Latest news with #WolfgangAmadeusMozart
DW
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- DW
Did Mozart have friends? – DW – 05/28/2025
Mozart had many admirers and would no doubt have countless followers on Instagram today. But did he have real friends? Or did he live solely for music? All is explored at the Mozart festival in Würzburg. If the famous composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart were a child prodigy today, he would probably have millions of followers and "friend" requests on social media. But even in the 18th century, Mozart's father Leopold warned his son against false friends — people who envied him, but also flatterers who only told him what he wanted to hear. This year's Mozartfest Würzburg , which started this week and runs through June 22, is about Mozart's friendships. The festival in Würzburg is the oldest and largest Mozart festival in Germany, held every year at the Würzburg Residence, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The festival's motto this year, "But through sound: friend Mozart," refers to one of his quotes, and how music was his main form of expression — and connection. "A true friendship requires trust and mutual understanding," says artistic director Evelyn Meining, adding that even millions of followers on social media platforms cannot replace such a relationship. His 'dearest friend': A representation of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Joseph Haydn playing together Image: picture-alliance/Leemage The child prodigy without friends? Mozart caused a sensation in the mid-18th century as a so-called wunderkind. He traveled with his father through Europe for years, captivating court nobles with his talent on the violin and piano. But there was no time for close friendships with his peers. "Of course, the family was very focused on itself; the bond was particularly strong in the early 1760s," Meining told DW. Even later, one cannot imagine Mozart hanging out with friends at cozy dining events. "These were more likely relationships built within a musical context: colleagues, musician friends, teachers, patrons or orchestra musicians from the bands," explains Meining. It's through Mozart's musical talent, evident at a very young age, that the English language acquired the word 'wunderkind' Image: akg-images/picture alliance Artistic friendships at the Mozartfest Artistic friendships also play a special role among the performers at the Mozartfest this year. The opening event featured friends Nils Mönkemeyer (viola) and William Youn (piano), accompanied by the Ensemble Resonanz under conductor Riccardo Minasi. Mönkemeyer and Youn met through music. They love Mozart's works, but they also wanted something more modern for their performance. They therefore commissioned Manfred Trojahn, who has made a name for himself with modern operas, to write a new piece: "Trame lunari," a double concerto for viola, piano and chamber orchestra that facilitates an unusual combination of instruments. "Trame lunari" translates roughly as "moon phantoms." "There are many color changes in the piece, many nuances of lighting, and that's what the title refers to," Trojahn told DW. He appreciates the transparency of Mozart's music. "My composition should by light and transparent, just like Mozart's works," Trojahn explains. Mönkemeyer and Youn are a well-rehearsed team. They performed sometimes extremely delicate sounds with nuance and sensitivity. The Mozart Festival's opening concert with Nils Mönkemeyer, playing viola, and William Youn, at the piano Image: Mozartfest/Foto: Dita Vollmond Joseph Haydn, the fatherly friend Mozart is still considered a role model for many musicians today. He himself had role models such as the composer Joseph Haydn and Bach's son, Johann Christian Bach, whom he admired for his elegant, light music. Joseph Haydn was 24 years older than Mozart. They developed a friendly father-son relationship, and Mozart wrote in letters that Haydn was his "dearest friend." In 1785, he dedicated six string quartets to Haydn, to whom he handed the scores, saying they were his "children." Wax portrait reliefs of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Joseph Haydn Image: Oskar Anrather/picture-alliance/brandstaetter images The horn player Joseph Leutgeb was also one of Mozart's close friends. Mozart wrote humorous taunts into his scores, such as "For you, Mr. Donkey." Mozart was also friends with Anton Stadler, one of the best clarinetists of his time. He composed a clarinet quintet and a clarinet concerto for him. Later, as Mozart became increasingly ill and lonely, he wrote that music was essentially his only friend. The 'false friends'? And what about the false friends Mozart's father worried about? One of them appears in Milos Forman's 1984 film, "Amadeus": Antonio Salieri is portrayed in the movie as a mediocre composer and as Mozart's adversary, scheming behind Mozart's back and even poisoning him. The story of Mozart and Salieri's alleged rivalry has been brought to the screen through the 1984 film 'Amadeus' Image: Leemage/dpa/picture-alliance Although this narrative has long since been refuted, it remains a popular belief. Evelyn Meining wants to dispel such clichés at the Mozartfest: "Salieri was not a vicious competitor. That's all untrue," she says. Nor was he a failure living in Mozart's shadow, but a respected court composer. "Mozart and Salieri held each other in high esteem," Meining adds. The 'Black Mozart' Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, is also portrayed as Mozart's rival in literature and in the film "Chevalier" (2022), directed by Stephen Williams. Born in Guadeloupe in 1745, the son of a white French nobleman and a Black slave, he came to France as a child. He made a name for himself early on as a violinist and composer. Joseph Haydn later composed for Bologne's own orchestra. Bologne was also considered for the position of director of the Academie Royale de Musique, but racial discrimination prevented his appointment. The violin duel between Mozart and Bologne depicted in the film "Chevalier" never actually took place. It is questionable whether Bologne, nine years older than Mozart, even had direct contact with him as a young musician. As composers who were active at the same time and were celebrated artists in their circles, it has simply been since assumed that they were competitors, explains Meining. Even the label "Black Mozart" for Joseph Bologne only came about posthumously. Composer Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges (1745-1799) Image: Fine Art Images/Heritage Images/picture alliance Friendships yesterday and today The festival's "Mozart Laboratory" hosts discussions on the topic of friendship, with a focus on artistic associations and social networks. "Because, of course, we are in the midst of a revolutionary social transformation, strongly driven by new digital developments such as the internet, social media and AI," says Meining. To counteract this, there will also be concerts held in private homes, where like-minded people can come together and perhaps rediscover music as a "medium of friendship." Who knows, the event might lead to new friendships. This article was originally written in German.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Events happening this weekend in Mississippi: May 2-4
JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – Take some time to unwind with friends, family or yourself this weekend. Below you'll find a list of some fun events going on this weekend (May 2-4) around Mississippi. – Jackson – Friday This multi-vendor event celebrates Jackson's food truck cuisine and culture. – Jackson – Friday The event will be held at Hal & Mal's. – Jackson – Friday A benefit concert and community event supporting Clean Up Jackson and hosted at Cathead Distillery. – Jackson – Friday Taste of the Mediterranean is a celebration of Greek culture, cuisine, and community. This event promises to bring together food enthusiasts, local businesses, and supporters for a night of flavors, entertainment, and connection. – Brandon – Friday The concert will begin at 7:00 p.m. and is part of Brandon's Jubilee Days. – Natchez – Friday Natchez Festival of Music presents Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's greatest operatic success. – Natchez – Friday This free, live music concert will feature Solidified. Classics in the Courtyard – Vicksburg – Friday This event will offer a variety of entertainment through different genres of classical music. Fools – Vicksburg – Friday Enjoy this comedic fable written by Neil Simon. – Byram – Friday and Saturday There will be music, craft and food vendors, car show, cornhole tournament and fireworks both nights! – Jackson – Friday, Saturday & Sunday The Trail to Oregon! is a wildly irreverent musical comedy based on the classic 90s video game The Oregon Trail. Created by the team behind A Very Potter Musical, this interactive show follows a dysfunctional pioneer family making their perilous journey westward. – Jackson – Friday, Saturday & Sunday This exhibition will feature over 50 handmade and machine-stitched quilts from MMA's permanent collection, including Crossroads Quilters, Gwendolyn Magee, and several collected by American photographer Roland L. Freeman on his travels. – Jackson – Friday, Saturday & Sunday Enter the wonderfully puzzling world of Mindbender Mansion, an eclectic place full of brainteasers and interactive challenges guaranteed to test the brain power and problem solving skills of even the most experienced puzzlers! Hurricane Katrina: Mississippi Remembers – Jackson – Friday, Saturday & Sunday Hurricane Katrina: Mississippi Remembers showcases photographs by Vicksburg-based artist Melody Golding, documenting the resilience of Mississippians after the storm. Jubilee Days – Brandon – Friday, Saturday & Sunday Jubilee Days is a week-long celebration held each spring that includes a Midway Carnival, a concert, a 5K Trail Run and Wheelchair Tennis Tournament, an Artist Market, and an array of other family-friendly events. – Jackson – Saturday The MMA Plant Sale offers a unique selection of rare and native plants perfect for Mid-South gardens. – Jackson – Saturday Enjoy yoga and meditation in The Art Garden, facilitated by yoga instructor Maya Morris of Split Rebel Yoga. – Jackson – Saturday Celebrate the most stylish two minutes in sports with an evening steeped in Southern charm and Derby-day delight. – Jackson – Saturday The Mississippi Museum of Natural Science will host a night under the starts with the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra and NASA's Solar System Ambassadors. – Jackson – Saturday From persimmons to peaches, from bok choy to butter beans, the Mississippi Farmers Market is the one place to go for the freshest fruits and vegetables that are grown in the state. – Brandon – Saturday The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. and is part of Brandon's Jubilee Days. – Brandon – Saturday Lace up your sneakers and hit the scenic trails of Quarry Park in Brandon for this 10k Run/3k Walk. – Natchez – Saturday The festival will be held on the grounds of historic Dunleith. – Natchez – Saturday Get your Kentucky Derby Day Celebration started at Choctaw Hall with the most delicious Tea Foods, Tea, Champagne and Mint Juleps! – Natchez – Saturday Enjoy a live streaming of the race, Derby fare dining, live music, raffle, games, cash bar, and more! – Natchez – Saturday It is the operatic version of the story of Little Red Riding Hood based on scenes from operas by J. Offenbach and G. Rossini. – Natchez – Saturday Join the Natchez Brewing Company & Kitchen for their Cinco de Mayo celebration! – Natchez – Saturday Every week there will be live fresh produce, baked goods, fresh dairy, and arts and crafts all from local growers and artists. – Ridgeland – Saturday The Natchez Trace Century Ride provides riders the unique opportunity to ride a portion of the Natchez Trace Parkway. – Ridgeland – Saturday Guests can sample more than 120 exceptional wines and fine food samplings from many of Mississippi's top restaurants. Run 4 Jesus – Vicksburg – Saturday Participate in a 5k run or walk in support of S.W.A.G. Ministries and the Serenity House Female Sober Living. Big Wheels Keep On Turning – Vicksburg – Saturday The Junior Auxiliary of Vicksburg presents this family-friendly event where children can explore a variety of large trucks, heavy machinery, emergency vehicles, recreational vehicles and much more. Mudbug Music Fest – Vicksburg – Saturday This event will begin at 3:00 p.m. at the Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation. Tea Time at the Martha Vick House – Vicksburg – Saturday and Sunday Tickets include tea, made from scratch savories, scones, and sweets. – Jackson – Sunday Join JXN Run Club for an uplifting and community-driven run every Sunday! – Jackson – Sunday Enjoy a unique violin performance featuring lightsaber bows by Sarah Walker, participate in a Star Wars Costume Contest, try themed drinks, and watch a special movie screening on the LED screen. Little Black Dress Social – Vicksburg – Sunday Enjoy a great night of food, entertainment, and socializing. – Hattiesburg – Friday Enjoy performances by a diverse lineup of talented musicians, ranging from local favorites to regional acts, covering various genres to suit all musical tastes. Coffee With Kittens – Hattiesburg – Friday The event will be held at Equinox Coffee. Senior Show in Drawing and Painting, Ceramics and Sculpture – Hattiesburg – Sunday A fine art exhibition of the final BFA capstone projects by seniors, showcasing a diverse range of work in Drawing and Painting, Ceramics, and Sculpture. – Laurel – Friday Enjoy karaoke at 320 5th St. in Laurel. Shrek the Musical Jr. – Hattiesburg – Friday, Saturday & Sunday Be apart of a 'big bright beautiful world' and join everyone's favorite ogre, Shrek, as he lead a cast of fairytale misfits on an adventure to rescue a princess and find true acceptance. – Hattiesburg – Friday, Saturday & Sunday The Hattiesburg Pocket Museum has a new exhibit every month, so be sure to head downtown for a small surprise! Bourbon and Cocktail Brunch – Hattiesburg – Saturday Enjoy a First Saturday Brunch featuring a full Brunch Menu and Bourbon Cocktails! Candle-Making Workshop – Hattiesburg – Saturday Enjoy a fun-filled day with music, champagne, and shopping! Kentucky Derby Pub Stroll – Hattiesburg – Saturday Grab your hats and best suits and meet us at Bourbon on Front for a spectacular race day. Southern Prohibition 12 Year Anniversary – Hattiesburg – Saturday Enjoy the 12 Year Anniversary of Southern Prohibition. – Laurel – Saturday Patrons can enjoy live music, art competitions, delicious festival cuisine, children's activities, and the works of skilled craftsmen from across the region. – Laurel – Saturday Local musicians, poets, etc. come and perform original material, as well as covers, for a laid-back, supportive audience. Jellyfish: LGBTQIA+ Youth Group – Hattiesburg – Sunday Come to TSC every first Sunday of the month for the Jellyfish Youth Group. Southern Miss Piano Institute Spring Recital – Hattiesburg – Sunday The School of Music presents the Southern Miss Piano Institute Spring Recital. This concert will feature performances from pre-college students and adults in the community. Close Thanks for signing up! 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Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The Internet Can Tell You What We Know. But There's Also a Website That Collects What We Don't Know.
Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. What is the etymology of curmudgeon? What caused Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's death at age 35? Why do many fungi species generate electrical activity? The website Wikenigma, an 'encyclopedia of unknowns,' won't provide answers to these conundrums, and that's the whole point. In an age of unprecedented access to information, Wikenigma relishes in highlighting the unexplainable across the sciences, history, language, philosophy, and psychology. The site was created in 2016 by Martin Gardiner, a British art and science investigator and former contributor to the publication Improbable Research, which is behind the Ig Nobel Prize. (The satirical award has honored scientists like those who tried to figure out whether beards really did evolve among humans to protect us from being punched—this won in the Peace category.) In researching the unusual and seemingly inconsequential in science, Gardiner noticed a lack of resources dedicated to what is not known. So he decided to create his own, working with a small handful of contributors to grow slowly: They reached 500 articles in 2020 and now boast more than 1,100. Gardiner explained to me over email that as a curator, he tries to avoid ' 'unfalsifiable' floaty concepts like the famous 'Does God Have a Beard?' question.' Instead, he thinks, the best entries are 'the ones which most people would (quite reasonably) assume are not unknown. For example, I don't think many people would guess that no one knows exactly how any of the currently used general anaesthetics work. Or why humans yawn, or why we tend to like flowers or music.' Although it might seem trivial to group such a wide range of topics—from a crucial medical practice to the lighter fancies of the human mind—into a whole, they encapsulate the complex nature of the human experience. The exact causes of earworms (otherwise known as involuntary musical imagery) are still mysteries, and so are the reasons people suffer from panic disorder or pica. This extends to all areas covered on Wikenigma: The origins of golf (which may have been first played during Roman times, in China, or in the Netherlands) are as disputed as the much more consequential invention of the wheel. Gardiner explained that with the Ig Nobels, 'the 'hook' phrase they use is 'things that make people laugh and then think.' ' Although with Wikenigma, there's less humor and Gardiner restrains himself from inserting double entendres and other wordplay, 'I did learn from my stint with the Igs that it's often very very hard to decide whether or not something is 'trivial'—sometimes the most oddball-sounding things can, in hindsight, turn out to be super important.' For example, Sir Andre Geim was awarded an Ig Nobel in 2000 for levitating a frog via magnetism. In 2010 the University of Manchester physicist was awarded a Nobel Prize for studying graphene's electromagnetic properties. And like the Igs, Wikenigma makes scientific research accessible to a broader audience. As you surf around the site, the influence of fellow knowledge source Wikipedia is clear: Wikenigma is open-access and organized clearly by research category. Short articles provide background on the topic, linking to relevant academic work and other entries. Also, like Wikipedia, it enables interaction by allowing for edits and encouraging rabbit holes with hashtags and a feature leading to random articles. (As with Wikipedia, donations to cover server costs are welcomed.) As Gardiner wrote in his curator rationale, 'The idea is to act as a catalyst for curiosity in a general sense—as well as trying to identify possible starting points for (re)cultivating interest in scientific, academic and of course, armchair-based research.' And there's much to be discovered about these enigmas: Only three items appear in the 'Resolved' category. The most recent is the beeswax wreck, a long-unidentified shipwreck off the Oregon coast that resulted in the local Clatsop tribe having copious amounts of beeswax, which they traded with explorers in the early 19th century. With the material regularly turning up on beaches, the odd occurrence garnered national attention—a piece of the wax was examined at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. But no sign of a boat was found until fisherman Craig Andes (who's also a bit of a treasure and history enthusiast) began discovering timber in sea caves in the 2010s; historians and researchers studied beams of wood that they now believe most likely came from the Spanish trade ship Santo Cristo de Burgos, which disappeared, laden with beeswax and other trade goods, in the 1690s. Gardiner explained that this update came from a reader; these exchanges are becoming more frequent as the site continues to grow in popularity: In February of this year, around 100,000 visitors resulted in a total of over 600,000 page views. (It was also shouted out by Annie Rauwerda, who runs the popular social media account @depthsofwikipedia.) Gardiner, who reviews all the content, is the first to admit to the limits of his own knowledge. Specialists often reach out to sharpen the site's accuracy, he said: 'A mycologist pointed out that 'fungi' needed their own index section (I had mistakenly put them in the 'botany' section). A researcher who's studying whether or not chewing gum helps concentration alerted me to some updates on the subject—but still no one is quite sure.' Contributors also provide insight about their specific areas of interest, such as Marco Di Biasi, a 22-year-old Italian computer science student who researched the traveling salesman problem. The enigma involves a list of cities and the distance between each pair; the 'salesman' must find the shortest possible route to visit each one just once and return to the original city. As Di Biasi wrote in the Wikenigma entry, 'The problem has been examined since the 1930s. but a formal mathematical 'proof'—which could enable a quick and exact computation, has not yet been found.' He explained to me that solving such an enigma 'may sound obvious, but in computer science, it's not, because there are infinite possibilities and we have to choose the best one.' He became interested in these sorts of optimization problems after learning about them in school, particularly when the choices made by a computer differ from those of humans: 'Even if computer science is a science made by humans, it's also fascinating how we don't know everything about it.' Gardiner hopes for more contributors to join because, 'as several agnoiologists [those who study ignorance] have helpfully pointed out, the site will never be finished. And new discoveries and explanations tend to throw up even more new questions.' Especially in a time of unprecedented levels of online misinformation and attacks on the truth, Wikenigma's role as a powerful counter seems to be more and more crucial. It's grounded not only in fact-based information, highlighting the scientific method and researchers dedicated to decoding some of the trickiest areas of study, but also in the humility to admit what can't be unequivocally understood. Inevitably in this era, such studiously neutral resources are under attack. Conservative think tank the Heritage Foundation, which is behind Project 2025, intends to 'identify and target' anonymous Wikipedia editors it accuses of antisemitism over coverage of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. And right after Donald Trump took power in January, Elon Musk called for a boycott of the site over its description of his infamous inauguration arm gesture. This contested relationship between Musk and the website dates back to at least 2019, when it seemed Musk began to take an interest in his page's content. Although he bought Twitter perhaps to have total authority over that platform, he can't control another of the most widely browsed sources of information about him. In a spat on X over the billionaire's entry, Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales responded to Musk's call to 'defund' the site: 'I think Elon is unhappy that Wikipedia is not for sale.' Wikenigma, like its more mainstream namesake, has made its position on the current internet landscape clear. Gardiner explained that he deleted the site's X account 'when I realized that Wikenigma was, in effect, providing free content for whom Yanis Varoufakis [Greece's former finance minister] now calls a 'TechnoBaron.' That's quite a polite word for it.' Gardiner has also taken a firm stance against artificial intelligence scraping, disallowing it in the site's CC license. Still, 'the number of bots which ignore the instructions is growing every day,' he said. Unsurprisingly, the question of whether A.I. will reach or surpass human intelligence levels (known as artificial general intelligence) is the subject of a Wikenigma article. As the article explains, 'Note that AGI's definition is greatly complicated by the lack of agreement about what biological Intelligence itself actually is, and how to define it. Some proponents of AGI suggest the possibility that systems could one day become 'conscious' (by some unknown means) though again, there is currently no agreement about what Consciousness itself actually is.' It's enigmas all the way down.
Chicago Tribune
27-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Today in History: President Donald Trump bars all refugees from entering the US for 4 months
Today is Monday, Jan. 27, the 27th day of 2025. There are 338 days left in the year. Today in history: On Jan. 27, 2017, President Donald Trump barred all refugees from entering the United States for four months, declaring the ban necessary to prevent 'radical Islamic terrorists' from entering the country. Also on this date: In 1756, composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in Salzburg, Austria. In 1880, Thomas Edison received a patent for his electric incandescent lamp. In 1945, during World War II, Soviet troops liberated the Nazi concentration camps Auschwitz and Birkenau in Poland. In 1967, astronauts Virgil I. 'Gus' Grissom, Edward H. White and Roger B. Chaffee died in a flash fire during a test aboard their Apollo spacecraft at Cape Canaveral, Florida. In 1973, the Vietnam peace accords were signed in Paris, ending direct U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. In 1984, singer Michael Jackson suffered serious burns to his scalp when pyrotechnics set his hair on fire during the filming of a Pepsi-Cola TV commercial at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. In 2013, a fire started by pyrotechnics in the Kiss nightclub in Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, killed 242 people and injured over 600. Today's birthdays: Actor James Cromwell is 85. Rock musician Nick Mason (Pink Floyd) is 81. Ballet star Mikhail Baryshnikov is 77. U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts is 70. Political and sports commentator Keith Olbermann is 66. Actor Bridget Fonda is 61. Actor Alan Cumming is 60. Country singer Tracy Lawrence is 57. Rock singer Mike Patton is 57. Rapper Tricky is 57. Actor-comedian Patton Oswalt is 56.
