Who Wrote These Operas? Trivia Quiz

Answer: Verdi

Verdi's "Aida" is a classic tale of love, loyalty, and betrayal set in ancient Egypt. Premiering in 1871, it tells the story of Aida, an Ethiopian princess enslaved in Egypt, and her love for Radamès, an Egyptian military commander. The two lovers end up walled up in a vault together, facing their joint deaths with typical operatic fortitude.

Answer: Verdi

Verdi's 1893 work "Falstaff" is one of his two late, great operas based on Shakespeare (the other being "Otello") and is one of his few comic operas. Based on Shakespeare's "The Merry Wives of Windsor", the opera showcases the misadventures of the roguish Sir John Falstaff as he attempts to woo two married women at the same time.

Answer: Verdi

"Rigoletto," which premiered in 1851, is one of Verdi's most popular works. The opera is a dark and tragic tale centred on the hunchbacked court jester Rigoletto and his beautiful daughter Gilda, who he keeps sequestered from the world for her own safety. Unfortunately, she falls in love with the dissolute Duke of Mantua, and from then on her fate is sealed.

Answer: Rossini

Rossini's classic 1816 work "The Barber of Seville" is a sparkling example of opera buffa. It follows the cunning barber Figaro as he helps his master, Count Almaviva, win the heart of the beautiful Rosina. In modern terms, it may be regarded as a "prequel" to Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro", which is based on a play by the same author, Pierre Beaumarchais.

Answer: Rossini

Rossini's "William Tell," premiered in 1829, is his final opera, and a four-hour saga of Swiss nationalism. The opera tells the story of the legendary Swiss hero William Tell, who defies Austrian oppression and leads his country to independence. It is famous for its lively overture, which is performed far more often than the opera itself.

Answer: Rossini

"The Thieving Magpie" ("La gazza ladra") premiered in 1817 at La Scala in Milan. The plot revolves around the young servant girl Ninetta, who is falsely accused of stealing a silver spoon. The opera's title alludes to the real culprit, a magpie, whose habit of collecting shiny objects causes Ninetta's predicament. Needless to say, it all ends happily.

Answer: Wagner

"The Flying Dutchman" premiered in 1843 and is the earliest of Wagner's operas that is still regularly performed today. The opera tells the haunting tale of a cursed sea captain doomed to sail the oceans forever, only able to step ashore once every seven years to search for true love that can break his curse.

Answer: Wagner

Wagner's "Parsifal," which premiered in 1882, is a deeply spiritual and philosophical opera inspired by the legend of the Holy Grail. The story tells of the innocent youth Parsifal, who embarks on a quest for enlightenment and redemption. Along the way, he encounters various challenges, including the enigmatic sorcerer Klingsor and the seductress Kundry. Ultimately, Parsifal's purity of heart allows him to achieve his mission and restore the ailing King Amfortas, securing the sanctity of the Grail.

Answer: Wagner

Wagner's "Siegfried," the third opera in his monumental Ring Cycle, premiered in 1876. The opera follows the hero Siegfried as he grows up in the wilderness, ignorant of his noble heritage. With the guidance of the dwarf Mime, Siegfried reforges his father's broken sword, Nothung, and slays the fearsome dragon Fafner, before freeing the Valkyrie Brunnhilde from her enchanted sleep.

Answer: Britten

Benjamin Britten's "Peter Grimes," which had its premiere in 1945, is a landmark in 20th-century opera. The work is based on a poem by George Crabbe and is set in a small English fishing village on the Suffolk coast near Britten's birthplace. The opera tells the story of the troubled fisherman Peter Grimes, who is ostracized by his community after the mysterious deaths of his apprentices.

Answer: Britten

Britten's last opera, "Death in Venice", premiered in 1973, and is based on the novella by Thomas Mann. The opera follows the story of Gustav von Aschenbach, a renowned writer who travels to Venice and becomes obsessed with a beautiful young boy named Tadzio.

As Aschenbach's fixation deepens, he succumbs to a fatal illness, highlighting the themes of artistic inspiration and the destructive nature of desire.

Answer: Britten

"Albert Herring," first performed in 1947, is a comic opera set in a small English village. The story revolves around the timid and repressed Albert Herring, who is unexpectedly crowned May King when no sufficiently virtuous girl can be found to be May Queen. After a series of humorous misadventures, Albert breaks free from societal expectations and embraces his newfound independence.

Answer: Janáček

"Jenůfa," composed by Leos Janáček, had its premiere in 1904 and is considered one of his most powerful operas. The story is set in a rural Moravian village and revolves around the tragic fate of Jenůfa, a young woman whose lover abandons her and whose illegitimate child is killed by her stepmother in a desperate attempt to save Jenůfa's reputation.

The opera is renowned for its emotional depth and Janáček's use of folk elements to enhance the dramatic narrative.

Answer: Janáček

Janáček's "The Cunning Little Vixen" premiered in 1924 and is a unique and subtle exploration of the cycle of life, blending human and animal worlds. It tells the story of a vixen named Sharp-Ears, whose adventures and interactions with humans and other forest creatures reflect deeper themes of nature and existence.

While its animal characters mean it is sometimes presented as an opera suitable for children, it is very much more than that.

Answer: Janáček

Janáček's "The Makropulos Case" was first performed in 1926. The opera is based on a play by Karel Čapek and explores themes of immortality and the value of human existence. It tells the story of Emilia Marty, an opera singer who has lived for over 300 years due to a secret elixir of life.

As her life extends beyond the expected human span, she grows weary and disillusioned. Ultimately, she relinquishes the formula for eternal life, choosing to embrace the natural cycle of life and death.