Giaochino Rossini was one of the most prolific composers of all time, composing a whopping 39 operas. What is more, he did it all within a very short time in his life, famously spending much two more years of his lifetime as a retiree than as a working composer (39 years to 37). In honor of his birthday on Feb. {…}
Marian Anderson, born on Feb. 27, 1897, will forever be remembered as one of the most important figures in the history of opera. To commemorate the contralto’s birthday and what she means as a part of Black History Month, here is a quiz that tests you on her career exploits. As always, have fun.
It’s Valentine’s Day weekend, meaning that romance is blossoming in the air. Perhaps no composer’s operas explore romance and love as deeply or with such a wide-ranging and complex lens that Mozart’s. So for this Valentine’s Day we want to see which of his iconic characters would prove to be the right romantic (or not) partner. Enjoy!
Leontyne Price, born on Feb. 10, 1927, is undeniably one of the greatest sopranos to ever grace any opera stage. There is also no doubt that despite her international feats, her exploits at the Metropolitan Opera are easily her most renowned. And that is the subject of our latest opera quiz. As always, have fun!
“Voce d’un angelo” was a term often used to describe Renata Tebaldi’s musicianship. That is undeniably the impression that she gave me in my first encounter with her artistry, in a famed recording of “Otello” under Herbert von Karajan. The purity and elegance of her singing was the perfect match for the role of Desdemona, which is undeniably one of {…}
Another Mozart quiz? To this point, we have created a plethora of Mozart quizzes based around his career as an opera composer, his characters, and even his opera’s performance histories. Here is another quiz, made to celebrate his birthday on Jan. 27 (or 26 depending on who you ask) to push your knowledge of the famed composer’s operas even further. {…}
(Credit: Decca / Josef Gallauer) Juan Diego Flórez, born on Jan. 13, 1973, has become of the most renowned bel canto singers of modern times. At the start of his career he was the Rossini tenor that every major company wanted to enlist, but he slowly evolved his repertory to include a greater wealth of works by the famed bel {…}
Two of America’s greatest singers, James Morris and Sherrill Milnes also share a birthday on Jan. 10. So to celebrate the birth of these two opera legends, here is a quiz with a simple concept – we make a statement and you have to pick which of these two artists it applies to. As always, enjoy!
(Credit: Hans Fahrmeyer) Wagner’s “Der Fliegende Holländer” is a work of consummate importance. Premiering on Jan. 2, 1843, it launched the famed composer in a new direction, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest, if not the greatest, composers of opera. This is an opera that the most beloved of Wagnerians would know inside and out. So here is {…}
(Credits: Cory Weaver/Metropolitan Opera) Piotr Beczala is undeniably one of the most renowned tenors of the last few years, his profile growing year to year. In 2019, he not only delivered a number of historic performances (including two high profile showcases in which he encored noted arias), but he also received a Grammy nomination, and won Oper! Magazine Award’s Male {…}
Throughout the history of opera, December has seemingly been a favorite for major world premieres. So to celebrate the holiday season and opera, we take a look at major operas that world premiered in the final month of the year. Throughout this quiz you will see references to “December opera,” meaning a piece that had its first performance this month. {…}