"Quartet": a Swansong Trivia Quiz

Answer: Opera singers

While the residents of the retirement house come from all types of musical background, the main story revolves around four former opera singers, who had sung together on many occasions.

During one scene, when one of the retired opera singers was speaking with a class of young people, there was a delightful exchange between him and a young rap artist, which highlighted the similarities between the genres.

Answer: Beecham House

The real house used for the film, Hedsor House in Buckinghamshire, served as the fictional Beecham House, supposedly endowed by the great conductor, Sir Thomas Beecham. The idea came from a retirement home in Milan, Italy - the Casa di Riposo per Musicisti - which was endowed by Giuseppe Verdi. This was set up to care and provide for musicians and singers who had fallen on hard times in later life. This charitable institution has continued into the 21st Century.

One of the characters in the film mentions how appropriate it is that Sir Thomas inherited his wealth from the family business; manufacturers of laxatives, and of immense benefit to the senior residents!

Answer: Annual gala concert

The principal source of funds comes from a yearly gala concert held on Giuseppe Verdi's birthday. In the past, there had been a great deal of support from wealthy patrons; this year, however, ticket sales and interest were flagging. With the arrival at Beecham House of the fourth member of an honoured quartet, it was hoped that their performance of the Quartet from Verdi's Rigoletto would spark renewed patronage from opera lovers.

Answer: Gwyneth Jones

Gwyneth Jones started singing professionally in 1962, and was still performing in 2016. Her role as Maggie Smith's former rival, Anne Langley, in "Quartet" was critically acclaimed at the Cannes Film Festival. Maggie (as Jean) directed several bitchy (and funny) remarks at Anne.

All four of the central figures in the movie have had long acting careers, but none of these has been acclaimed as a singer. It should however be noted that most of the residents at Beecham House had enjoyed musical and theatrical careers in real life, and in the film performed some of the acts that were highlights of their careers.

The closing credits were fascinating, showing the cast in their heyday, alongside their photos at the time of the movie.

Gwyneth Paltrow did not perform in "Quartet".

Answer: Dustin Hoffman

After 50 years as an accomplished actor playing a wide variety of parts, Dustin Hoffman directed "Quartet" - his first movie in that role. Although it seems rather incongruous, with an American directing an entirely English crew in such a very English movie, the formula appears to have worked well.

Listening to interviews, it appears to have been an enjoyable set to work on, and that the actors were delighted to be directed by Hoffman, with his wealth of acting experience.

Answer: Pauline Collins

Pauline Collins played Cissy to perfection, with her beatific smile and ditzy lines. As with many people with early symptoms of dementia, her character drifted between clear recall and total loss of the plot.

The tragedy of memory loss was offset by the good humour displayed by her character and the witty lines of her companions.

Answer: Billy Connolly

Billy Connolly's portrayal of Wilf, the baritone who had grown old and frail, and yet had never grown up, is delightful. Wilf takes delight in making scandalous remarks, but rarely seems to cause offense.

With his bawdy jokes and ability to lighten the dark moments, Billy Connolly was the perfect foil to Courtenay's serious, occasionally sombre, persona.

Answer: Jean cheated on Reggie just before their wedding.

During the course of the movie it became clear that Jean had had a fling with a leading man just prior to marrying Reggie. She had confessed on the first morning of their marriage and had been devastated when (surprise, surprise!) Reggie had stormed out and left her.

Wounded pride had seen each continue with their careers with no further contact. On arrival at Beecham House, Jean makes overtures to Reggie, eventually breaking down his hostility.

Answer: Michael Gambon

Michael Gambon clearly enjoyed camping it up in silk smoking jacket and tasseled hat, playing the egotistical and tyrannical Cedric. According to the film, he has enjoyed a highly successful career as a theatrical director, and relishes his chance to continue wielding his authority.

Demanding a high standard from the ageing and diverse cast (most of whom were actually talented musicians and singers in real life), Cedric's concern for the crisis facing Beecham House allows the audience to warm to him.

Answer: Dario Marianelli

Marianelli was able to cherry-pick some of the most famous operatic arias and pieces of evocative classical music for this film. He used these as background to set many of the scenes. His own music was more intimate, drawing the individual characters, and providing much of the emotional flavour.

The closing scene of the movie ended as the four central actors took the stage, about to sing their much-anticipated aria, the quartet "Bella figlia dell'amore" from Rigoletto. As the closing credits rolled, the audience heard this sung by Sherrill Milnes, Huguette Tourangeau, Dame Joan Sutherland and Luciano Pavarotti; possibly the most acclaimed version of the aria.

Dario Marianelli has scored many movies, starting in the mid-1990s. He won the Academy Award for Best Original Score for the 2007 film "Atonement".