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. {…}
Maria Callas is one of the greatest opera legends the world has ever known. Her career spanned several decades with the soprano best known for her intense portrayals of a wide range of roles. So for this quiz, we turn to her roles and repertory. How well do you know her trajectory? Have fun!
Donizetti, born on Nov. 29, 1797, is one of the major contributors to the modern canon. Among his most recognized operas are “Lucia di Lammermoor,” “L’Elisir d’Amore,” the Tudor Queen trilogy, and “Don Pasquale” to name just a few. But he composed dozens upon dozens of works throughout his career, many of which remain obscure to this day. So for {…}
“Fidelio” is the only opera that Beethoven gave the world. And while its flaws are notable, there is no doubt that its finest, there are few things more powerful than this very opera. So to celebrate the anniversary of the opera’s world premiere on Nov. 20, 1805, we have prepared a fun little quiz that will “reveal” how you would {…}
Leonie Rysanek is one of the most beloved sopranos of the 20th century. Born on Nov. 14, 1926, she would forge a major career as an interpreter of the works of Wagner and Strauss. She was also a champion of many of the heavier Verdi roles. Later in her career, she transitioned to becoming a mezzo-soprano, leaving her mark on {…}
(Credit: Allan Warren) Dame Joan Sutherland was born on Nov. 7, 1926. The great Australian soprano would go on to conquer an entire generation of opera lovers with her flawless vocal technique and exquisite sense of line. She was and remains, for many, the epitome of bel canto singing of the 20th century. In celebration of her recent birthday, here {…}
“Don Giovanni” is one of the greatest operas ever created The opera had its world premiere on Oct. 29, 1787 and it remains one of the most performed work in the repertory. In honor of the celebration of its recent anniversary, we are releasing a quiz that centers on the opera’s history as as well as some interesting insights into {…}
The Richard Tucker Foundation Gala kicks off one Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019. For years, this has become a touchstone event in New York City opera culture. Winners are announced in the spring to great fanfare with the famed fall / winter gala’s lineup among one of the most anticipated announcements of the opera season. In this week’s quiz, we will {…}
Opera composers are among the most admired artists of all time. All of them had unique personalities and letters and quotes gathered throughout the years have illuminated us about who they were and how they thoughts. So for this week’s quiz we will take a look at some of the iconic quotes from some of those great composers. Some quotes {…}
Luciano Pavarotti was born on Oct. 12, 1935 and would go on to one of the most iconic careers in the history of music. The Italian tenor would wind up being more than just a figure in the opera world, but would break the barriers of the mainstream to remain one of the great international artists of the 20th century. {…}
Verdi’s birthday is this coming week, which means this week’s quiz is all about the famed Italian composer and his work. For this edition of the quiz, we will either show you an image or a prompt and it will be your task to determine the opera that best fits. As always, have fun!