11-Year-Old Earns Standing Ovation with New Opera
Over the holidays, a new opera debuted in Vienna to a standing ovation. Now, that sentiment on its own doesn’t sound especially spectacular, but it does when you learn that the opera, a re-telling of the classic Cinderella fairytale, was written by 11-year-old Alma Deutscher. Deutscher is no stranger to musical composition, having written her first piano sonata at age six and a short opera based on a Neil Gaiman story just a year after. This two-and-a-half-hour long opera is certainly Deutscher’s most ambitious work to date, with a musical score totaling 237 pages. The prodigy herself performs in the opera, popping on-stage to play musical interludes on piano and violin throughout the production. The story’s reimagining takes place inside of an opera house where Cinderella is a composer. Instead of a glass slipper, the prince searches long and hard to find whoever wrote the inspiring melody that haunts him. Deutscher said the changes made much more sense to her than a glass slipper, stating “Lot of people might have the same sized-foot, but only one person could have written that melody.” (The Guardian)
Ray Davies, Knighted
The Kinks’ frontman Ray Davies was sworn into knighthood on Saturday for his service to the arts as part of Queen Elizabeth’s annual New Year’s Honours list. Back in 2004, Davies was awarded the CBE- Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire by the Queen. Former rock icons knighted into royalty include Elton John, Mick Jagger, Paul McCartney, and Rod Stewart. David Bowie turned down the honor in 2003. Joining Davies on this year’s list include Oscar-winning actor Mark Rylance, tennis star Andy Murray, Vogue editor Anna Wintour, and fashion icon and former Spice Girls singer Victoria Beckham. (Rolling Stone)
-Taylor Wallace
