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Easy Peasy "Cav/Pag" quiz

Here's a quiz about two of my favorite operas (that are often performed back to back), "Cavalleria Rusticana" by Mascagni and "Pagliacci" by Leoncavallo.

A multiple-choice quiz by JsusFreak. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
JsusFreak

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
287,635

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
211

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. In the opera "Cavalleria Rusticana", Turiddu and Lola were together prior to Turiddu going off to war. True or false?

True

False

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. In "Cavalleria Rusticana", why can't Santuzza enter the church for Easter Mass? Hint

She gave birth to an illegitimate child.

She is deathly ill.

She got pregnant by Turiddu out of wedlock.

She had an abortion.

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. From "Cavalleria Rusticana," what is Turiddu's mother's occupation? Hint

She is a seamstress.

She manages a cafe.

She owns a fabric store.

She sells religious trinkets.

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. Toward the end of "Cavalleria Rusticana", how does Alfio, Lola's husband, find out about the affair between her and Turiddu? Hint

Turiddu's mother tells him.

Turiddu tells him after having too much to drink.

He accidentally catches them kissing each other.

Santuzza tells him.

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. What happens when Alfio and Turiddu finally face off at the end of "Cavalleria Rusticana"? Hint

Alfio is killed.

Turiddu is killed.

Santuzza interrupts their duel and accidentally gets stabbed by Alfio.

Lola interrupts their duel and is accidentally stabbed by Turiddu.

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. In "Pagliacci", when it is jokingly suggested that Tonio is having an affair with Canio's wife, Nedda, what does Canio do? Hint

He laughs and shrugs it off.

Laugh along with his friends.

Criticize his friends for making such a joke.

Point and and laugh at Tonio.

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. In "Pagliacci", when Canio and his buddies go off to have a drink, they leave Tonio and Nedda behind. What does Tonio do to her? Hint

The two of them passionately kiss.

He laughs at her.

He physically abuses her.

He tries to hit on her.

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. Near the beginning of "Pagliacci", Nedda meets her lover Silvio. What does he suggest to her? Hint

None of these.

That she kill Canio and then run off with him.

That they elope.

That they "lie low" for awhile and then run off.

9. In the middle of "Pagliacci", Canio finds out about his wife's affair with Silvio. He tries to stab her to death (but is kept from doing so by one of his friends). What is the famous aria he sings afterward? Hint

Vesti la giubba.

Non piu andrai.

Nessun dorma.

Fidelio.

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. At the end of "Pagliacci", Canio, Tonio, and Nedda get onstage to perform their "play-within-a-play". What happens next? Hint

Canio snaps and kills both Nedda and Tonio.

Canio tries to kill Nedda but she stabs him in self-defense.

Canio tries to kill Nedda but Silvio defends her and kills him.

Canio snaps and kills both Nedda, who was acting in the play, and Silvio, who was watching the play.

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In the opera "Cavalleria Rusticana", Turiddu and Lola were together prior to Turiddu going off to war. True or false?

Answer: True

Prior to Turiddu going off to war, he and Lola were lovers. Unfortunately, she got married to someone else when he came back. To spite her, he gets together with Santuzza and then dumps her to go back to Lola after she's pregnant.

2. In "Cavalleria Rusticana", why can't Santuzza enter the church for Easter Mass?

Answer: She got pregnant by Turiddu out of wedlock.

This plays out "well" when she and Lola, Turiddu's current squeeze, face off in front of the church.

3. From "Cavalleria Rusticana," what is Turiddu's mother's occupation?

Answer: She manages a cafe.

Turiddu is often going to his mom's cafe to tell her to take care of Santuzza before squaring off with Lola's jealous husband, Alfio.

4. Toward the end of "Cavalleria Rusticana", how does Alfio, Lola's husband, find out about the affair between her and Turiddu?

Answer: Santuzza tells him.

To get back at her slimeball ex-boyfriend, Santuzza squeals on him by telling Alfio the juicy details of their affair.

5. What happens when Alfio and Turiddu finally face off at the end of "Cavalleria Rusticana"?

Answer: Turiddu is killed.

Prior to getting into a fight with Alfio, Turiddu tells his mom to take care of Santuzza "just in case."

6. In "Pagliacci", when it is jokingly suggested that Tonio is having an affair with Canio's wife, Nedda, what does Canio do?

Answer: Criticize his friends for making such a joke.

He is then asked by his friends if he trusts Nedda and he replies with a hearty "yes."

7. In "Pagliacci", when Canio and his buddies go off to have a drink, they leave Tonio and Nedda behind. What does Tonio do to her?

Answer: He tries to hit on her.

Nedda drives him away with a riding whip, making it very clear that she detests him.

8. Near the beginning of "Pagliacci", Nedda meets her lover Silvio. What does he suggest to her?

Answer: That they elope.

They argue about this for a few minutes or so until it is agreed that they elope behind Canio's back.

Answer: Vesti la giubba.

He sings "Vesti la Giubba" which means "get into costume." Canio and his wife, Nedda are traveling performers who portray a clown and his cheating wife, respectively. When his heart is broken from realizing that his wife is cheating on him in real life, he tearfully talks himself into putting on his costume and laughing for the crowd even though he's horribly depressed and hurt.

My favorite tenor to portray Canio is Placido Domingo, followed by Jose Cura and Enrico Caruso in a close second/third.

"Nessun dorma" is an aria from the opera "Turandot." "Non piu andrai" is from "The Marriage of Figaro" and "Fidelio" is the name of Beethoven's single opera.

10. At the end of "Pagliacci", Canio, Tonio, and Nedda get onstage to perform their "play-within-a-play". What happens next?

Answer: Canio snaps and kills both Nedda, who was acting in the play, and Silvio, who was watching the play.

The whole concept of their play hit a little too close to home for Canio and while Nedda was trying to stay in character, he kept demanding to know who her lover was. He then stabs her onstage and she cries out for Silvio (he too, is stabbed to death as he tries to help her). After the double-murder, Canio says "the comedy is finished."

Source: Author JsusFreak

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ertrum before going online.
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