Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. The standard question when handling a famous person: when was Rossini born, and when did he die?
2. True or false: As a child prodigy, it's not really surprising both his parents were also talented musicians.
3. Very soon, he began attempts to write an opera. How old was Rossini when he wrote his first opera, written for the opera house of Venice?
4. Rossini continued to write several operas each year, for the different opera houses of Italy. Almost everywhere he got great success, but in which Italian city was he initially less successful?
5. Eventually, Rossini got successful even in Naples, and became musical and artistic director of the Teatro San Carlo. Did he write excusively for that company?
6. Guglielmo Tell, one of his more serious and longer operas, was not written for an Italian opera house. For which one was it written instead?
7. True or false: At first, "Il Barbiere di Siviglia", a supreme comedy written in 1816, was a complete failure, but eventually even Beethoven and Verdi admired this opera.
8. In 'La Gazza Ladra' the plot revolves around a theft. Who was the thief?
9. Another charming opera is 'La Cenerentola', based on a fairy-tale. Do you know which one?
10. While still in Naples, Rossini wrote an opera based on a play by Shakespeare. What play was that?
11. According to the stories, Rossini was very lazy, and wrote in his bed. Once he noticed on the evening of the premier, he 'forgot' to wrote an overture. The director of the opera house locked him in a room and threatened to throw him out of the window should he not provide him of an overture! For which opera was this, if we may believe this story?
12. Famous for his overtures, Rossini didn't write a new one for every opera! He re-used the overture from 'Elisabetta' for a more famous opera. Which one?
13. At the age of 37, Rossini stopped writing music, aside from some occasional works. What did he then do to fill his days?
14. How many wives did Rossini have?
15. Finally, in which city did Rossini die?
Source: Author
aiken
This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor
bullymom before going online.
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