Noye's Fludde is a one-act opera written largely for young amateur performers, created by the British composer Benjamin Britten. First performed in 1958 at the annual Aldeburgh Festival, it is based on the 15th-century Chester "mystery" play which recounts the biblical story of Noah, the flood and the ark. Britten had written numerous works for mixed professionals and amateurs, and had also used text from the Chester play cycle, for his 1952 Canticle II. For Noye's Fludde he added to the Chester text three congregational hymns, together with the Greek prayer Kyrie eleison and an Alleluia chorus. Of the solo sung roles, only the parts of Noye (Noah) and his wife are intended to be sung by professionals; the remaining roles are taken by child and adolescent performers. The mainly amateur orchestra contains numerous unconventional instruments. At its premiere Noye's Fludde was acclaimed by critics and the public alike, both for the inspiration of the music and for the design and production. Since then it has been staged worldwide; the performance in Beijing in October 2012 was the first in China of any Britten opera. (Full article...)
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Separation of the iceberg from the Larsen C Ice Shelf
A giant iceberg, covering approximately 5,800 km2 (2,200 sq mi), breaks away (separation pictured) from the Larsen C Ice Shelf in Antarctica.
After covering 450 kilometres (280 mi), the Turkish March for Justice concludes in Istanbul at a mass rally attended by hundreds of thousands of people.
The Iraqi government declares victory in the Battle of Mosul.
English writer and journalist W. E. Johns wrote over 150 books and was, after Enid Blyton, "the most prolific and popular children's writer of his time". Most of Johns's work—102 books—consists of the stories of Biggles, a First World War pilot and, later, adventurer, detective and Second World Warsquadron leader. He also wrote science fiction stories, and two further series of war stories, featuring the characters Worrals of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force and Gimlet, a British Commando. Johns served in the army during the First World War. On leaving the Royal Air Force he became a journalist and illustrator. In 1932 he founded Popular Flying magazine and became its first editor. He used the magazine to publish his Biggles short stories. He continued to publish his stories in periodicals and newspapers throughout his career. Six months after the first Biggles stories were published they were collected in book form in The Camels are Coming. Johns also wrote eight non-fiction books, most of which related to flying and pilots. (Full list...)
Shown here is the gold crown from Seobongchong Tumulus (Treasure No. 339), an ornamented crown with five branches standing on the broad crown frame. It is held by the Gyeongju National Museum.
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