We spend a lot of time on this site talking about dead composers.

And for good reason. Opera wouldn’t exist today if it wasn’t for those great artists of the past.

But it’s also important sometimes to shine a spotlight on the artists making headway in today’s conservative opera culture. I call it conservative because despite having more talent in the opera world than ever before, most composers don’t get long-lasting careers or even the opportunities to develop multiple operas.

But Jake Heggie, born on March 31, 1961, has had a tremendously successful career as a composer. Some of his works are performed internationally, he engages with some of the greatest artists of the present and past, and to this point, he doesn’t look like he’s done anytime soon.

So in honor of his birthday, here’s a little quiz on his career so that you can learn a little bit more about him and his operas. As always, have fun!