L'Arianna (Ariadne) was the second opera by Claudio Monteverdi, composed in 1607–08; all the music is lost apart from the extended recitative known as "Lamento d'Arianna", or "Ariadne's Lament" (pictured). One of the earliest operas, it was first performed on 28 May 1608, as part of the musical festivities for a royal wedding at the court of Duke Vincenzo Gonzaga in Mantua. The libretto was written in eight scenes by Ottavio Rinuccini, who used Ovid's Heroides and other classical sources to relate the story of Ariadne's abandonment by Theseus on the island of Naxos and her subsequent elevation as bride to the god Bacchus.The composer later said that the effort of creating the opera almost killed him. The first performance, produced with lavish and innovative special effects, was highly praised, and the work was equally well received in Venice when it was revived under the composer's direction in 1640 as the inaugural work for the Teatro San Moisè. Expressive laments became an integral feature of Italian opera for much of the 17th century. In recent years the "Lamento" has become popular as a concert and recital piece and has been frequently recorded.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%27Arianna

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1340:

Hundred Years' War: The English fleet commanded by Edward III almost totally destroyed the French fleet at the Battle of Sluys. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Sluys

1622:

Dutch–Portuguese War: An outnumbered Portuguese force repelled a Dutch attack in the Battle of Macau, the only major military engagement that was fought between two European powers on the Chinese mainland. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Macau

1812:

Napoleonic Wars: The French Grande Armée under Napoleon crossed the Neman River, marking the start of their invasion of Russia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_invasion_of_Russia

1981:

The Humber Bridge opened, connecting the East Riding of Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire in England, at the time the longest single-span suspension bridge. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humber_Bridge

2010:

Julia Gillard assumed office as the first female Prime Minister of Australia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julia_Gillard

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

dead tree edition: (idiomatic, pejorative, humorous) Paper version of a publication that can be found online. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/dead_tree_edition

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

Any law that takes hold of a man’s daily life cannot prevail in a community, unless the vast majority of the community are actively in favor of it. The laws that are the most operative are the laws which protect life.   --Henry Ward Beecher https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Henry_Ward_Beecher