Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. This person is generally credited with being the first to use a light wooden baton as a means of beating time when conducting. Born in 1809, he is much better known as a composer, famous for his "Italian" Symphony, his overture "The Hebrides" and his Violin Concerto in E minor. Who is he?
2. This Italian-born conductor began his career as a cellist, and played in the world premiere of Verdi's opera "Otello". He subsequently conducted the world premieres of Puccini's "La Boheme" and "Turandot". In the 1930s he moved to America, and became famous for his radio and television performances with the NBC Symphony Orchestra. He retired in 1954 at the age of 87, and died shortly before his 90th birthday, in 1957. Can you name him?
3. Despite his foreign-sounding name, this conductor was born in London in 1882, the son of a Polish father and an Irish mother, and studied at the Royal College of Music. After moving to the USA, he became Music Director of the Philadelphia Orchestra in 1912, and is perhaps best known for his collaboration in 1939 with Walt Disney on the movie "Fantasia", in which he appeared briefly on screen with Mickey Mouse. What is his name?
4. This man was for 35 years the Principal Conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (1954-89), during which time he became arguably the most famous - and certainly most highly-paid - conductor in the world. He was criticised by many for his membership of the Nazi Party in Germany during the 1930s, although whether this was primarily a result of his ruthless determination to advance his career, or whether he was a genuine sympathiser with Nazism, is still a matter for debate.
5. This Hungarian-born conductor was perhaps most famous for his work as Music Director of London's Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, from 1961-1971, and in the same role with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra from 1969-1991. Of his many recordings, that of Wagner's "Der Ring des Nibelungen" (1958-64 - the first stereo studio recording) remains perhaps his greatest recorded achievement.
6. Born in Massachusetts in 1918, this man has been cited as the first American-born conductor to achieve widespread fame outside his native country. He had long-standing relationships with both the New York and Vienna Philharmonic Orchestras, and became well-known in the USA for his TV appearances as part of the CBS "Young Peoples' Concerts" in the 1950s. As a conductor, he excelled in the music of composers such as Mahler, where his ability to get to the emotional heart of the music could be heard to best effect. He was also a respected composer, including three symphonies and two operas - "A Quiet Place" and "Candide" - although his best-known work is in fact a musical.
7. Born in Amsterdam in 1929, this conductor was for over a quarter of a century the Chief Conductor of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (1961-1988). He has also played a major role in the musical life of the UK, serving as Principal Conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra (1967-79), as well as Music Director of both Glyndebourne Opera (1978-88) and the Royal Opera House Covent Garden (1987-98).
8. It may come as a surprise to some that this quintessentially American conductor was actually born in Berlin in 1930. During the 1950s and 60s he worked extensively in Hollywood (winning four Oscars), but in the late 1960s he increasingly began to work in the classical arena. He is also a talented pianist, especially of jazz, as well as composing in a range of classical genres, including the opera "A Streetcar Named Desire". As if this were not enough to keep him busy, as at 2007 he had also been married five times, including a short-lived marriage (2002-06) to the violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter.
9. Born in 1933, this Italian conductor was Music Director of Milan's La Scala opera house from 1968 to 1986. During this period he also served as Principal Conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra (1979-87), and was Principal Conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra from 1989 to 2002. He is well known for his work with young musicians, founding both the European Union Youth Orchestra and the Gustav Mahler Jugend Orchestra.
10. This conductor was born in Liverpool in 1955, and was appointed Assistant Conductor of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra in 1977. He is more famous however for his work as Principal Conductor of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra between 1980 and 1998, producing performances to match those of many more famous ensembles.
Source: Author
stedman
This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor
Bruyere before going online.
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