Giacomo Puccini Trivia

1. Where does the first scene of "Tosca" take place?

From Quiz "Tosca" by Giacomo Puccini

Answer: In a church.

The main character, Mario Cavardarossi, is painting a picture in the church and compares the woman in the painting to his lover, Floria Tosca.

From Quiz La Boheme

Answer: Puccini

Giacomo Puccini wrote 'La Boheme'. He also composed popular operas such as 'Tosca' and 'Madama Butterfly'.

From Quiz Puccini's "Turandot"

Answer: Carlo Gozzi

Gozzi was an 18th-century Venetian author best known for his collection of stories entitled "Fabia" ("Fables"). These were collected from various sources: the "Turandot" story was from a collection of Persian tales (Persia was once invaded and occupied by the Chinese under Genghis Khan, with the result that certain Chinese folk tales and legends passed into the lore of the Middle East, the best-known example being "Aladdin"). Renato Simoni, the playwright and librettist who would ultimately collaborate with Giuseppe Adami on the libretto of "Turandot", presented Puccini with a copy of Gozzi's dramatization of the story (two more of Gozzi's stories became operas; "La Donna Serpente" was the source of the libretto for Wagner's early opera "Die Feen" and another, "L'Amore delle Tre Melarance", provided the plot for Prokofiev's "Love of Three Oranges"). Certain elements of the story, particularly the three riddles, appear in various legends and myths throughout history, such as the Theban legend of Oedipus and the questioning Sphinx and the beginning of Shakespeare's play "Pericles, Prince of Tyre", which features a princess who questions her suitors (in this case, the final question hints at an incestuous relationship between the princess and her father). There may also have been a real-life prototype for the formidable princess: Marco Polo's writings relate the story of a warrior princess of Samarkand whose suitors were required to engage her in combat.

From Quiz Puccini's 'Tosca'

Answer: Rome, 1800

The Napoleonic Wars were going at the time of 'Tosca', so it has to be June, 1800.

From Quiz La Bohème

Answer: Henri Murger

Murger's "Scenes of Bohemian Life", depicting the poverty stricken, yet joyous life of young intellectuals and artists, was very successful.

From Quiz Puccini Women

Answer: Cio-Cio-San

Although the Japanese characters call her Cio-Cio-San, to B.F. Pinkerton, she was "Butterfly".

From Quiz "Tosca" by Giacomo Puccini

Answer: She believes him to be unfaithful.

Since Mario was hiding a political prisoner (Angoletti), Tosca mistook him for another woman (she heard footsteps where Mario was working). Mario assured her that he was completely faithful and there was no "other woman," so to speak.

From Quiz La Boheme

Answer: Rent

'Rent', by Jonathan Larson, is a modern retelling of 'La Boheme'. Even the characters' names have something in common: Mimi - Mimi Mark - Marcello Roger - Rodolfo Maureen - Musetta Benny - Benito Collins - Colline

From Quiz Puccini's "Madama Butterfly"

Answer: He finally married his longtime mistress, Elvira Gemignani

Elvira had left her husband for Puccini in 1885 and, the following year, had born him a son, Antonio. Because of Italy's stringent marriage laws, Elvira's could not obtain a divorce, and thus could not marry Puccini. With her husband's death in 1904, she and Puccini could finally legalise their union and their son could be recognized as legitimate. The premiere of "Butterfly" marked the first time Elvira and Antonio had accompanied him to one of his premieres; therefore, the fiasco which ensued was particularly embittering to him.

From Quiz Puccini's "Il Trittico"

Answer: "Suor Angelica"

Puccini idolised nothing more than feminine suffering and Angelica, shut away in a convent after bringing disgrace on her noble family by having an illegitimate child whom she later learns has died, was especially close to his heart. He once said that he "would willingly trade all of 'Gianni Schicchi' for a single note of 'Angelica'", and was greatly upset when, after the Covent Garden premiere, it was omitted to make for a shorter evening. Few people agree with Puccini's assessment of this work and many, in fact, regard it as his weakest opera. However, there is no doubt that, in the hands of the right performer (such as Puccini's favorite, Gilda Dalla Rizza, German soprano Lotte Lehmann or, more recently, Renata Scotto and Teresa Stratas), it can be powerfully moving.

From Quiz Puccini's 'Tosca'

Answer: Angelotti

Angelotti has aged and is not immediately recognized by Cavaradossi, his old friend.

From Quiz La Bohème

Answer: Latin Quarter

The Latin Quarter was so named because so many of the people who lived there were students from around the world. The only method they had of communicating with one another was with Latin, the common language of scholars in times past.

From Quiz Puccini Women

Answer: Musetta

In "La Boheme", Musetta played the part of gold-digger to the old and rich Alcindoro. She 'ditched' him after reuniting with Marcello.

From Quiz "Tosca" by Giacomo Puccini

Answer: A well.

Mario suggests that Angelotti hide there because it was safe and impenetrable.

From Quiz La Boheme

Answer: Struggling poet meets girl, they fall in love, but girl is very ill and it ends in tragedy.

In the opera, Rodolfo, a struggling author, meets Mimi, a beautiful but poor girl. They start a passionate love affair, but Mimi is dying, although Rodolfo does not know this at the time.

From Quiz Puccini's "Il Trittico"

Answer: Paris

The action of "Tabarro" takes place on a barge, belonging to Michele and his wife, Giorgietta, moored at a bend in the Seine. Michele is the "padrone" of a group of stevedores.

From Quiz Puccini's 'Tosca'

Answer: opera singer

Her success as an opera star has made her very vain and jealous.

From Quiz La Bohème

Answer: Poet

Though Rodolfo introduces himself as a poet, he also writes plays and is a journalist. This is a wonderful role for tenor. In fact, Luciano Pavarotti always used this part when he debuted at a new opera house. He felt it brought him good luck.

From Quiz Puccini Women

Answer: Liu

Calaf ignores her suggestion and goes ahead with the test of the three riddles.

From Quiz "Tosca" by Giacomo Puccini

Answer: A fan.

The fan has the family crest of a particular woman who was the model for one of Mario's paintings. He uses this to aggravate Tosca's jealousy to suggest that Mario DID have an affair by claiming he left it behind while leaving his workspace.

From Quiz La Boheme

Answer: Pages of Rodolfo's writing

Rodolfo tears up his manuscript and throws it into the flames.

From Quiz Puccini's "Turandot"

Answer: At the rising of the moon

After the Mandarin's pronouncement, a riot ensues among the bloodthirsty crowd which is put down by the guards; in the fray, the elderly Timur is knocked to the ground and Liu tries to get him to his feet, whereupon Calaf appears. The executioner's sword is sharpened on the wheel as the crowd sings the ferocious chorus "Gira la cote!", describing the unending flow of blood that has marked the reign of Turandot. The mood suddenly changes as the crowd waits impatiently for the rising of the moon and sings the beautiful chorus "Perche tarda la luna?" ("Why is the moon so late?").

From Quiz Puccini's "Madama Butterfly"

Answer: Nagasaki

It is truly ironic that, decades before World War II, the ill-fated city of Nagasaki would be chosen as the setting for this story of an American-Japanese cultural clash with tragic consequences.

From Quiz Puccini's "Il Trittico"

Answer: "The Cloak"

"Tabarro" refers to the cloak, literal and figurative, worn by Michele. He disguises his feelings throughout the opera, much to Giorgietta's dismay; at one point, she says that she would rather be beaten by him than endure his silences. He tells Giorgietta that "everyone wears a cloak that sometimes hides happiness, sometimes sadness." In the end, it is Michele's cloak which hides the body of Luigi, whom Michele has strangled after discovering that he is Giorgietta's lover.

From Quiz Puccini's 'Tosca'

Answer: painting a picture

Cavaradossi was painting a picture of Mary Magdalene by using Marchesa Attavanti (Angelotti's sister) as a model, making Tosca ripe with jealousy.

From Quiz La Bohème

Answer: Rodolfo's play

Rodolfo must have figured that his play might as well serve some useful purpose.

From Quiz Puccini Women

Answer: Angelica

SUOR (Sister) Angelica lived and committed suicide in her convent, where she is redeemed by the Virgin Mary in a miracle.

From Quiz Puccini, His Life And Work

Answer: Ponchielli

His father was a musician but died when Giacomo was around 6 years old.

From Quiz "Tosca" by Giacomo Puccini

Answer: Napoleon Bonaparte

Napoleon Bonaparte scored a major military victory in the Battle of Marengo, which fuels Mario's defiance against Scarpia and his goons.

From Quiz La Boheme

Answer: Turin

In the Teatro Regio. It was conducted by Toscanini.

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