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Quiz about Wagners Ring Cycle
Quiz about Wagners Ring Cycle

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.
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Author
fdgla
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
103,161
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
20
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
16 / 20
Plays
761
Awards
Top 35% Quiz
Last 3 plays: Guest 92 (12/20), Guest 68 (13/20), i-a-n (6/20).
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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


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


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


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


Question 5 of 20
5. The home of the gods and heros spoken of in "Das Rheingold" is called what? Hint


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


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


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


Question 9 of 20
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


Question 10 of 20
10. At the end of "Die Walkure", Wotan punishes Brunnhilde for disobeying him. How does Wotan punish Brunnhilde? Hint


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


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


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


Question 14 of 20
14. Siegfried tastes Fafner's blood after killing him. This enables Siegfried to do what? Hint


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


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


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


Question 18 of 20
18. Brunnhilde is tricked into believing that Siegfried is unfaithful to her. Which two characters are behind this treachery? Hint


Question 19 of 20
19. In the last scene of the opera Brunnhilde calls for her horse. What is her horse's name? Hint


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



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Most Recent Scores
Mar 02 2024 : Guest 92: 12/20
Mar 02 2024 : Guest 68: 13/20
Feb 29 2024 : i-a-n: 6/20
Feb 16 2024 : Guest 109: 15/20

Score Distribution

quiz
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.
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?

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.
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?

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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