Christoph von Dohnanyi

Did you know. . . that the eminent conductor Christoph von Dohnanyi was the nephew of Protestant theologian and martyr Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945)? Bonhoeffer's older sister, Christel (1895-1965), married Hans von Dohnanyi (1902-1945). Their son was Christoph. Bonhoeffer was an influential Christian writer and preacher. His stance against the Nazis in Germany was heroic. He became involved in a plot to assassinate Hitler for which he was executed.

Eiffel Tower

Did you know? A month after Gustave Eiffel was given the contact to build the now landmark tower, a petition appeared in Le Temps on February 14, 1887 to demand that "in the name of good taste, Eiffel cease and desist with his menace to French history." The petition was signed by, among others, Charles Gounod (composer), Charles Garnier (architect of the Paris Opera) and writers Alexander Dumas and Guy de Maupassant. (Source: Elaine Brody, Paris: The Musical Kaleidoscope 1870-1925 (New York:1987) p.87