What could be more melodramatic than the presidential primaries? Opera, of course! So, I've created a primer for the soon-to-be opera enthusiasts among our readers. Do you want some history before the fun of listening to our presidential candidates in their title roles? Why, yes you do! But only so you can enjoy this splendid art form all the more.
Opera combines drama and singing in a theatrical setting with a substantial orchestral component. The fusion of music and drama can be traced back to the Middle Ages in Europe, and even earlier in ancient Greece and non-Western nations such as China, where opera began in the 3rd century A.D.
Gertrude Elion (1918-1999) received the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1988, one of the few women to receive the honor. Her pioneering work included the first chemotherapy drug for childhood leukemia; laying the groundwork for the AZT drug for AIDS; and creating both the first successful anti-viral medication and the first effective immunosuppressant for organ transplants. Her tenacity and desire to help others motivated her to overcome the anti-Semitism and gender discrimination she faced among academics and prospective employers.
A New York City native, Elion enjoyed a happy childhood and a close-knit family. Her father, a dentist, was a Lithuanian immigrant, and her mother emigrated from a region in Russia that was later part of Poland. Although she was interested in many subjects as a student, the death of her grandfather prompted her to study chemistry at Hunter College. She later wrote, "One of the deciding factors may have been that my grandfather, whom I loved dearly, died of cancer when I was 15. I was highly motivated to do something that might eventually lead to a cure for this terrible disease."
