Wikipedia:Main Page history/2013 April 30

the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.

From today's featured article

Adrian Boult (1889–1983) was an English conductor, known for championing British music. His first major post was conductor of the City of Birmingham Orchestra in 1924. Appointed director of music of the British Broadcasting Corporation in 1930, he established the BBC Symphony Orchestra, which was regarded as among the best in Britain under his chief conductorship. On retirement from the BBC in 1950, he took up the position of chief conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra and, in what was widely called his "Indian Summer", continued to conduct it until his retirement in 1978. He gave the first performance of his friend Gustav Holst's The Planets, and introduced new works by other British composers including Bliss, Britten, Delius, Tippett, Vaughan Williams and Walton, as well as foreign composers such as Bartók, Berg, Stravinsky, Schoenberg and Webern. A modest man who disliked the limelight, he felt as comfortable in the recording studio as on the concert platform and made recordings throughout his career, many of which have remained in the catalogue for three or four decades. Prominent conductors influenced by him include Colin Davis and Vernon Handley. (Full article...)

Recently featured: Charles Eaton (RAAF officer) – 1923 FA Cup Final – Russell T Davies

Archive – By email – More featured articles...

Did you know...

From Wikipedia's newest content:

... that St. Lawrence's Church (pictured) in the small town of Söderköping, Sweden, has been the venue for royal coronations on two occasions?

... that Lee Tai-Young was the first woman to study at Seoul National University?

... that Hocutt v. Wilson, the first attempt to desegregate higher education in the United States, was dismissed for lack of standing because the president of the university implicated refused to release the transcript of the plaintiff?

... that Satō Tadanobu saved his master Minamoto no Yoshitsune by dressing in his armour and impersonating him?

... that Alabama Crimson Tide football under Nick Saban won college football national championships in their 2009, 2011, and 2012 seasons?

... that when Nicholas Brend, the first owner of the Globe Theatre, died in 1601, his heir was his infant son, Matthew, who would not come of age until 6 February 1621?

... that contemporary reports claimed that French President Félix Faure died receiving fellatio and his penis had to be surgically removed from his mistress's locked jaw?

Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

Today's articles for improvement

List of NASA aircraft – Island – Ernő Rubik

More selections...

In the news

The Independence Party and the Progressive Party win the most seats in the Icelandic parliamentary election.

The South Sudanese government announces that the rebel South Sudan Liberation Army has laid down its arms.

The 11th-century minaret (pictured) of the Great Mosque of Aleppo in Aleppo, Syria, is destroyed during civil war fighting.

At least 380 people are killed and 1,000 injured when a building collapses outside Dhaka, Bangladesh.

British businessman James McCormick is convicted of fraud for selling fake bomb detectors to military and police forces in several countries.

In association football, Manchester United win the Premier League.

Recent deaths: George Jones – Shamshad Begum

Wikinews – More current events...

On this day...

April 30: Children's Day in Mexico; Queen's Day in the Netherlands; Consumer Protection Day in Thailand

313 – Roman emperor Licinius unified the eastern half of the empire under his rule.

1803 – The United States purchased France's claim to the Louisiana Territory (flag raising ceremony pictured) for 78 million francs, or less than US$0.03 per acre.

1943 – Second World War: The Royal Navy submarine HMS Seraph began Operation Mincemeat to deceive Germany about the upcoming invasion of Sicily.

1948 – Twenty-one countries signed a charter in Bogotá, Colombia, establishing the Organization of American States.

1963 – The Bristol Omnibus Company's refusal to employ Black or Asian bus crews led to a bus boycott in Bristol, drawing national attention to racial discrimination in the United Kingdom.

2004 – The New Yorker magazine posted an article and supporting pictures online, postdated May 10, detailing accounts of torture and abuse by American personnel of prisoners held at the Abu Ghraib prison in Baghdad.

More anniversaries: April 29 – April 30 – May 1

Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries

It is now April 30, 2013 (UTC) – Reload this page

Today's featured picture

George Douglas Campbell, 8th Duke of Argyll

George Campbell was a Scottish peer and Liberal politician who thrice served as Lord Privy Seal and was created Duke of Argyll in 1892. Campbell also wrote on science, religion, and politics, including pieces against Charles Darwin's theory of evolution.

Artist: George Frederic Watts

Recently featured: Sony Alpha 700 – Saint Joseph's Oratory – Jeremy Doyle

Archive – More featured pictures...

Other areas of Wikipedia

Community portal – Bulletin board, projects, resources and activities covering a wide range of Wikipedia areas.
Help desk – Ask questions about using Wikipedia.
Local embassy – For Wikipedia-related communication in languages other than English.
Reference desk – Serving as virtual librarians, Wikipedia volunteers tackle your questions on a wide range of subjects.
Site news – Announcements, updates, articles and press releases on Wikipedia and the Wikimedia Foundation.
Village pump – For discussions about Wikipedia itself, including areas for technical issues and policies.