A year ago, we released a quiz dedicated to opera history. Obviously, there was no way to summarize all the information into just 10 trivia questions. We knew the day would come when we would be able to incorporate some other fun information in the form of another quiz. And that day has now come. Behold another trivia quiz made {…}
The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) was invented in the nineteenth century in an effort to standardize the pronunciation of spoken language. A noble mission, IPA has since become—to put it lightly—the bane of every singer’s undergraduate and graduate study existence. IPA is a tool which wields great power for opera singers and recitalists who have to sing in German, French, {…}
You might have heard, but Beniamino Gigli and Lauritz Melchior were born on the same exact day – March 20, 1890. As such, it should not be a surprise that their careers overlapped in some unique ways. They both became major stars at the Met. They both appeared in the movies. They even shared an operatic role. But they also {…}
Most of the operatic classics have been constructed on recurring archetypes. Oftentimes, these tropes are thematic. Nobility, magic, love, lust, vengeance. You know them, even if you aren’t always aware of them. But oftentimes they are also emphasized through specific musical structures. The tenor is often the hero and the lower-voiced character is more sinister. Or, there is always a {…}
Verdi’s “Ernani” is one of the composer’s most recognized works from his early period. The opera had its first performance on March 9, 1844 and has managed to hold the stage since thanks to its varied melodic qualities for the four lead characters. In the context of Verdi’s oeuvre, this work is also the first to feature the composer at {…}
Bizet’s “Carmen” had its world premiere on March 3, 1875 and is now one of the most renowned in the canon and even popular culture. But many people don’t know that it didn’t actually start that way. It was anything but a smashing success. So here is a challenging trivia quiz with some other nuggets about the world’s most famous {…}
Few sopranos in the second half of the 20th century have had as enduring a legacy as Renata Scotto. Born on Feb. 24, 1934, she enjoyed a career as a top soprano before turning to directing and teaching. Few artists can truly claim as diverse a portfolio as the diva. In honor of her birthday, here is a trivia quiz {…}
Renée Fleming is arguably one of the most famous singers on the planet. The soprano, born on Valentine’s Day has transcended the opera world, making herself a career on movie soundtracks, and most recently, on the Broadway stage. In celebrating Fleming, here is a trivia quiz sure to tickle even the greatest fans of her soprano or shed some new {…}
Love, lust, passion, excitement! No, we’re not talking about your planned Valentine’s Day festivities, but opera! Opera is filled with some of the most passionate love stories ever written, and these stories are set to the most heart-wrenching music known to humankind. If you’re still looking for that special someone to share Valentine’s Day with, we’ve devised this quiz just {…}
February 3 marks the anniversary of the world premiere of “La Liberazione di Ruggiero,” the first opera composed by a woman, Francesca Caccini. History shows us that there have been a number of women composers in opera, and recent decades have seen that number increase. And yet, many still do not know about the women composers and their works. So {…}
Mozart is arguably the world’s most renowned composer. He created a plethora of amazing works of classical music in a rather short time, dying well before his 40th birthday. Mozart’s operas are a major touchstone of his compositional legacy and are undeniably among the most studied and loved of his works. Their history is full of fascinating patterns and trivia. {…}