Quizology.Online

Tag: opera

  • The Three ‘Bs’ — Answers

    Ludwig van Beethoven with the
    manuscript of the Missa solemnis, 1820.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    On 2 April 1800, Ludwig van Beethoven led the premiere of his First Symphony, Symphony No. 1 in C major, Op. 21 in Vienna, so today’s questions are all about music.

    One

    When Hans von Bulow referred to three composers as ‘The three Bs’, one was Ludwig van Beethoven, but who were the other two?

    Answer: Johann Sebastian Bach and Johannes Brahms.

    ’The Three Bs’ refers to the primacy of Bach, Beethoven and Brahms in classical music. The term originated from an expression by Peter Cornelius in 1854, who included Berlioz as the third B before Hans von Bülow substituted Brahms for Berlioz.

    Two

    What is the name of the priest in Eleanor Rigby ?

    Answer: Father McKenzie

    Eleanor Rigby by the Beatles, from their 1966 album Revolver, is a song about loneliness featuring a double string quartet arrangement. Paul McCartney, who came up with the melody and most of the lyrics has variously stated the name came from an old lady he knew; the actress Eleanor Bron; and a Bristol store, Rigby & Evens Ltd. The song topped singles charts in several countries.

    Three

    Who composed the opera Aida, and where was it set?

    Answer: Giuseppe Verdi; Ancient Egypt.

    Aida is a tragic opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi, set in ancient Egypt. Commissioned by Cairo’s Khedivial Opera House, it premiered there on 24 December 1871. The opera was met with great acclaim and quickly became a staple in the operatic canon, receiving performances worldwide.

    Four

    ‘But I shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die’, are lyrics from what song, and who wrote it?

    Answer: Folsom Prison Blues; Johnny Cash

    Folsom Prison Blues is a song by Johnny Cash, written in 1953 and released as a single in 1955. The song, inspired by the movie Inside the Walls of Folsom Prison, combines elements of train and prison songs, and became one of Cash’s signature songs. A live version recorded at Folsom State Prison in 1968 became a number-one hit and won a Grammy Award.

    Five

    First performed in 1934, A Boy was Born is a choral composition by which English composer? 

    Answer: Benjamin Britten.

    A Boy Was Born, Op. 3, is a choral composition by Benjamin Britten, subtitled Choral variations for men’s, women’s and boys’ voices, unaccompanied. Composed between 1932 and 1933, it was first performed in 1934 and revised in 1955. The work, a musical theme and six variations, sets ten different texts related to Christmas.

  • The Three ‘Bs’

    Ludwig van Beethoven with the
    manuscript of the Missa solemnis, 1820.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    On 2 April 1800, Ludwig van Beethoven led the premiere of his First Symphony, Symphony No. 1 in C major, Op. 21 in Vienna, so today’s questions are all about music.

    One

    When Hans von Bulow referred to three composers as ‘The three Bs’, one was Ludwig van Beethoven, but who were the other two?

    Two

    What is the name of the priest in Eleanor Rigby ?

    Three

    Who composed the opera Aida, and where was it set?

    Four

    ‘But I shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die’, are lyrics from what song, and who wrote it?

    Five

    First performed in 1934, A Boy was Born is a choral composition by which English composer? 

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Where – Who – Where – Who (& When) – Where—Answers

    Here are the answers to my earlier questions.

    All of today’s questions are connected to the date, March 20th. There are three places and two people to find in these multiple-choice questions.

    The Gypsy Theatre, Moscow, c.1931. Image New York Public Library via Wikimedia Commons

    One

    The first Romani language operetta, Children of the Forests, premiered on 20 March 1888. Where was it staged?

    1. Bucharest, Romania
    2. Kyiv, Ukraine
    3. Moscow, Russia

    Answer: 3. Moscow, Russia.

    The premiere of the very first Romani language operetta Children of the Forests was staged in the Maly Theatre, Moscow, Russia on 20 March 1888. It was performed solely by the Romani troupe. The production ran for 18 years and was a great success. The first Romani theatre troupe, founded by Nikolai Shishkin, performed in Moscow and Saint Petersburg in the late 19th century. The troupe’s success led to the establishment of the Romen Theatre in Moscow in 1931.

    Two

    In 1923, the Arts Club of Chicago hosted the United States’ first showing of Original Drawings by… This event signalled the club’s early embrace of modern art in America. There is an artist’s name missing from the show’s title: who is the artist?

    1. Salvador Dali
    2. Pablo Picasso
    3. Jackson Pollock

    Answer: 2. Pablo Picasso

    The Arts Club of Chicago, founded in 1916, is a private club and public exhibition space dedicated to showcasing international contemporary art. The club, known for its pro-Modernist stance, has presented groundbreaking exhibitions by artists like Pablo Picasso and Jean Dubuffet. It curates its own exhibits, emphasising cutting-edge and avant-garde art.

    Three

    Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin was first published on this date in 1852. Between 1832 and 1850 she lived in a city where her personal observations and research informed the basis of her story. Where was this city?

    1. Alexandria, Virginia
    2. Baltimore, Maryland
    3. Cincinnati, Ohio

    Answers: 3. Cincinatti, Ohio.

    On this day in 1852, Harriet Beecher Stowe published Uncle Tom’s Cabin as a novel. The book, which had previously been serialised, played a crucial role in shifting public opinion towards abolitionism and contributed to the outbreak of the Civil War.

    Four

    Who became the first woman to win the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, and when did she achieve this?

    1. Kelly Quinault in 1973
    2. Libby Riddles in 1985
    3. Molly Semyonova in 1997

    Answers: 2. Libby Riddles in 1985

    The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race is an annual long-distance sled dog race in Alaska, covering the distance from Anchorage to Nome in eight to fifteen days. The race, which began in 1973, is a symbolic link to Alaska’s history and a popular sporting event, attracting competitors from around the world. The race is known for its challenging conditions, including blizzards, gale-force winds, and sub-zero temperatures, which with wind chill can reach −100 °F (−73 °C).

    Five

    Albert Einstein submitted his paper The Foundation of the General Theory of Relativity in 1916. Where was he working at that time?

    1. Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich
    2. Prussian Academy of Sciences, Berlin
    3. Charles University, Prague

    Answer: Prussian Academy of Sciences, Berlin.

    Albert Einstein was working at the Prussian Academy of Sciences in Berlin when he published The Foundation of the General Theory of Relativity in 1916. He had accepted a position at the Prussian Academy in 1914, specifically to work on his new theory of gravity. The paper was submitted on March 20, 1916, and published later that year in the journal Annalen der Physik. This period marked a significant time in Einstein’s career, as he was developing groundbreaking theories that would change our understanding of gravity and the universe.

  • Where – Who – Where – Who (& When) – Where

    All of today’s questions are connected to the date, March 20th. There are three places, two people and a year to find in these multiple-choice questions.

    The Gypsy Theatre, c.1931. Image New York Public Library via Wikimedia Commons

    One

    The first Romani language operetta, Children of the Forests, premiered on 20 March 1888. Where was it staged?

    1. Bucharest, Romania
    2. Kyiv, Ukraine
    3. Moscow, Russia

    Two

    In 1923, the Arts Club of Chicago hosted the United States’ first showing of Original Drawings by… This event signalled the club’s early embrace of modern art in America. There is an artist’s name missing from the show’s title: who is the artist?

    1. Salvador Dali
    2. Pablo Picasso
    3. Jackson Pollock

    Three

    Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin was first published on this date in 1852. Between 1832 and 1850 she lived in a city where her personal observations and research informed the basis of her story. Where was this city?

    1. Alexandria, Virginia
    2. Baltimore, Maryland
    3. Cincinnati, Ohio

    Four

    Who became the first woman to win the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, and when did she achieve this?

    1. Kelly Quinault in 1973
    2. Libby Riddles in 1985
    3. Molly Semyonova in 1997

    Five

    Albert Einstein submitted his paper The Foundation of the General Theory of Relativity in 1916. Where was he working at that time?

    1. Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich
    2. Prussian Academy of Sciences, Berlin
    3. Charles University, Prague

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • + — Answers

    Here are the answers to my earlier questions.

    These questions all relate to today, February 17th.

    Question Two. Flag of Kosovo.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    A singer born in 1991 released their debut album, +, in September 2011. Who is the singer?

    Answer: Ed Sheeran.

    Ed Sheeran’s debut studio album, + (Plus), was released on 9 September 2011 and marked his commercial breakthrough. The album, produced by Jake Gosling, Sheeran and No I.D., received positive reviews and sold over 4 million copies worldwide.

    Two

    In 2008, Kosovo declared independence from which country?

    Answer: Serbia.

    Kosovo, a self-declared independent country in the Balkans, declared independence from Serbia in 2008. While recognised by the US and most EU members, its independence is not universally accepted. In 2010 the International Court of Justice ruled Kosovo’s declaration didn’t breach international law but Serbia rejected the decision. Despite lacking full international agreement, Kosovo has established structures akin to an independent nation under international supervision. The EU oversees police judicial and customs activities.

    Three

    In what decade did the opera Madama Butterfly premiere at La Scala, Milan, and who composed it?

    Answer: 1900s; Giacomo Puccini.

    Madama Butterfly is a three-act opera by Giacomo Puccini, based on John Luther Long’s short story and Pierre Loti’s novel. The original two-act version premiered in 1904 at La Scala but was poorly received, leading Puccini to revise it into the successful three-act version.

    Four

    What entertainer and actor born in Kew in 1934, links a housewife, the voice of Bruce in 2003 and, a novennium later, a Great Goblin?

    Answer: Barry Humphries.

    Barry Humphries, an Australian actor, was best known for his character Dame Edna Everage. He also created other characters, appeared in films, and wrote books. The housewife from the question was of course Dame Edna. Bruce was the shark from Finding Nemo (2003) and the Great Goblin, the king of the caverns, was played by Humphries in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012).

    Five

    In 1965, the Ranger 8 probe was launched on a mission to photograph among other things Mare Tranquillitatis. Where is Mare Tranquillitatis?

    Answer: Moon

    Ranger was a series of nine unmanned probes launched by NASA between 1961 and 1965 to explore the Moon. While the first five probes failed, the last three, Ranger 7, 8 and 9, successfully transmitted over 17,000 high-resolution photographs of the lunar surface. These images included the Sea of Tranquility (Mare Tranquillitatis), which would become the 1969 landing site of Apollo 11.

  • +

    These questions all relate to today, February 17th.

    Question Two. Flag of Kosovo.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    A singer born in 1991 released their debut album, +, in September 2011. Who is the singer?

    Two

    In 2008, Kosovo declared independence from which country?

    Three

    In what decade did the opera Madama Butterfly premiere at La Scala, Milan, and who composed it?

    Four

    What entertainer and actor born in Kew in 1934, links a housewife, the voice of Bruce in 2003 and, a novennium later, a Great Goblin?

    Five

    In 1965, the Ranger 8 probe was launched on a mission to photograph among other things Mare Tranquillitatis. Where is Mare Tranquillitatis?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Where on Earth—Answers

    Ross’s Antarctic expedition.
    HMS Erebus and Terror in the Antarctic by John Wilson Carmichael.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    On 16 August 1923, the UK named the Ross Dependency. On what continent is the Ross Dependency?

    — Answer: Antarctica

    The Ross Dependency, claimed by New Zealand, is a region of Antarctica defined by specific longitudes and latitude. While New Zealand’s claim is recognised by a few countries, the 1961 Antarctic Treaty holds all claims in abeyance. The Dependency, named after Sir James Clark Ross, includes the Ross Sea, Ross Ice Shelf, and several islands.

    Two

    Born in 1888, a military strategist and archaeological scholar also authored Seven Pillars of Wisdom. Who is he, and what by-name is he commonly known?

    — Answer: T.E. Lawrence aka Lawrence of Arabia

    T.E. Lawrence, known as Lawrence of Arabia, was a British Army officer, archaeologist, and writer. He gained fame for his role in the Arab Revolt during the First World War and his subsequent work with Emir Faisal. Lawrence published his autobiography, Seven Pillars of Wisdom, and later served in the Army and RAF before his death in a motorcycle accident in 1935. His life was dramatised in the 1962 film Lawrence Of Arabia.

    1834 portrait of James Buchanan at age 42–43 by Jacob Eichholtz.
    Image Wikipedia

    Three

    On 16 August 1858, a new transatlantic telegraph cable was inaugurated. The inaugural event involved an exchange of greetings between the Heads of State of the United Kingdom and the United States. Who were these two Heads of State?

    — Answer: Queen Victoria and President James Buchanan

    The Atlantic Telegraph Company, led by Cyrus West Field, constructed the first transatlantic telegraph cable. On that day, the first official telegram to cross two continents was a congratulatory letter from Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom to President James Buchanan of the United States. Despite initial success, the cable’s poor signal quality and subsequent destruction after three weeks undermined confidence and delayed restoration efforts.

    Madonna, 2020.
    Image Wikipedia

    Four

    Madonna, the singer and actress, celebrates her birthday on August 16th. In which city and state was she born?

    — Answer: Bay City, Michigan

    Madonna, the ‘Queen of Pop’, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer and actress. She is the best-selling female recording artist of all time, with numerous accolades including seven Grammy Awards and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Madonna is also a successful businesswoman, philanthropist and advocate for gender equality and LGBT rights.

    Richard Wagner, 1871.
    Image Wikipedia

    Five

    On this day in 1876, Richard Wagner’s penultimate opera in his Ring cycle premiered at the Bayreuth Festspielhaus. What was the name of the opera?

    — Answer: Siegfried

    Siegfried is the third of Richard Wagner’s four epic music dramas, Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelung). It premiered at the Bayreuth Festspielhaus on 16 August 1876, marking the first complete performance of the cycle.

    Written over twenty-six years, from 1848 to 1874. The Ring cycle comprises:

    • Das Rheingold (The Rhinegold)
    • Die Walküre (The Valkyrie)
    • Siegfried
    • Götterdämmerung (Twilight of the Gods)

  • Where on Earth

    One

    On 16 August 1923, the UK named the Ross Dependency. On what continent is the Ross Dependency?

    Two

    Born in 1888, a military strategist and archaeological scholar also authored Seven Pillars of Wisdom. Who is he, and what by-name is he commonly known?

    Three

    On 16 August 1858, a new transatlantic telegraph cable was inaugurated. The inaugural event involved an exchange of greetings between the Heads of State of the United Kingdom and the United States. Who were these two Heads of State?

    Four

    Madonna, the singer and actress, celebrates her birthday on August 16th. In which city and state was she born?

    Five

    On this day in 1876, Richard Wagner’s penultimate opera in his Ring cycle premiered at the Bayreuth Festspielhaus. What was the name of the opera?