There are a lot of opera stars born in April. They include the likes of Walter Berry, Leonard Warren, Monserrat Caballe, Lily Pons, Mariela Devia, Franco Corelli, Sondra Radvanovsky, Danielle De Niese, Natalie Dessay, Fiorenza Cossotto, Siegfried Jerusalem, Gianni Raimondi, Leo Nucci, Italo Tajo, and several others. So to celebrate the April birthdays we are going to dedicate this quiz {…}
Lily Pons, Montserrat Caballé, and Mariella Devia are some of the greatest sopranos of their respective generations. They were all also born on April 12. So for this edition of the quiz, we make a statement and ask you to guess, which soprano it refers to. What is most fascinating about these three singers is that despite very distinct and {…}
Herbert von Karajan may have been a controversial figure, but there is no doubt that as far as conductors go, he was one of the finest ever. While his symphonic output is often his most beloved, his operatic interpretations also have become legendary. So for this edition of the quiz, we turn to Karajan’s opera career with some fun questions {…}
Tchaikovsky is undeniably one of the greatest composers of all time and there is no doubt that his two greatest operas are “Eugene Onegin” and “The Queen of Spades.” These two operas, which not only share a place at the top of the composer’s creative output, also happen to premiere on March 29. “Onegin” came first in 1879 before “Spades” {…}
Mezzo-sopranos Teresa Berganza and Christa Ludwig shared a great deal in common. In addition to both being born on March 16, albeit of different years, they both practically made all their major debuts as Cherubino (Met Opera debuts, Vienna State Opera debuts). So in celebration of these two historic singers, here is a short little quiz, a lightning round if {…}
Composers Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov and Modest Mussorgsky are actually more inseparable than one might imagine. Both were arguably the most enduring members of The Five. Rimsky-Korsakov famously completed many of his friend’s unfinished works. And the two had birthdays within days of one another. So in celebrating these two historic Russian composers, here is a quiz that pits them against one {…}
(Credit: A. Bofill) Verdi and Piave’s “La Traviata” is one of the most iconic operas of all time. Premiering on March 6, 1853, it has become the dream opera for any soprano able to take on its demanding lead role. Today, the work is performed at every opera house imaginable and it is often identified as a true audience favorite {…}
Giaochino Rossini was one of the most prolific composers of all time, composing a whopping 39 operas. What is more, he did it all within a very short time in his life, famously spending much two more years of his lifetime as a retiree than as a working composer (39 years to 37). In honor of his birthday on Feb. {…}
Marian Anderson, born on Feb. 27, 1897, will forever be remembered as one of the most important figures in the history of opera. To commemorate the contralto’s birthday and what she means as a part of Black History Month, here is a quiz that tests you on her career exploits. As always, have fun.
It’s Valentine’s Day weekend, meaning that romance is blossoming in the air. Perhaps no composer’s operas explore romance and love as deeply or with such a wide-ranging and complex lens that Mozart’s. So for this Valentine’s Day we want to see which of his iconic characters would prove to be the right romantic (or not) partner. Enjoy!
Leontyne Price, born on Feb. 10, 1927, is undeniably one of the greatest sopranos to ever grace any opera stage. There is also no doubt that despite her international feats, her exploits at the Metropolitan Opera are easily her most renowned. And that is the subject of our latest opera quiz. As always, have fun!