Happy Birthday, Manuel de Falla! 1876

Manuel María de los Dolores Falla y Matheu was born November 23, 1876, in Cádiz, Spain, and is the most distinguished Spanish composer of the early 20th century. In his music he achieved a fusion of poetry, asceticism, and ardour that represents the spirit of Spain at its purest. Falla took piano lessons from his… Continue reading Happy Birthday, Manuel de Falla! 1876

The Devils of Loudon — Opera by Krzysztof Penderecki, based in Aldous Huxley’s nonfiction book.

One of Huxley’s most important later works is The Devils of Loudun (1952), a detailed psychological study of a historical incident in which a group of 17th-century French nuns were allegedly the victims of demonic possession. (Encyclopedia Britannica) Penderecki writes the music and libretto based on this book. It is a historical narrative of supposed demonic possession, religious fanaticism, sexual… Continue reading The Devils of Loudon — Opera by Krzysztof Penderecki, based in Aldous Huxley’s nonfiction book.