Much Ado About Something Trivia Quiz

Answer: Corrado

Played by Dominic Chianese, a veteran actor, singer and musician, Chianese has appeared in more than 30 films. Born in the Bronx, NY in 1931, he went on to appear in Broadway plays, sing and play guitar. He is an accomplished tenor, and has recorded, among others, the CD "Ungrateful Heart" (a collection of Neapolitan folk songs).

Chianese appeared in "The Godfather, Part II" in 1974 as Johnny Ola, and in 1975 in "Dog Day Afternoon". He has won many awards. As "Uncle Junior" he played the man thought to be the head of the Soprano clan, but it was Tony Soprano's mother who was the guiding force; she appeared a cold and heartless woman, and even in her nursing home room she stashed illegal gains in her closet. She was quite expert at playing the role, of "I'm just a poor old lady who doesn't know what's going on."

Answer: Matador

Bullfighting has a few ADO words: matador, toreador, picador and others. Both matador and toreador (or torero) are considered correct terms for the bullfighter. The picador is one who rides a protected horse and aids the matador by placing pointed sticks into the bulls back and neck muscles to weaken him.

There may be several picadors in a bullfight. The 'art' of bullfighting is still around, practiced in many countries around the world, each with its own rituals, traditions and rules. In some places, it is illegal to kill the bull, in others it is expected.

The 'sport' has many afficionados, and probably just as many detractors and animal rights protesters. It is practiced to various degrees in Spain, Portugal, Mexico (home of the largest bull ring), some South American countries, India, France, and even in Texas, U.S., which takes a more humane stance, and has E.R. facilities on site for both bull and fighter.

The bull is not deliberately killed. In some areas it is strictly for amusement, much like a circus act, and nobody (or bull) gets hurt.

Hemingway's book, "Death in the Afternoon" was non-fiction and is quite a long narrative about his favorite 'sport' as it was practiced in Spain in the 1930s.

Answer: Madonna

This amazing singer, songwriter, businesswoman, writer, was born in Bay City, MI in 1958. Her full name was Madonna Veronica Louise Ciccone, and she has created her self so well that she was ushered into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame the first year she became eligible. With over 300 million records sold and albums mentioned in the Guinness Book of World Records, she was listed as the best selling female recording artist of all time. Madonna seems to excel at everything she does, and she seems unafraid to try new venues.

She's also been named the "Queen of Pop". Her album "Ray of Light" was numbered at second place of 500 entries by Billboard. This is truly a multi-talented performer and creator.

Answer: Hell Freezes Over

Written by Glenn Frey and Don Henley of The Eagles, the song was immensely popular and was covered by many others: Johnny Cash, Celtic Thunder, Clint Black, Kenny Rogers and Antonio Banderas among them. Its first appearance on a studio album was in "Desperado" in 1973. It was recorded live in the above album in 1994.

The Eagles garnered many awards and have two albums that many pollsters rank in the top 20: "Their Greatest Hits" and "Hotel California". In 1971 the group had five number one singles, and later six number one albums and six Grammies.

Answer: Mikado

Opening in 1885 at the Savoy, this comic opera was much enjoyed and had a record 672 performances. It also allowed the authors to poke satirical fun at British politics through the (far-off) Japanese characters. Some of the characters are Nanki-Poo, Pitti-Sing, Pish-Tush and Pooh-Bah (aka Lord High Everything Else).
Britain had begun trade with Japan about 30 years earlier, and Japanese items and customs were rather faddish at this time.

Answer: Corcovado

Corcovado is 'hunchback' in Portuguese, and refers to the shape of the mountain. It is part of the Tijuca National Park and lies not far from Sugarloaf Mountain. Corcovado is about 2330 feet high and the statue itself, until 2010, was the highest art deco one in the world. The statue is 130 feet high including the base, and weighs 700 tons. It was built from reinforced concrete and soapstone, The spread arms contain lightning rods, as the statue has been struck several times, often requiring repairs. More rods were later added to the head and base. This symbol of peace is the pride of Brazil. There is a modern system of access to the base of the statue and it sees about 300,000 touristas every year.

It took the cooperation of several artists, sculptors and workmen to create this enduring sign of peace. It took about nine years to construct, completed in 1931.

Many newer statues have been erected, primarily of the Buddha, that are larger and taller since 2010. Most of these are in Asia.

Answer: Michelangelo Buonaroti

DaVinci's painting was never finished by him, Michelangelo thought of himself as a sculptor rather than a painter, although he was highly successful at both. The Sistine Chapel was painted under strict orders of the then pope, Julius II, and took four years to complete.

The other three artists painted versions, which are now hung primarily in the Uffizi Gallery. Andrea Mantagna painted one of these, and later another similar painting by him was sold for $10.5 million. Correggio, Velazquez, Durer and Della Robbia were some of the other painters who created their own impressions of "The Adoration", primarily in the 15th century.

Answer: Coronado

Conquistador Francisco Vazquez de Coronado y Lujan (1510-54), was from an aristocratic family in Spain. He also married into a wealthy family and had eight children with Beatrice de Estrada (called 'the saint'). He had been made governor of New Galicia in northern Mexico (then called New Spain), and he made many excursions in what is now New Mexico and Arizona, having heard firsthand accounts of cities built of gold. Alas, he never found them.

He met with the Pueblo and Apache as well as other Indian tribes, but they appeared to have no wealth, and he eventually discredited the tales as wishful thinking. Coronado died fairly young of a native disease.

Answer: Fado

From the early 19th century, Fado was the songs of the poor, the farmers and seamen, a sometimes mournful but accepting reflection on the fates of life. The style changed and moved with the times from country lanes to stage and screen and is still very popular. It also drifted into Africa and Brazil.

Fado is stylised and has variations, primarily the Lisbon and Coimbra versions. In Lisbon it is considered polite to clap, while in Coimbra a cough is the usual reply from the audience. Fado became more showbiz than rural tunes, but it is still popular and traditional. University students from Coimbra usually wear black suits, and all play guitar while performing, whether in the streets or on the stage.

A similar type of music, Kimcry, became popular in Indonesia, brought there by Portuguese explorers and settlers.

Answer: Adonis

Both Aphrodite and Persephone fought over him and eventually it was determined that he should spend one third of the year with each, the remaining third as he chose. He chose Aphrodite. Adonis had many envious enemies, and it is believed that he was ambushed and killed by a wild boar through some trickery by Artemis or Ares, but legends depend on the writer and what the reader chooses to believe. Just as his parentage varies from source to source, the details of his undoing are varied as well. One story states that Aphrodite found him dead and sprinkled some of his blood on the ground near his body.

There a beautiful but short-lived flower appeared, the Anemone. Thus he has come to represent rebirth after death, as well as beauty and desire.