper Die Marketenderin, to words of Misch, is performed for the first time, at the Stadttheater, Cologne.
October 13, 1914:
An article entitled “An Appeal to the Civilized World” is published in the Paris Le temps. Later called the Manifesto of 93, it is a statement from the elite of German art and science (including Engelbert Humperdinck (60)) denying all charges of barbarism by the allies against Germany and refuting the allied cause for the war.
March 18, 1919:
Gaudeamus: szenen aus dem deutschen Studentenleben, a spieloper by Engelbert Humperdinck (64), to words of Misch, is performed for the first time, in the Landestheater, Darmstadt.
September 26, 1921:
While attending the second-night performance of a production of Carl Maria von Weber’s (†95) Der Freischütz in Neustrelitz directed by his son Wolfram, Engelbert Humperdinck (67) suffers a heart attack. On his return home he suffers another heart attack.
September 27, 1921:
Engelbert Humperdinck dies of a heart attack with complications of pneumonia, in Neustrelitz in the German Republic, aged 67 years and 26 days.
October 1, 1921:
The earthly remains of Engelbert Humperdinck are laid to rest in Stahnsdorf, near Berlin.