Accessible Opera Trivia Quiz

Answer: Madame Butterfly

Lieutenant Pinkerton buys the right to marry a young ex geisha called Cio-Cio-San also known as Madam Butterfly. The Japanese marriage contract dissolves after one month if the husband wishes it, and Pinkerton thinks of it as a bit of fun, but Cio-Cio-San is really in love with him and sees it as a marriage for life.

When he leaves her she is desperate and poverty stricken and cannot believe that he will not return.

Answer: Turandot

'Turandot' is by the Italian Composer Giacomo Puccini, and was his last opera. 'Nessun Dorma', which translates as 'none shall sleep tonight' is sung in the last act by the character Calaf. It has been made popular by Luciano Pavarotti's spectacular version.

Answer: New Zealand

Dame Kiri Te Kanawa is a soprano singer whose voice is described as mellow but vibrant. She has sung all over the world and in many languages. She is noted for singing at the wedding of the British Prince Charles and Princess Diana.

Answer: In a cigarette factory

'Carmen' is the work of Georges Bizet and is sung in French. It is the story of a beautiful and seductive gypsy girl who has a love affair with a soldier called Don Jose which results in her death and his ruin.

Answer: Bass

The hero or main male character in an opera is usually a tenor, which is the highest of the male voice ranges. Next comes the baritone and the bass is the lowest. Soprano is the highest woman's voice and below that come mezzo soprano, and contralto is the lowest.

Answer: Aida

Joseph Green is an English translation of Giuseppe Verdi, and it was he who wrote 'Aida' and many other famous operas including 'Nabucco', 'Rigoletto' and 'La Traviata'. He was a superstar of his time and adored by thousands of Italians for his wonderful music.

Answer: Alfie Bowe

Luciano Pavarotti who is Italian and Jose Carreras and Placido Domingo who were both Spanish were the three outstanding tenors of their time, and they had much success performing together.

Answer: Figaro

The premiere of this opera by Rossini took place on 20th February 1816 in Rome. It is a comedy and one of the best loved operas worldwide. It is based on a French play by Pierre Beaumarchais.

Answer: Benjamin Britten

This is a very sad opera about a fisherman called Peter Grimes whose apprentice dies at sea. He had always been an outsider and despite being cleared of any fault by a tribunal, the local townspeople are suspicious that he murdered the young man, and turn against him. It was premiered in 1945 at Sadler's Wells Theatre in London.

Answer: Nellie Melba

The chef Auguste Escoffier of the Savoy hotel in London created this delicious dessert to honour Dame Nellie Melba. Helen Porter Mitchell was born in 1931, and under the name Nellie Melba became one of the foremost sopranos of the late Victorian age. She was the first classical musician from Australia to achieve international recognition.