Monday, October 10, 2005

 

Spotlight: Italian composer of operas Giuseppe Verdi was born on this date in 1813. Among his most famous works are Rigoletto, Il Trovatore, La Traviata, Don Carlos and Aida. A fan of William Shakespeare, Verdi wrote operas based on three of his plays: Macbeth, Othello and Falstaff. Verdi hoped to study organ at the Milan Conservatory, but was not accepted to the school, due to what they deemed his inadequate training. He studied privately and was successful at having his pieces performed at La Scala.

Quote: "Verdi is my god and my other influences are Berlioz and Puccini, with a dash of Debussy in my orchestration." – David Lloyd George

Word of the day: marquis: a nobleman ranking above an earl or a count and below a duke; Verdi was offered a marquisate, but declined the appointment. (© )

Holiday: Columbus Day, observed (US)

Thanksgiving (Canada)

Today's News:

• Hillary Clinton: to join Women's Hall of Fame (story)
• Mount Everest: it's not all there anymore (story)
• Jessica Biel: named "sexiest woman alive" (story)

Today's History:

• Battle of Tours: Franks defeated the Moors, halting the Muslim advance into Western Europe (732)
• Fiji: became a British colony (1874); became independent of Britain (1970)
• black tie: the tuxedo debuted at the autumn ball of the Tuxedo Club in Tuxedo Park, New York (1886)

Today's Birthdays:

• Helen Hayes: "First Lady of the American Theater" (1900-1993)
• Thelonious Monk: jazz pianist/composer, founder of bebop (1917-1982)
• Dale Earnhardt, Jr.: race car driver, winner of the 2004 Daytona 500 (31)