New Listening: Broadway to La Scala, Brandenburg to Oz.
Some great new CD arrivals in pop, rock, rhythm & blues, film soundtracks, musical theatre, classical music and opera; something for just about everyone.
Well may we say, God save the Queen…
Forty years ago this week saw the climax of one of the most dramatic events in Australian political history when the Whitlam government was dismissed by the Governor-General Sir John Kerr.
Richard Flanagan appointed Australia’s inaugural Chair of Literature
News:
Internationally acclaimed Australian author Richard Flanagan has been appointed as the Boisbouvier Founding Chair of Australian Literature at the University of Melbourne, the first chair of its kind in Australia.
A little history of the humble lamp post
The humble lamp posts on either side of Redmond Barry’s statue might tend to be overlooked, but at 124 years, they are hardy survivors. This week our Pictures team take a closer look at some of Melbourne’s oldest working street fixtures.
New books: revolutions in England, Scotland at war and Mr Nolan transforms the Australian landscape
Painting, Rare Books & Arts, Visual arts:
A clutch of new books explore Turner’s “born again” vision, the back-to-the-future philosophy of William Morris, Scotland’s artists at war, and the remarkable life and art of Sidney Nolan (shown here in a photograph by Albert Tucker, c.1940s).
The race that stops a nation
Take a punt on Melbourne Cup Day and explore our wealth of Cup and horse racing resources online.
Andy Griffiths awarded the 2015 Dromkeen Medal
News:
State Library Victoria today awarded the 2015 Dromkeen Medal to Australia’s bestselling children’s author Andy Griffiths. The Library also presented this year’s Dromkeen Librarian’s Award to Rosario Martinez, the Children’s and Youth Services Librarian at the City of Darwin.
5 things you didn’t know about Australian animation
From the very first Australian animated film to our first Oscar for an animated short, this week we celebrate 100 years of Australian animation.
Did Daylight really come second?
Did daylight ever really come second or is it just another part of Melbourne Cup folklore?
Nobel women – Women of science
Since 1901, Nobel prizes have been awarded 573 times to 900 people or organisations. Of these, there have only been 48 women Nobel Laureates. Those who have won the prizes in the field of science: Physics; Chemistry; or Physiology or Medicine number only 17.
Such was life
Collection of wills from Cohen, Kirby & Co. Solicitors, Bendigo
A recent donation to the Library gives us insight into the last wills and testaments of Victorians of the 19th and 20th Century, from what they were bequeathing to who they held dear.
Arts
Collecting Agatha Christie
Agatha Christie was a leading author of the golden age of detective fiction whose books continue to excite, delight and intrigue readers. To celebrate her outstanding legacy, State Library Victoria recently acquired first editions of some of Christie’s most popular titles.
