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Quiz about That Glorious Song of Old
Quiz about That Glorious Song of Old

That Glorious Song of Old Trivia Quiz


Some of the best loved songs and arias come from opera, operettas and oratorios. Come for a musical journey with me to visit some of the best known songs of old.

A multiple-choice quiz by rossian. Estimated time: 3 mins.
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Author
rossian
Time
3 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
378,369
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
2135
Awards
Top 20% Quiz
Last 3 plays: Guest 100 (9/10), angostura (10/10), quizbloodhound (8/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. 'Largo al factotum' is an aria sung by the title character from which of these operas? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. 'Nabucco', one of Verdi's operas, brought us a well known chorus. By which group of people is it sung? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. 'When I Am Laid in Earth' is an aria sung by which tragic operatic heroine? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. 'Au Fond du Temple Saint' was written by Bizet. It appears in which (English title) of his operas? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. 'Nessun Dorma' is an aria from 'Turandot'. Who was the composer? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. 'I Know that my Redeemer Liveth' comes from which of these oratorios? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. The English composer Benjamin Britten wrote several operas. Which of these is not included in that number? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. 'Un bel di vedremo' is probably the best known aria from which Puccini opera? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. The comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan have been enjoyed for many years. In which of them does one of the characters sing 'A Wand'ring Minstrel I'? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Verdi's opera 'Rigoletto' features which of these arias? Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Mar 03 2024 : Guest 100: 9/10
Mar 01 2024 : angostura: 10/10
Feb 27 2024 : quizbloodhound: 8/10
Feb 03 2024 : Guest 174: 6/10
Jan 29 2024 : Guest 122: 4/10

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. 'Largo al factotum' is an aria sung by the title character from which of these operas?

Answer: The Barber of Seville

The opera was written by Gioachino Rossini and was performed for the first time in 1816, in Rome. The aria 'Largo al factotum della cita', ('Make way for the factotum of the city' in English), is sung by Figaro, the barber of the title. It includes numerous mentions of Figaro's name and describes his popularity and highly rated, at least in his own opinion, abilities.
2. 'Nabucco', one of Verdi's operas, brought us a well known chorus. By which group of people is it sung?

Answer: Hebrew slaves

The opera is based on the Old Testament of the Bible, primarily the Books of Jeremiah and Daniel, and was performed for the first time in Milan, in 1842. The chorus is sung by the Israelite prisoners, kept in captivity by their Babylonian captors. The title of the chorus is 'Va, pensiero, sull'ali dorate', meaning 'Fly, thoughts, on golden wings, as the slaves remember their homeland'.

The 'Nuns' Chorus' is from the operetta 'Casanova', while the 'Soldiers' Chorus' is from 'Faust'. The 'Pilgrims' Chorus' appears in 'Tannhauser'.
3. 'When I Am Laid in Earth' is an aria sung by which tragic operatic heroine?

Answer: Dido

The aria is commonly known as 'Dido's Lament', and comes from Henry Purcell's opera 'Dido and Aeneas'. Dido has sent Aeneas away, and sings the aria before killing herself in her despair at his departure. The opera was one of the first to be written in English, sometime in the 1680s - the exact date is not known.

The aria is played each year at the Remembrance Day parade at the Cenotaph in London, held in November.
4. 'Au Fond du Temple Saint' was written by Bizet. It appears in which (English title) of his operas?

Answer: The Pearl Fishers

All the operas listed were composed by Bizet, with 'Carmen' probably the best known of them. 'Les Pêcheurs de Perles' received its premier in 1863. The story is set in Ceylon, now Sri Lanka, and 'Au Fond du Temple Sant', 'At the Back of the Holy Temple' in English, is a duet sung by two men, one tenor and one baritone, who are vying for the love of the same woman.

The lyrics describe her as a goddess, and the men swear to remain true friends despite the fact that only one could win her heart.
5. 'Nessun Dorma' is an aria from 'Turandot'. Who was the composer?

Answer: Puccini

'Nessun Dorma' is one of the few operatic arias to become known to fans of pop music, mainly thanks to Luciano Pavarotti who took it into the UK Singles Chart in 1990. It was helped by being used by the BBC as the theme tune to the FIFA World Cup and has retained its association with football ever since. 'Turandot' was first performed in 1926, two years after Puccini's death. Puccini had left the opera unfinished and it was completed by another Italian composer, Franco Alfano.
6. 'I Know that my Redeemer Liveth' comes from which of these oratorios?

Answer: Messiah

'Messiah' was written by Handel and was based on the Bible using elements from the Old Testament, where the coming of the Messiah is foretold, before moving to the life and death of Jesus from the New Testament. It was first performed in Dublin, in 1742. Probably the best known work from the oratorio is the 'Hallelujah' chorus. 'I Know that my Redeemer Liveth' is a piece for a soprano and celebrates the resurrection of Jesus.

All the titles offered as options are the names of oratorios.
7. The English composer Benjamin Britten wrote several operas. Which of these is not included in that number?

Answer: The Midsummer Marriage

Benjamin Britten was an English composer of the twentieth century who created works including orchestral pieces and song cycles, as well as operas. His writing include 'War Requiem', which features the poems of the World War I poet Wilfred Owen. Britten also wrote 'The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra'.

He wrote fifteen operas, including 'Noye's Fludde' (1958), 'Albert Herring' (1947) and 'Billy Budd' (1951). 'The Midsummer Marriage' was written by Britten's contemporary, Michael Tippett, and was first performed in 1955.
8. 'Un bel di vedremo' is probably the best known aria from which Puccini opera?

Answer: Madame Butterfly

The first version of 'Madame Butterfly', performed in 1904, was a disaster, and Puccini rewrote it substantially before it was performed again later that year to great acclaim. Further revisions followed, with the version from 1907 being the one most often performed in modern times.

The story of the tragic Cio-Cio San, the butterfly of the title, and Pinkerton, her less than honourable American husband, is one of Puccini's best known operas. 'Un bel di vedremi' is sung by Madame Butterfly, imagining the day Pinkerton will return to her.
9. The comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan have been enjoyed for many years. In which of them does one of the characters sing 'A Wand'ring Minstrel I'?

Answer: The Mikado

Although the setting of 'The Mikado' is Japan, the work is a satirical look at the institutions of Great Britain. The son of the Mikado, Nanki-Poo, is pretending to be a poor minstrel to pursue Yum-Yum, and sings the song in the question while in this disguise.

The opera was performed first in 1885 and is among the duo's most popular. Other songs from it are 'Three Little Maids from School' and 'On a Tree by a Willow', which is often known by the name 'Tit-willow'. The Lord High Executioner also sings about his 'little list' of people, such as politicians, who would 'never be missed' - nothing much changes there.
10. Verdi's opera 'Rigoletto' features which of these arias?

Answer: La donna è mobile

The aria is sung by the Duke of Mantua and describes women as being flighty and fickle, like a feather in the wind. 'Rigoletto' was performed in 1851 in Venice. The character Rigoletto is the Duke's jester and his beautiful daughter, Gilda, is the object of the Duke's affections.

'Che gelida manina' is from 'La Bohème', 'Vissi d'arte' comes from 'Tosca' while 'O mio babbino caro' is one of the arias from 'Gianni Schicchi'. All of these were written by Puccini.
Source: Author rossian

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor gtho4 before going online.
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This quiz is part of series Advent Calendar Quizzes 2013-2022:

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  3. Not For Christmas Lunch Tough
  4. New Testament: 9 for 10 Easier
  5. That Glorious Song of Old Average
  6. A Bright New Shining Star Easier
  7. It's Christmas Time Average
  8. Six Geese Study Science Average
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  10. A Musicals Advent Calendar Average
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  12. Merry 'Chris'mas Easier

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