Category: Anniversaries

Born in Paris on 9 October 1835, Camille Saint-Saëns grew up as an only child in the care of his mother Clémence and his great-aunt Charlotte Masson, as his father, an official in the Ministry of the Interior, had died within a few months of his son’s birth. The boy’s extraordinary gifts as a polymath, … Continue reading “Camille Saint-Saëns centenary (1835–1921)”

Fyodor Dostoevsky (Dostoyevsky) [11 November 1821-9 February 1881], renowned Russian novelist, short story writer, essayist, and journalist, his literary works explore human psychology in the troubled political, social and spiritual atmospheres of 19th century Russia. His most notable works were: Crime and Punishment, The Idiot, The Brothers Karamazov, with his 1864 novella ‘Notes from Underground’ considered to … Continue reading “200th anniversary of Fyodor Dostoevsky’s birth”

Engelbert Humperdinck (1 September 1854 – 27 September 1921) was a German composer, most widely known for his opera Hansel and Gretel. He produced his first composition aged 7, though his parents disapproved of his plans for a career in music and encouraged him to study architecture. Hänsel und Gretel, conducted by Richard Strauss, was produced at … Continue reading “Engelbert Humperdinck centenary”

The Attica Prison riot occurred at the Attica Correctional Facility in Attica, New York on 9 September 1971. It was the bloodiest encounter between Americans since the US Civil War, leaving 43 people dead – including ten prison officers and civilian employees, and 33 inmates – and 89 seriously injured. The revolt was based upon prisoners’ demands for … Continue reading “50 years on from the Attica Prison riot”

Gertrude Stein (3 February 1874–27 July 1946) was an American novelist, poet, playwright and art collector. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, she moved to Paris in 1903, hosting a Paris salon at 27 Rue de Fleurus, where the leading figures in art and literature of the day, including Picasso, Matisse and Henri Rousseau, would meet. In … Continue reading “Gertrude Stein 75th anniversary”

Considered by critics to be one of the most influential authors of the 20th century, Valentin Louis Georges Eugène Marcel Proust (1871–1922), French novelist, critic, and essayist, wrote the monumental novel À la recherche du temps perdu (In Search of Lost Time, earlier rendered as Remembrance of Things Past). By the age of nine, Proust had had … Continue reading “150th anniversary of the birth of Marcel Proust”

75th anniversary of the death of John Logie Baird (1888-1946), a Scottish inventor, known as the Father of Television. In 1926 he demonstrated the first working television and went on to invent the first publicly demonstrated colour television system. In early 1923, and in poor health, Baird moved to Hastings. He built what was to … Continue reading “John Logie Baird 75th anniversary”

Radio 4 marks the 80th birthday of Bob Dylan with a series of essays, an original audio drama and a documentary, each celebrating the musician widely regarded as one of the greatest songwriters of all time. https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2021/radio4-celebrates-bob-dylan Born Robert Allen Zimmerman on 24 May 1941, Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, author and visual artist. … Continue reading “Bob Dylan @ 80”

3 May marks 70 years since the Royal Festival Hall in London was opened. Now a Grade 1 listed building (the first post-war building to be Grade 1 listed), the Royal Festival Hall was built as part of the Festival of Britain, a five month national exhibition and fair held to help the nation recover … Continue reading “70th anniversary of the opening of the Royal Festival Hall”

Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky (June 1882 – 6 April 1971) a Russian-born composer, pianist and conductor widely considered one of the most important and influential composers of the 20th century, whose work had a revolutionary impact on musical thought and sensibility just before and after World War I. He was honoured with the Royal Philharmonic Society … Continue reading “50th anniversary of the death of Igor Stravinsky”