 BEETHOVEN’S Ninth Symphony had its first performance on May 7, 1824, at Vienna’s Karntnertorm Theatre. It was greatly acclaimed by the audience who gave it an unprecedented five standing ovations! But Beethoven was totally deaf by that time. Standing near the conductor, with his back to the audience, Beethoven didn’t hear their reaction. Finally the soprano Karolina Unger approached the composer and turned him towards the audience to acknowledge their admiration for the symphony he could only hear in his head.
[Ludwig van Beethoven (December 16, 1770-March 26, 1827), German composer and pianist, was noted for his extraordinary compositions that included among many others, Moonlight Sonata and Ninth Symphony (Ode to Joy) and is widely considered one of the greatest composers ever.]
 EUPHORBIA pulcherrima, commonly known as 'poinsettia', is named after Joel Poinsett, the first U.S. Minister to Mexico, who introduced it to the U.S. in 1828. Its botanical name means ‘very beautiful’.
 Who am I?
Born on December 31, 1943, I played the title role in Gandhi (1985).
Answer: Ben Kingsley, British actor, born Krishna Bhanji in England. His portrayal of the life of M. K. Gandhi won him the 1982 Oscar Award for Best Actor.
FAMOUS FIRST WORDS
“What hath God wrought?”
(Samuel Morse over the telegraph in 1844)
“Mr Watson, come here. I want to see you.”
(Alexander Bell over the telephone in 1876)
“Mary had a little lamb.”
(Thomas Edison over the phonograph in 1877)
How about that?
Movie role for talking starling
Arnie the starling is coached by one of the world’s leading bird trainers Lloyd Buck, who says the bird can talk, mimic mobile phones and fly beside a vehicle at 40 mph. Lloyd found the bird after it had been rejected from its nest and gained a licence to rear it. Arnie will appear in a British film in 2010. Lloyd says: “He is totally fearless and very smart. He says about 30 different words and phrases, impersonates my wife’s cough and my laughter.”
Compiled by Caroline C. D’Souza
|
|
THIS MONTH IN
Dec. 3, 1967:
South African surgeon Christiaan Barnard performs the first heart transplant. The patient, Louis Washkansky, survives for 18 days.
Dec. 7, 1941:
The Japanese bomb Pearl Harbour, Hawaii. The next day, the U.S. enters World War II.
Dec. 10, 1901:
The first Nobel Prizes are awarded in Stockholm, Sweden.
Dec. 11, 1946:
The U.N. establishes the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) to provide relief to children living in countries devastated by war.
Dec. 14, 1911:
Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen becomes the first person to reach the South Pole.
Dec. 21, 1937:
The animated motion picture Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs premieres.
Dec. 21, 1968:
Apollo 8, the first manned mission to the moon, launches from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Dec. 29, 1952:
The first hearing aid using a transistor goes on sale.
Dec. 31, 1879:
Thomas Edison first publicly demonstrates the electric light bulb.
|
Nuggets