1921
Death of Italian operatic tenor Enrico Caruso in Naples at age 48, one of the most celebrated tenors of the early 20th century.
August 2 — On This Day in Opera
This page lists notable events in opera history that happened on August 2, including world premieres, composer births, deaths, and important milestones.
1945
Death of Italian composer Pietro Mascagni in Rome at age 81, whose one-act opera *Cavalleria rusticana* ushered in the Verismo era.