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The world's first subway line opened in London in 1863. It was 3.75 mi (6 km) long and soon carried tens of thousands of passengers each day - transporting 9.5 million in its first year. Initially steam-pwered, the system first electrified some of its lines in 1890. By 1896, it was fully electrified. Today, the London Underground system is one of the largest in the world, with 256 mi (410 km) of track and 270 stations. What is the record for visiting them all in the shortest amount of time? More...
1946 - The first General Assembly of the United Nations opens
51 nations were represented on that day.
1929 - The first Adventures of Tintin comic book is published
Hergé's books became hugely popular in Europe and the rest of the world.
1920 - The Treaty of Versailles takes effect
Although a ceasefire had been in place since November 11, 1918, World War I officially ended with the Treaty of Versailles.
1776 - Thomas Paine publishes Common Sense
The pamphlet argued for freedom from British rule and it helped spark the American Revolutionary War.
Historic Trivia pick
TWO CONDUCTORS DIED AFTER CONDUCTING THE SAME OPERA IN THE SAME PLACE
The Richard Wagner opera Tristan und Isolde is considered cursed, and there are plenty of superstitions that surround it. According to Opera Vivra, Wagner had problems writing and producing the work, and once it premiered everyone hated it. His wife left him while he was composing it, one of the leads got extremely ill during rehearsals, and the other one died shortly after starring in it. But the thing that cinched it for the superstitions was two conductors collapsing in the exact same spot while conducting Tristan, 57 years apart.
The Telegraph reports that in 1911 in Munich, 54-year-old celebrity conductor Felix Mottl was leading the 100th performance of the famous work, while his mistress was playing the female lead. According to legend, she was singing the aria "Death-doomed head, death-doomed heart" when Mottl suffered a heart attack and collapsed. New York Public Radio says he managed to hold on 11 more days before dying.
Joseph Keilberth was an expert on Wagner who produced his work for TV and some of the best opera houses in Europe (per Bach Cantatas). Obviously, he was going to have to go near Tristan und Isolde eventually. Still, it must have felt creepy when in 1968 he stood on the same spot in the same orchestra in Munich as Mottl did when he had his heart attack, to conduct the same opera. This time, the male lead had just finished the aria "Let me die, never to awake," when 60-year-old Keilberth did just that.
London Underground Begins Operation
The world's first subway line opened in London in 1863. It was 3.75 mi (6 km) long and soon carried tens of thousands of passengers each day - transporting 9.5 million in its first year. Initially steam-pwered, the system first electrified some of its lines in 1890. By 1896, it was fully electrified. Today, the London Underground system is one of the largest in the world, with 256 mi (410 km) of track and 270 stations. What is the record for visiting them all in the shortest amount of time? More...
1946 - The first General Assembly of the United Nations opens
51 nations were represented on that day.
1929 - The first Adventures of Tintin comic book is published
Hergé's books became hugely popular in Europe and the rest of the world.
1920 - The Treaty of Versailles takes effect
Although a ceasefire had been in place since November 11, 1918, World War I officially ended with the Treaty of Versailles.
1776 - Thomas Paine publishes Common Sense
The pamphlet argued for freedom from British rule and it helped spark the American Revolutionary War.
Historic Trivia pickTWO CONDUCTORS DIED AFTER CONDUCTING THE SAME OPERA IN THE SAME PLACE
The Richard Wagner opera Tristan und Isolde is considered cursed, and there are plenty of superstitions that surround it. According to Opera Vivra, Wagner had problems writing and producing the work, and once it premiered everyone hated it. His wife left him while he was composing it, one of the leads got extremely ill during rehearsals, and the other one died shortly after starring in it. But the thing that cinched it for the superstitions was two conductors collapsing in the exact same spot while conducting Tristan, 57 years apart.
The Telegraph reports that in 1911 in Munich, 54-year-old celebrity conductor Felix Mottl was leading the 100th performance of the famous work, while his mistress was playing the female lead. According to legend, she was singing the aria "Death-doomed head, death-doomed heart" when Mottl suffered a heart attack and collapsed. New York Public Radio says he managed to hold on 11 more days before dying.
Joseph Keilberth was an expert on Wagner who produced his work for TV and some of the best opera houses in Europe (per Bach Cantatas). Obviously, he was going to have to go near Tristan und Isolde eventually. Still, it must have felt creepy when in 1968 he stood on the same spot in the same orchestra in Munich as Mottl did when he had his heart attack, to conduct the same opera. This time, the male lead had just finished the aria "Let me die, never to awake," when 60-year-old Keilberth did just that.
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61-BLUES
