By Rick Howlett
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wuky/local-wuky-937081.mp3
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The University of Louisville has announced the 2011 Grawemeyer Award for Music Composition goes to a work by Dutch composer Louis Andriessen.
He's being honored for his multimedia opera "La Commedia." The five-part piece is based on Dante's "The Divine Comedy."
The 71 year old Andriessen says he's long been an admirer Dante and his epic poem.
"I consider the book of Dante in the first place an encyclopedia of knowledge, and it's a very important political manifesto also for him."
The Grawemeyer Award includes a $100,000 cash prize. Winners of the prize in psychology, religion and ideas for improving world order will be announced later this week.