1. Apart from Verdi, which of these Italian operatic composers wrote an operatic setting of Shakespeare?s ?Othello?? Vincenzo Bellini Giocchino Rossini Luigi Cherubini Gaetano Donizetti

2. Verdi originally intended to name the opera ?Iago? True False

3. All but one of the following characters from Shakespeare?s play was omitted from Boito?s libretto. Which one was NOT? Montano Brabantio Bianca Gratiano

4. All but one of the following pieces from the opera has a completely non-Shakespearean text. Which one does NOT? Desdemona's "Ave Maria" The Act I chorus "Fuoco di Gioia" The Act I love duet "Gia Nella Notte Densa" Iago's "Credo in un Dio Crudel"

5. In adapting Shakespeare?s play, Boito made a number of changes and omissions. Which of these is NOT true of the libretto as opposed to the play. Iago steals the handkerchief right in front of Otello and Desdemona. Desdemona has no further lines after the murder. Iago does not kill Emilia. Iago is not brought back onstage to face judgement.

6. Where does the opera take place? Venice Verona Venice and Cyprus Cyprus

7. ?Otello?, like many of Verdi's later operas, contains a number of departures from the formulaic structure of Italian opera. Which of these is NOT true of ?Otello?? There is no overture. The opera ends quietly. There are no cabalettas. There are no large ensembles.

8. Although Verdi steadfastly resisted any imitation of Wagnerian style or devices, there is one definite ?leitmotif? in ?Otello?; what does it describe? The handkercheif The kiss Otello's jealousy Cassio

9. What is happening as the opera begins? Otello's ship is coming into harbor in a storm. Otello and Desdemona are being wed. Iago is plotting with Rodrigo. Iago is getting Cassio drunk at a boistrous party.

10. At the end of the great Act I love duet, Otello points out to Desdemona a constellation and a particularly brilliant star; which are they? The Pleiades and Mars Orion and Polaris Orion and Venus The Pleiades and Venus.

11. Although very different in tone and character, Iago?s famous ?Credo? (in Act II) expresses a basic sentiment(or sentiments) not unlike that (those) expressed in the closing fugue (?Tutto nel Mondo e Burla?) of Verdi?s comic masterpiece ?Falstaff?. Which of these sentiments appear in some form in both pieces? Man as a comic actor Both of these Life as a joke Neither of these

12. In Act II, the chorus sings a beautiful ode to Desdemona which features an unusual instrument (also used in the Serenade of Mozart?s ?Don Giovanni?). Which is it? Zither Harpsichord Recorder Mandolin

13. Which of these unusual features is true of Otello?s great Act III aria ?Dio, Mi Potevi Spogliar?? The tessitura is exceptionally high. There is no melodic vocal line in the piece. The only accompaniment is a sustained note in the orchestra The vocal line, for the first half of the piece, consists of only a few notes.

14. Otello sings only a few words during the great ensemble that ends Act III, before his outburst "Fuggite!". True False

15. Act IV begins with Desdemona?s haunting ?Willow Song? (?La Canzone del Salice?). At one point, the song is interrupted by an ominous occurrence, what is it? A candle goes out A mysterious shadow appears on the wall. Thunder is heard outside A sudden wind rattles the window.

16. Desdemona?s ?Ave Maria? is a setting of the Latin prayer of the same name. True False

17. What are the closing words of the opera (sung by Otello)? "O Gloria! Otello fu." "Ora per sempre addio" "Niun mi tema" "Un altro bacio"

18. The role of Otello is a notoriously taxing and difficult one and has proved to be a graveyard for many tenors. Which of these celebrated tenors has never performed the role of Otello either onstage or in concert? Luciano Pavarotti Ben Heppner Lauritz Melchior Richard Tucker

19. Verdi wrote ballet music for "Otello". True False

20. Which of these celebrated conductors was the principal cellist in the orchestra at the La Scala premiere of ?Otello?? Arturo Toscanini Jonel Perlea Victor de Sabata Tullio Serafin