Strasbourg stages the world premiere tomorrow of an opera about its most celebrated citizen.
It’s called La Nuit de Gutenburg and it honours the inventor of movable type, Johannes Gutenberg (usually spelled the German way), who spent a formative part of his adult life as a goldsmith in Strasbourg and has a central square named after him.
Gutenburg, who was born in Mainz, had a pretty turbulent time, getting driven out of one town after another by revolutions, spurned lovers and business dificulties. It seems surprising that Philippe Manoury is the first to choose him as the subject for an opera.
And to do it just as the print media he invented are finally becoming obsolescent.
More details and pictures here.
Recent Comments
chris on The Song of Names is now in China
Just started reading it! (In the original language though.)Norman Lebrecht on The Song of Names is now in China
It's doing... the producer says.Shavuos Tov on The Song of Names is now in China
and how is the film version coming? or is that still just a rumour?Graham Spicer on The Song of Names is now in China
Fantastic news! A HUGE potential market. Congratulations Norman.Pamela Brown on ‘I defaced Richard Wagner’s statue’
Are you implying that RW's anti-Semitism did not apply to the arts? That is surely not impossible, but what...PK Miller on Law report: Performance stops, composer sues
I'm incredulous as well--NINE YEARS???? I'm also w/those who question why the length wasn't noted during rehearsals. Something is fishy...Rosalind on Law report: Performance stops, composer sues
... and that's why all the string instrument playing lawyers I know have far more valuable instruments than your average...Norman Lebrecht on Law report: Performance stops, composer sues
It's called legal process...Norman Lebrecht on A view from the maestro’s bathroom
lovely!PK Miller on Just in: Jazz to be included in BBC Young Musician of the Year
I agree with those who say Jazz should be its own competition and awards. Jazz IS "America's classical music," as...