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The Ultimate Wagner's Ring Cycle Quiz | Music

Wagner's magnum opus, "Der Ring des Nibelungen", is one of the most amazing achievements in operatic history. Here are some questions I hope you will enjoy about this masterpiece.

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

Author
fdgla

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
103,161

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
20

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
16 / 20

Plays
785

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

Last 3 plays: Guest 174 (19/20), Guest 208 (14/20), Guest 31 (17/20).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 20

1. Wagner's "Ring" cycle consists of four separate operas, or music dramas, as Wagner liked to call them. Who wrote the words to the operas? Hint

Nietzche

Heine

Goethe

Wagner

NEXT>

Question 2 of 20

2. The eponymous nibelung (dwarf) of the title first appears in "Das Rheingold", the first opera of the cycle. What is his name? Hint

Max

Froh

Donner

Alberich

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Question 3 of 20

3. Alberich sets the action in motion by his theft of gold from the Rhine maidens. How many Rhine maidens are there? Hint

Four

Two

Five

Three

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Question 4 of 20

4. In "Das Rheingold", we also first meet Wotan, the king of the gods, who is missing a body part. Name the absent body part. Hint

Arm

Knee

Leg

Eye

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Question 5 of 20

5. The home of the gods and heros spoken of in "Das Rheingold" is called what? Hint

Leverkusen

Neuschwanstein

Valhalla

Aschaffenburg

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Question 6 of 20

6. Without the help of his royal patron, Wagner could never have afforded to compose and mount the "Ring" cycle. Name Wagner's benefactor. Hint

King Ludwig II

King Victor Emmanuel

Charlemagne

Napoleon III

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Question 7 of 20

7. "Die Walkure" is the second opera in the cycle and by far the most popular. In the first act Siegmund and Sieglinde meet and fall in love. What is strange about their relationship? Hint

They are father and daughter

They are uncle and niece

They are mother and son

They are brother and sister

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Question 8 of 20

8. One complication to Siegmund and Sieglinde's relationship is Sieglinde's husband, Hunding. How does Hunding meet his maker? Hint

He is killed by Wotan

He is drowned by the Rhine maidens

Siegmund runs him through with his sword

He is flamed by a dragon

9. Also in "Die Walkure", we get to meet Brunnhilde, one of Wotan's many daughters and the female lead of the cycle. What is the name of the famous musical passage at the beginning of act three featuring Brunnhilde and her sisters? Hint

Siegfried's Rhine Journey

The Ride of the Valkyries

Entrance of the Gods into Valhalla

The Venusburg Music

NEXT>

Question 10 of 20

10. At the end of "Die Walkure", Wotan punishes Brunnhilde for disobeying him. How does Wotan punish Brunnhilde? Hint

He turns her into a frog

He makes her marry Alberich

He puts her to sleep surrounded by a magic fire

He runs her through with his spear

NEXT>

Question 11 of 20

11. The first performance of the complete "Ring" cycle took place at a specially built theater in what Bavarian town? Hint

Bayreuth

Nuremberg

Munich

Stuttgart

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Question 12 of 20

12. The next opera in the cycle, "Siegfried", introduces the title character. He was raised in the forest by Mime, a nibelung with a severe personality disorder. Who is Siegfried's father? Hint

Fafner

Alberich

Siegmund

Wotan

NEXT>

Question 13 of 20

13. In the second act of "Siegfried", there is a deadly encounter between Siegfried and Fafner. Fafner is a giant who has transformed himself into what creature? Hint

Lion

Unicorn

Bear

Dragon

NEXT>

Question 14 of 20

14. Siegfried tastes Fafner's blood after killing him. This enables Siegfried to do what? Hint

To become incredibly strong

To run very fast

To become invisible

To understand the Woodbird

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Question 15 of 20

15. Siegfried first sees Brunnhilde in the last scene of the opera. After taking off her armor, what does he say to himself?
Hint

"I must be dreaming!"

"I've never seen anyone so beautiful!"

"This is no man!"

"This must be Brunnhilde!"

NEXT>

Question 16 of 20

16. A work as massive and complex as the "Ring" is not written overnight. Approximately how long did it take Wagner to write the "Ring"? Hint

Ten years

One year

Thirty years

Five years

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Question 17 of 20

17. "Gotterdammerung" is the last opera in the "Ring" cycle. The first scene features three sisters weaving the rope of fate. What are these ladies better known as? Hint

The Gibichungs

The Rhinemaidens

The Norns

The Valkyries

NEXT>

Question 18 of 20

18. Brunnhilde is tricked into believing that Siegfried is unfaithful to her. Which two characters are behind this treachery? Hint

Mime and Alberich

Waltraute and Flosshilde

Wotan and Fricka

Hagen and Gunther

NEXT>

Question 19 of 20

19. In the last scene of the opera Brunnhilde calls for her horse. What is her horse's name? Hint

Silver

Notung

Grane

Tarnhelm

NEXT>

Question 20 of 20

20. After summoning her horse, Brunnhilde, who is distraught over the death of Siegfried, rides into his funeral pyre. This precipitates the destruction and rebirth of the world. What is this scene better known as? Hint

The Rhine journey

Brunnhilde's death

The immolation scene

Todesverk�ndigung

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Most Recent Scores

Nov 20 2024 : Guest 174: 19/20
Nov 11 2024 : Guest 208: 14/20
Nov 11 2024 : Guest 31: 17/20
Oct 16 2024 : Linda_Arizona: 13/20
Oct 07 2024 : Guest 94: 15/20
Oct 07 2024 : zizife: 3/20
Sep 27 2024 : Guest 69: 13/20

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Wagner's "Ring" cycle consists of four separate operas, or music dramas, as Wagner liked to call them. Who wrote the words to the operas?

Answer: Wagner

Wagner felt that no one but himself should write the words, reflecting his belief that an artistic work should be the vision of one creator.

2. The eponymous nibelung (dwarf) of the title first appears in "Das Rheingold", the first opera of the cycle. What is his name?

Answer: Alberich

Alberich is the only character to appear in both the first opera of the cycle {"Rheingold"} and the last {"Gotterdammerung"}.

3. Alberich sets the action in motion by his theft of gold from the Rhine maidens. How many Rhine maidens are there?

Answer: Three

According to the Rhine maidens (Woglinde, Wellgunde and Flosshilde), whoever can make a ring from the gold can rule the world.

4. In "Das Rheingold", we also first meet Wotan, the king of the gods, who is missing a body part. Name the absent body part.

Answer: Eye

Wotan is a most ungodly god as he engages through the course of the cycle in lying and adultery.

5. The home of the gods and heros spoken of in "Das Rheingold" is called what?

Answer: Valhalla

One of the more thrilling moments of the entire cycle occurs when the gods enter Valhalla at the end of "Das Rheingold".

6. Without the help of his royal patron, Wagner could never have afforded to compose and mount the "Ring" cycle. Name Wagner's benefactor.

Answer: King Ludwig II

Ludwig, who worshipped Wagner's music, was unfortunately somewhat mentally unstable. He spent an inordinate amount of money on his castle, Neuschwanstein, and decorated it with scenes from Wagner's operas.

7. "Die Walkure" is the second opera in the cycle and by far the most popular. In the first act Siegmund and Sieglinde meet and fall in love. What is strange about their relationship?

Answer: They are brother and sister

Don't worry too much about the incest theme. Just listen to the music. And what terrific music it is!

8. One complication to Siegmund and Sieglinde's relationship is Sieglinde's husband, Hunding. How does Hunding meet his maker?

Answer: He is killed by Wotan

Wotan just waves his arm and Hunding is history.

Answer: The Ride of the Valkyries

Brunnhilde is such a demanding role, there are at any one time maybe a handful of sopranos in the world who are up to its rigors.

10. At the end of "Die Walkure", Wotan punishes Brunnhilde for disobeying him. How does Wotan punish Brunnhilde?

Answer: He puts her to sleep surrounded by a magic fire

Wotan's farewell to Brunnhilde is one of the most emotionally wrenching scenes in opera.

11. The first performance of the complete "Ring" cycle took place at a specially built theater in what Bavarian town?

Answer: Bayreuth

This theater, known as the Festspielhaus, is devoted to the performance of Wagner's operas. It is famous for its wonderful acoustics and uncomfortable seats.

12. The next opera in the cycle, "Siegfried", introduces the title character. He was raised in the forest by Mime, a nibelung with a severe personality disorder. Who is Siegfried's father?

Answer: Siegmund

Siegfried's parents are Siegmund and Sieglinde, who we met in "Die Walkure." "Siegfried" is the least performed opera in the cycle, although I could never understand it. It is a splendid opera, filled with energy and imagination.

13. In the second act of "Siegfried", there is a deadly encounter between Siegfried and Fafner. Fafner is a giant who has transformed himself into what creature?

Answer: Dragon

Fafner transforms himself into a dragon in order to protect the ring which he is in possesion of. He may have the ring, but he must also have a lousy social life!

14. Siegfried tastes Fafner's blood after killing him. This enables Siegfried to do what?

Answer: To understand the Woodbird

Not only can Siegfried understand the Woodbird, it also allows him to understand what people are really thinking.

15. Siegfried first sees Brunnhilde in the last scene of the opera. After taking off her armor, what does he say to himself?

Answer: "This is no man!"

This line never fails to get a laugh. The ensuing duet between Siegfried and Brunnhilde is a frenzied, beautiful, and joyous declaration of love.

16. A work as massive and complex as the "Ring" is not written overnight. Approximately how long did it take Wagner to write the "Ring"?

Answer: Thirty years

Wagner did not work exclusively on the "Ring" during this time; he took several breaks in between. After finishing the second act of "Siegfried", Wagner did not work on the cycle for another twelve years.

17. "Gotterdammerung" is the last opera in the "Ring" cycle. The first scene features three sisters weaving the rope of fate. What are these ladies better known as?

Answer: The Norns

One bit of advice: Before seeing "Gotterdammerung" make sure you are well fed and well rested, as it lasts about six hours with intermissions.

18. Brunnhilde is tricked into believing that Siegfried is unfaithful to her. Which two characters are behind this treachery?

Answer: Hagen and Gunther

Poor Siegfried is clueless to the situation, thanks to a potion given to him by Hagen and Gunther. Hagen is one of the most evil of all the sociopaths who inhabit the "Ring".

19. In the last scene of the opera Brunnhilde calls for her horse. What is her horse's name?

Answer: Grane

Grane served Brunnhilde faithfully since the days of "Die Walkure". Notung is the name of a sword. The Tarnhelm is a magical bit of armor that transforms people into whatever they wish to be, and Silver is, of course, the Lone Ranger's faithful steed.

Answer: The immolation scene

This is one of the most daunting scenes to perform in all of opera. I hope you've enjoyed this quiz, and if you ever get the chance to see the "Ring" performed, please do so.

Source: Author fdgla

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