Wikipedia:Main Page history/2012 October 22

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The opera Nixon in China by John Adams (pictured), with a libretto by Alice Goodman, premiered at the Houston Grand Opera on October 22, 1987. Adams' first opera, it was inspired by the 1972 visit to China by US President Richard Nixon. The composer augmented the usual orchestral instruments with a large saxophone section, additional percussion, and an electronic synthesizer. Displaying a variety of musical styles, the score embraces minimalism alongside passages echoing 19th-century composers, and mixes Stravinskian 20th-century neoclassicism, jazz references, and big band sounds reminiscent of Nixon's youth in the 1930s. The opera has been presented on many occasions, in both Europe and North America, and has been recorded twice. In 2011, the opera was staged at the Metropolitan Opera, based on the original sets. Recent critical opinion recognizes the work as a significant and lasting contribution to American opera. (more...) Recently featured: Introduction to viruses – Andjar Asmara – United States v. Wong Kim Ark Archive – By email – More featured articles...
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From Wikipedia's newest content: ... that the Royal Palace (gate pictured) of ancient Ugarit in Syria had fortification walls whose base sloped outward 45 degrees? ... that Norwegian footballer Jon Midttun Lie had Tom Nordlie as head coach in three different clubs? ... that Mehtab Bagh was the last of eleven Mughal-built gardens along the Yamuna River opposite the Taj Mahal and the Agra Fort? ... that Angelo Masci grouped Illyrian, "Epirote", and Macedonian into one language family, which he considered to be the proto-language of Albanian? ... that to seek self-fulfillment is to seek the good life? ... that the Witchcraft Suppression Act of 1957 makes it illegal to call another person a wizard in South Africa? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
Pope Benedict XVI canonizes seven new saints, including Kateri Tekakwitha, the first Native American to be canonized. Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg, marries Countess Stéphanie de Lannoy. Lebanese intelligence chief Wissam al-Hassan is assassinated in a car bomb attack in Beirut that kills eight people and injures more than 100 others. The discovery of an Earth-sized planet (artist's impression pictured) in Alpha Centauri, the star system closest to Earth, is announced. Hilary Mantel wins the Man Booker Prize for the second time in four years for her novel Bring Up the Bodies. Syrian civil war – Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
October 22: Labour Day in New Zealand (2012) 1730 – Construction of the Ladoga Canal linking the Neva and the Svir River, one of the first major canals constructed in Russia, was completed. 1844 – Millerites, including future members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, were greatly disappointed that Jesus did not return as predicted by American preacher William Miller. 1895 – A Granville–Paris Express train overran the buffer stop at Paris' Gare Montparnasse station, careening across the concourse before crashing out of the station and plummeting onto the Place de Rennes below. 1962 – Cold War: U.S. President John F. Kennedy announced that Soviet nuclear weapons (pictured) had been discovered in Cuba and that he had ordered a naval "quarantine" of the island nation. 2008 – India launched Chandrayaan-1, the country's first unmanned lunar mission. More anniversaries: October 21 – October 22 – October 23 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now October 22, 2012 (UTC) – Refresh this page

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A black-and-white photograph of a man with a dark beard wearing a turban and robes, sitting on a patterned chair, and looking at the viewer

The Sultans of Zanzibar were the rulers of the Sultanate of Zanzibar, which was created on 19 October 1856 after the death of Said bin Sultan, who had ruled Oman and Zanzibar as the Sultan of Oman since 1804. Two of Said bin Sultan's sons, Majid bin Said (pictured) and Thuwaini bin Said, struggled over the succession, so Zanzibar and Oman were divided into two separate principalities; Thuwaini became the Sultan of Oman while Majid became the first Sultan of Zanzibar. With the signing of the Heligoland–Zanzibar Treaty in 1890 during Ali bin Said's reign, Zanzibar became a British protectorate. In December 1963, Zanzibar was granted independence by the United Kingdom and became a constitutional monarchy under the Sultan. Sultan Jamshid bin Abdullah was overthrown a month later during the Zanzibar Revolution. The Sultanate was replaced by the People's Republic of Zanzibar and Pemba which, in April 1964, united with Tanganyika to form what became known as Tanzania six months later. (more...)

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An immature Azure Damselfly (Coenagrion puella). This damselfly species is found in most of Europe. It is notable for its black and blue colouring, but is often mistaken for the Common Blue Damselfly, which is found across the same range.

Photo: Richard Bartz

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