Events in Music Dec 7 The Royal Opera House opens at Covent Garden, London. Birthdays in Music Dec 13 Jean-Claude Trial, French composer, born in Avignon, France (d. 1771) Deaths in Music Dec 4 John Gay, English poet and dramatist (The Beggar's Opera), dies at 47 Dec 14 Johann Philipp Fortsch, German composer, dies at 80 Dec 18 Johann Valentin Eckelt, German composer, dies at 59 1731 Music History by Year 1733