On this day in music history - The album Night Songs, by Renée Fleming and Jean-Yves Thibaudet (2001)

Night Songs

by Renée Fleming and Jean-Yves Thibaudet

was released on April 3, 2001.

Track list:

Debussy: Mandoline; Debussy: Apparition; Debussy: Chansons de Bilitis, L. 90 - La Flûte de Pan; Debussy: Chansons de Bilitis, L. 90 - La Chevelure; Debussy: Chansons de Bilitis, L. 90 - Le Tombeau des Naiades; Marx: Nocturne; Marx: Nachtgebet; Marx: Selige Nacht; Marx: Pierrot Dandy; R. Strauss: Ruhe, meine Seele, Op. 27, No. 1; R. Strauss: Schlechtes Wetter, Op. 69, No. 5; R. Strauss: Leises Lied, Op. 39, No. 1; R. Strauss: Leise Lieder, Op. 41a, No. 5; R. Strauss: Caecilie, Op. 27, No. 2; Rachmaninoff: Zdes’ khorosho, Op. 21, No. 7; Rachmaninoff: V molchani nochi taynoy, Op. 4, No. 3; Rachmaninoff: The Waterlily, Op. 8, No. 1; Rachmaninoff: Dreams, Op. 38, No. 5; Rachmaninoff: These Summer Nights, Op. 14, No. 5; Rachmaninoff: Ne poy, krasavitsa, pri mne, Op. 4, No. 4.

E. L. Doctorow, on writing:

 

Writing is an exploration.

You start from nothing and learn as you go.

- E. L. Doctorow.

Recommended reading - 2001: a Space Odyssey

2001: a Space Odyssey

by Arthur C. Clarke.

Published by Ace.

First published 1968.

Paperback.

ISBN-10: 0451452739

ISBN-13: 978-0451452733

Description:

The classic science fiction novel that captures and expands on the vision of Stanley Kubrick’s immortal film – and changed the way we look at the stars and ourselves.

From the savannas of Africa at the dawn of mankind to the rings of Saturn as man ventures to the outer rim of our solar system, 2001: A Space Odyssey is a journey unlike any other.

This allegory about humanity’s exploration of the universe – and the universe’s reaction to humanity – is a hallmark achievement in storytelling that follows the crew of the spacecraft Discovery as they embark on a mission to Saturn. Their vessel is controlled by HAL 9000, an artificially intelligent supercomputer capable of the highest level of cognitive functioning that rivals – and perhaps threatens – the human mind.

Grappling with space exploration, the perils of technology, and the limits of human power, 2001: A Space Odyssey continues to be an enduring classic of cinematic scope. 

On this day in movie history - 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

2001: A Space Odyssey

directed by Stanley Kubrick,

written by Stanley Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke,

based on the short story The Sentinel by Arthur C. Clarke,

was released in the United States on April 2, 1968.

Music by Aram Khachaturyan, György Ligeti, Johann Strauss and Richard Strauss.

Cast:

Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood, William Sylvester, Daniel Richter, Leonard Rossiter, Margaret Tyzack, Robert Beatty, Sean Sullivan, Douglas Rain, Frank Miller, Edwina Carroll, Penny Brahms, Heather Downham, Alan Gifford, Ann Gillis, Chela Matthison, Vivian Kubrick, Kenneth Kendall.

Born on this day – Ethel Lina White:

Ethel Lina White

Writer

April 2, 1876 – August 13, 1944

Credits:

Books:

The Wish-Bone (1927); Twill Soon Be Dark (1929); The Eternal Journey (1930); Put Out the Light (aka Sinister Light) (1931); Fear Stalks the Village (1932); The Spiral Staircase (aka Some Must Watch) (1933); The First Time He Died (1935); Wax (1935); The Wheel Spins (aka The Lady Vanishes) (1936); The Third Eye (1937); The Elephant Never Forgets (1938); Step in the Dark (1939); While She Sleeps! (1940); She Faded into Air (1941); Midnight House (aka The Unseen / Her Heart in Her Throat (1942); The Man Who Loved Lions (aka The Man Who Was Not There (1943); They See in Darkness (1944); Lethal Ladies (2004); The Lady Vanishes / The Spiral Staircase (2015).

Movies and television:

The Lady Vanishes (2013); The Spiral Staircase (2000); Alfred Hitchcock Presents / An Unlocked Window (1985); The Lady Vanishes (1979); The Spiral Staircase (1975); Detective (1969); The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1965); The Spiral Staircase (1961); The Spiral Staircase (1946); The Unseen (1945); The Lady Vanishes (1938).

Born on this day – Alec Guinness:

 

Alec Guinness

Actor

April 2, 1914 – August 5, 2000

Credits:

A Handful of Dust (1988); A Majority of One (1961); A Passage to India (1984); A Run for Your Money (1949); All at Sea (1957); Apostrophes (1986); Aquarius (1976); Arena (1976–1993); Baker's Dozen (1955); Brother Sun, Sister Moon (1972); Caesar and Cleopatra (1976); Cromwell (1970); Damn the Defiant! (1962); Doctor Zhivago (1965); Edwin (1984); Evensong (1934); Eye on New York (1964); Farewell to the Vic (1963); Film '72 (1980–1987); Film Extra (1973); Great Expectations (1946); Great Performances (1986); Hitler: The Last Ten Days (1973); Hollywood Insider (2021); Hotel Paradiso (1966); Interview Day (1996); ITV Playhouse (1974); ITV Saturday Night Theatre (1970); Kafka (1991); Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949); Last Holiday (1950); Late Night with David Letterman (1986); Lawrence of Arabia (1962); Little Dorrit (1987); Little Lord Fauntleroy (1980); Lovesick (1983); Malta Story (1953); Murder by Death (1976); Mute Witness (1995); Oliver Twist (1948); Omnibus (1983–1994); Our Man in Havana (1959); Parkinson (1977); Performance (1992); Q.E.D. (1994); Raise the Titanic (1980); Rowlandson's England (1955); Screen One (1993); Scrooge (1970); Situation Hopeless -- But Not Serious (1965); Smiley's People (1982); Solo (1970); Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977); Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980); Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back: Deleted Scenes (2011); Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983); Startime (1959); The 12th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1960); The 18th Annual Tony Awards (1964); The 52nd Annual Academy Awards (1980); The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957); The British Academy Awards (1983); The Captain's Paradise (1953); The Comedians (1967); The Comedians in Africa (1967); The Detective (1954); The Ed Sullivan Show (1964); The Fall of the Roman Empire (1964); The Film Society Of Lincoln Center Annual Gala Tribute to Alec Guinness (1987); The Horse's Mouth (1958); The Ladykillers (1955); The Lavender Hill Mob (1951); The London Standard Film Awards (1986); The Making of 'Star Wars' (1977); The Man in the White Suit (1951); The Morecambe & Wise Show (1980); The Mudlark (1950); The Prisoner (1955); The Promoter (1952); The Quiller Memorandum (1966); The Rise and Fall of a Jungle Giant (1958); The Scapegoat (1959); The Second Annual West End Theatre Awards (1977); The South Bank Show (1985); The Square Mile (1953); The Steve Allen Plymouth Show (1957); The Stratford Adventure (1954); The Swan (1956); Thirty-Minute Theatre (1969); Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979); To Paris with Love (1955); Tuesday's Documentary (1970); Tunes of Glory (1960); Variety Club of Great Britain Awards for 1957 (1958); Zehn Minuten für den Kinogänger (1965).

Born on this day – Jack Webb:

Jack Webb

Actor

Producer

Director

Writer

April 2, 1920 – December 23, 1982