Quizology.Online

Tag: opera

  • Poetic Licence — Answers

    Here are the answers to today’s questions.

    H.M.S. Pinafore; or, The Lass That Loved a Sailor, theatrical poster.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    All of these questions are related to today’s date, May 25th.

    One

    What was the first X-rated film to win the Academy Award for best picture?

    Midnight Cowboy.

    Released on this day in 1969, Midnight Cowboy, directed by John Schlesinger, stars Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight as New York hustlers. It won three Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and is the only X-rated film to do so. Ranked 36th and 43rd on AFI’s lists, it was preserved in the U.S. National Film Registry in 1994.
    X-certification has been renamed in some domains; for example, in the U.K., it is now an 18 certificate, which is suitable only for persons aged 18 years and over, and in the U.S., NC-17, No one 17 and under admitted.

    Two

    He did not wear his scarlet coat,
    For blood and wine are red,
    And blood and wine were on his hands
    When they found him with the dead,
    The poor dead woman whom he loved,
    And murdered in her bed.

    The above lines are the opening verse of an 1897 poem which was published under the pseudonym C.3.3. What is the poem, and who wrote it?

    Answer: The Ballad of Reading Gaol by Oscar Wilde.

    On 25 May 1895, Wilde had been convicted of ‘committing acts of gross indecency with certain male persons’, sentenced to two years’ hard labour; he served the majority of his sentence in Reading Gaol. His poem, The Ballad of Reading Gaol, which was written after his release from prison, narrates the execution of Charles Thomas Wooldridge. It highlights the brutalisation of punishment and Wilde’s identification with prisoners. Published in 1898, under the pseudonym C.3.3. — his prison identification by which he was addressed — it remained anonymous until Wilde’s identity as author was revealed in 1899. The poem, which sold well, provided Wilde with an income for life.

    Three

    The author who created the character Jason Bourne in a 1980 novel was born in 1927. Who was this author?

    Answer: Robert Ludlum.

    Robert Ludlum, an American author known for his spy thrillers, wrote best-sellers like The Bourne Identity and The Scarlatti Inheritance. Despite criticism of his plots and prose, his fast-paced espionage novels were immensely popular. He authored 27 thriller novels, including the Jason Bourne series, which have been published in 33 languages and sold an estimated 300-500 million copies.

    Four

    An actor, born in 1939, links the roles of John Profumo in 1989, Mithrandir (2001), and Leigh Teabing (2006). What actor?

    Answer: Ian McKellen.

    Ian McKellen, who was born in England on this day in 1939, played John Profumo in Scandal (1989). In 2001, he took on the role of Gandalf the Grey in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring — Mithrandir is how Gandalf is known by the Elves in their Sindarin language. He portrayed Sir Leigh Teabing in The Da Vinci Code (2006).

    Five

    …; or, The Lass That Loved a Sailor, a comic opera, debuted in London in 1878. What has been omitted from the beginning of the opera’s title?

    Answer: H.M.S. Pinafore.

    H.M.S. Pinafore; or, The Lass That Loved a Sailor, a comic opera by Gilbert and Sullivan, premiered in 1878, running for 571 performances. Set on a Royal Navy ship, it humorously critiques the British class system and authority. Its success led to other popular works, influencing modern musical theatre.

  • Poetic Licence

    …; or, The Lass That Loved a Sailor, theatrical poster (cropped). See question five.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    All of these questions are related to today’s date, May 25th.

    One

    What was the first X-rated film to win the Academy Award for best picture?

    Two

    He did not wear his scarlet coat,
    For blood and wine are red,
    And blood and wine were on his hands
    When they found him with the dead,
    The poor dead woman whom he loved,
    And murdered in her bed.

    The above lines are the opening verse of an 1897 poem which was published under the pseudonym C.3.3. What is the poem, and who wrote it?

    Three

    The author who created the character Jason Bourne in a 1980 novel was born in 1927. Who was this author?

    Four

    An actor, born in 1939, links the roles of John Profumo in 1989, Mithrandir (2001), and Leigh Teabing (2006). What actor?

    Five

    …; or, The Lass That Loved a Sailor, a comic opera, debuted in London in 1878. What has been omitted from the beginning of the opera’s title?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • There is Only One Cure for Grey Hair — Answers

    Giacomo Puccini, 1924.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    All of these questions are related to today’s date, April 25th.

    One

    In 1959, the St. Lawrence Seaway was officially opened. What canal, part of the Seaway, extends from Port Weller to Port Colborne, and in what country is this canal located?

    Answer: Welland Canal; Canada.

    Part of the St. Lawrence Seaway, the Welland Canal in Ontario, Canada, connects Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, bypassing Niagara Falls. It facilitates 3,000 ships annually, transporting 40 million tonnes of cargo. First opened in 1829, the Welland Canal has undergone four reconstructions, with the current version featuring eight locks, allowing ships to pass in opposite directions.

    Two

    In 1926, Turandot premiered some sixteen months after the death of the opera’s composer. Who, pictured above, was the composer?

    Answer: Giacomo Puccini.

    Giacomo Puccini (1858–1924) was an Italian composer renowned for his operas, including La bohème, Tosca, Madama Butterfly, and Turandot. Puccini’s final opera, Turandot, was left unfinished at the composer’s death, and Franco Alfano completed the last two scenes using sketches from the composer. Turandot boasts several memorable arias, including the iconic Nessun dorma.

    Three

    In 1792, the louisette was first used in France. Originally named after its inventor, Antoine Louis, a surgeon and physiologist, it became more commonly known by the name used today. What is it now known as?

    Answer: Guillotine.

    The guillotine, introduced in France in 1792, was a device for capital punishment by decapitation, consisting of two upright posts and a weighted angled blade. Legislation promoted by Joseph-Ignace Guillotin to ensure equality and minimise suffering, it was first used on 25 April 1792. Originally called the louisette, it became infamous during the French Revolution and Reign of Terror, executing thousands including Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette. Use declined after the 1960s, with it last being used in 1977, and France abolishing both capital punishment and the guillotine in 1981.

    Four

    As a precursor to licence or registration plates, what did New York State require that motor vehicle owners must display on the back of their vehicle from 1901?

    Answer: Owners initials.

    France introduced vehicle registration plates in 1893, followed by Germany in 1896. The Netherlands issued national plates in 1898. In the U.S., New York required that the owner’s initials be clearly visible on the back of the vehicle from 1901, and licence plates displayed from 1903. 

    Five

    British and French engineers broke ground in 1859 at the site of a canal which has a terminus at Port Tewfik. What canal is it, and what rugged, arid peninsula is situated to the east of this canal?

    Answer: Suez Canal; Sinai Peninsula.

    The Suez Canal, a 193.30-kilometre-long waterway in Egypt, connects the Mediterranean Sea at Port Said with the Red Sea at Port Tewfik, Suez, separating Africa and Asia. Built in 1869 by Ferdinand de Lesseps’ Compagnie de Suez, it was nationalised in 1956. A new side channel opened in 2016, enhancing its role in global trade and military strategy.

    There is Only One Cure for Grey Hair

    Today’s title There is Only One Cure for Grey Hair, a reference to the answer to question three, is from a P.G. Wodehouse quote —

    There is only one cure for grey hair. It was invented by a Frenchman. It is called the guillotine.
    — P.G. Wodehouse

  • There is Only One Cure for Grey Hair

    See question two.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    All of these questions are related to today’s date, April 25th.

    One

    In 1959, the St. Lawrence Seaway was officially opened. What canal, part of the Seaway, extends from Port Weller to Port Colborne, and in what country is this canal located?

    Two

    In 1926, Turandot premiered some sixteen months after the death of the opera’s composer. Who, pictured above, was the composer?

    Three

    In 1792, the louisette was first used in France. Originally named after its inventor, Antoine Louis, a surgeon and physiologist, it became more commonly known by the name used today. What is it now known as?

    Four

    As a precursor to licence or registration plates, what did New York State require that motor vehicle owners must display on the back of their vehicle from 1901?

    Five

    British and French engineers broke ground in 1859 at the site of a canal which has a terminus at Port Tewfik. What canal is it, and what rugged, arid peninsula is situated to the east of this canal?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • 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.