A Night at the Opera: Part III Quiz

Answer: Die Walküre

"Die Walküre" is the second opera in Wagner's "Ring Cycle." Many critics consider it the best of the four. Wagner's plan had been for all the operas in the cycle to be premiered in order at the same time (not on the same night, of course!). However, his patron, Ludwig II of Bavaria, had purchased the copyright to the entire cycle and presented the individual operas as he chose.

Answer: La Traviata

Originally titled "Violetta" after the main character, "La Traviata" is one of Verdi's most important works from his middle period. It was first performed at La Fenice in Venice in 1853. The Greta Garbo movie "Camille" is based on the same play that was the source of this opera.

Answer: Der Rosenkavalier

This opera tells the story of how a thirty-something married woman realizes her affair with a seventeen-year-old is going nowhere and gives him up to a girl more his own age. The role of the teen boy (Octavian) is sung by a girl; this practice is known as a "trouser role."

Answer: Porgy and Bess

"Porgy and Bess" is probably the most well-known American opera, and "Summertime" is the most recognizable aria in English. Briefly, the opera tells the story of how a poor street beggar (Porgy) tries to save Bess from Crown, her abusive lover, and Sportin' Life, her drug dealer. It is set in Charleston, South Carolina, and is based on a play by Dorothy and Dubose Heyward.

Answer: Madama Butterfly

Even those with the least familiarity with opera know the story of "Madame Butterfly." The story has been retold in a number of plays, movies, and television performances. Even "Miss Saigon" contains the basic elements of "Madame Butterfly," albeit in a new century and a different Asian nation.

Answer: Faust

Based only loosely on Part One of Goethe's verse drama, this opera maintains the major premise of selling one's soul to the devil. It went through many changes during the first twenty years of performances (removing spoken dialogue, adding a ballet, e.g.) before it could truly be considered "grand opera."

Answer: Cavalleria Rusticana

"Cavalleria Rusticana" is a short, intense story of love, faithlessness, and revenge set in Sicily. Mascagni's wife, without his knowledge, had submitted it to a contest for one-act operas, and it won.

Answer: Norma

Only opera lovers could guess that a work with the title "Norma" could be the story of a Druid priestess. She violates her oath of chastity (with the Roman governor, no less) and is burned to death for her crimes. It premiered at La Scala in 1831 and is now considered a leading example of the bel canto genre.

Answer: Eugene Onegin

"Eugene Onegin" is Tchaikovsky's most celebrated opera. Based on Pushkin's classic novel-in-verse, the opera's beautiful melodies tell of Onegin's lost chance at true love.

Answer: The Marriage of Figaro

Fans of "Amadeus" might remember that it is during the premiere of "The Marriage of Figaro" that the emperor yawns, thus condemning it to a very short run and delighting Salieri and the other musical advisors of the court.