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20th Century Opera Trivia Quiz

Test your knowledge of 20th century operas.

A multiple-choice quiz by drtravel47. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
drtravel47

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
96,828

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
330

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. In what country does "Susannah" take place? Hint

Israel

England

Egypt

United States

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Question 2 of 10

2. When the curtain rises on "Porgy and Bess" we see Jasbo Brown. What is he doing? Hint

Playing piano

Preaching the Gospel

Shooting craps

Kissing Bess

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Question 3 of 10

3. Who sings the trio at the conclusion of Act III of "Der Rosenkavalier"? Hint

Marshallin, Baron Ochs, Octavian

Marshallin, Octavian, Sophie

Baron Ochs, Sophie, Herr von Faninal (Sophie's father)

Baron Ochs, Octavian,Valzacchi

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Question 4 of 10

4. How does Peter Grimes die in the opera of the same name? Hint

Balstrode kills him

We don't know- we are just told he died

He doesn't die

Drowns himself in his boat

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Question 5 of 10

5. "The Ballad of Baby Doe" is basically a true story.

Yes

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Question 6 of 10

6. Which are the three operas in Puccini's "Il Trittico"? Hint

Il Tabarro, Suor Angelica, and Gianni Schicchi

Bluebeard's Castle and Mosen und Aron

Il Tabarro and Salome

Tosca, La Boheme, and Madama Butterfly

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Question 7 of 10

7. Who composed "Street Scene" and "The City of Mahagonny"? Hint

Kurt Weill

John Adams

Arnold Schoenberg

Paul Hindemith

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Question 8 of 10

8. Complete this title: "The Ghosts of ________________" Hint

Windsor

Versailles

Jack the Ripper

Days Gone By

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Question 9 of 10

9. What happens to Salome in "Salome"? Hint

Herod has her murdered for her amorality

John the Baptist brings her to meet Jesus as the curtain falls

She commits suicide after kissing the head of John the Baptist

After killing John the Baptist, she experiences a miracle and is saved

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Question 10 of 10

10. This F. Scott Fitzgerald story was made into an opera in 1999. Hint

Lost Horizon

Dead Man Walking

The Agony and the Ecstasy

The Great Gatsby

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In what country does "Susannah" take place?

Answer: United States

The opera is set in a rural Appalachian town. The opera was written by Carlisle Floyd.

2. When the curtain rises on "Porgy and Bess" we see Jasbo Brown. What is he doing?

Answer: Playing piano

His honky-tonk piano sets the tone for the opera. George Gershwin wrote this opera shortly before his death.

3. Who sings the trio at the conclusion of Act III of "Der Rosenkavalier"?

Answer: Marshallin, Octavian, Sophie

This most beautiful trio has the Marshallin realizing that her former lover Octavian is now in love with Sophie, and it's time for her to move on. This is one of Richard Strauss's early operas.

4. How does Peter Grimes die in the opera of the same name?

Answer: Drowns himself in his boat

Balstrode suggests to him the way to die. He recommneds he takes his fishing boat out to sea and sink it. Benjamin Britten composed the opera with his partner Peter Pears in mind for the role of Grimes.

5. "The Ballad of Baby Doe" is basically a true story.

Answer: Yes

"The Ballad of Baby Doe" is based on the life of "Baby" Doe McCourt, a young woman who has left her husband in Central City, Colorado, US and come to Leadville in that state. While she at first have been a gold digger, she remained devoted to Horace Tabor, the man she married, even after his death.

Her body was found frozen to death outside the Matchless Mine, which her husband owned. "Baby Doe" was written by Douglas Moore with text by John Latouche.

6. Which are the three operas in Puccini's "Il Trittico"?

Answer: Il Tabarro, Suor Angelica, and Gianni Schicchi

"Il Tabarro" is a melodrama about marital infidelity, set on the banks of the River Seine in Paris. "Suor Angelica"(Sister Angelica) is a miracle tale of a nun who has lived in shame for bearing a child. "Gianni Schicchi", Puccini's only comedy, is an hysterical farce about a greedy family fighting over the late Buoso Donati's will.

7. Who composed "Street Scene" and "The City of Mahagonny"?

Answer: Kurt Weill

Weill is best known for "The Three Penny Opera".

8. Complete this title: "The Ghosts of ________________"

Answer: Versailles

Written by John Corigliano, the opera features members of the opera "The Marriage of Figaro", as well as others in history.

9. What happens to Salome in "Salome"?

Answer: Herod has her murdered for her amorality

Herod, her step-father, who has lusted for her throughout the opera, has her murdered in the final few seconds of the opera. Her murder is preceeded by the famous kiss to the lips of the decapitated head of John the Baptist, who she had just murdered. "Salome" is the earliest of the Richard Strauss operas.

10. This F. Scott Fitzgerald story was made into an opera in 1999.

Answer: The Great Gatsby

"The Great Gatsby" premiered at the Metropolitan Opera. It includes both classical music and jazz. It was written by John Harbison.

Source: Author drtravel47

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