| Wednesday, September 30, 2009 |
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Marc Chagall's Rendering of 'The Magic Flute' |
Answer of the DayWhat does The Magic Flute have to do with Freemasonry? The Magic Flute, premiered in Vienna, Austria, on this date in 1791. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart conducted the premier performance of the opera he had composed to the German libretto written by Emanuel Schikaneder. Written in the form of a singspiel, the work has inspired a ballet, films and books. Both Mozart and Schikaneder were Freemasons, and there are numerous Masonic elements in the opera. For example, the number three is very significant in Freemasonry, and Mozart uses three-part harmony in his piece, as well as a reference in the piece's overture to the three raps at the door that signify the initiation of a new member to the organization. Mozart died just two months after the opera's premiere.
Quote"It is a sobering thought that when Mozart was my age, he had been dead for two years."
Word of the daydoss
Chiefly British Slang.
n.
1. Sleep; rest.
2. A crude or makeshift bed.
intr.v.
To go to bed, especially in a crude or makeshift bed; sleep.
George Bernard Shaw pithily observed, "England and America are two countries separated by a common language." For the next fortnight, we'll examine words that are current in the UK but may be unfamiliar to the average American.
Today's History
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| James Dean |
- Little Women: Louisa May Alcott's classic novel of four sisters growing up during the US Civil War was published (1868)
- Munich Agreement: France, Italy, Germany and Britain signed a pact allowing Germany's annexation of the Sudetenland; it became synonymous with appeasement (1938)
- James Dean: Rebel Without a Cause star died in a car crash at age 24 (1955)
- Republic of Botswana: African nation declared its independence from Britain (1966)
Today's Birthdays
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| Elie Weisel |
- Hans Geiger (1882-1945): physicist who invented the Geiger counter; also, physicists Jean Perrin (1870-1942) and Nevill Mott (1905-1996)
- Truman Capote (1924-1984): author of Breakfast at Tiffany's and In Cold Blood
- Elie Weisel (81): Nobel laureate who writes and lectures about his experiences during the Holocaust
- Johnny Mathis (74): pop crooner; other musicians born on this date include Marilyn McCoo (66), John Lombardo (57), Deborah Allen (56), Marty Stuart (51), Marley Marl (47), and Robby Takac and Trey Anastasio (both 45)
- Marion Cotillard (34): Oscar-winning star of La Vie En Rose; also, actors Len Cariou (70), John Finn (57), Fran Drescher (52), Eric Stoltz (48), Andrea Roth (42), Monica Bellucci (41?), Jenna Elfman (38) and Kieran Culkin (27)
- Martina Hingis (29): tennis star; baseball greats Robin Roberts (83), José Lima (37) and Carlos Guillen (34) share this birth date
