Classical Music Trivia Questions
Total Questions: 34
Which composer wrote 'Il Trovatore,' which includes the famous 'Anvil Chorus' enjoyed by male choirs worldwide?
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giuseppe verdi
With whom did Charles-Marie Widor and his pupil Albert Schweitzer collaborate to edit the organ works of which composer?
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johann sebastian bach
In which Tchaikovsky ballet is the main character awakened by a kiss?
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sleeping beauty
The symphony known as La Poule or 'The Hen' is one of the 6 named for what capital city?
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paris
Who is the son of a Cologne cantor who wrote the opera 'The Tales of Hoffmann'?
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jacques offenbach
Which composer burned the score of his 5-act opera 'Ivan IV' before achieving success with 'Carmen'?
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georges bizet
Which famous composer married his second wife, Anna Magdalena Wilcken, in 1721 and had 13 children with her?
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johann sebastian bach
Which composer of 'The Rite of Spring' was commissioned to write the 'Circus Polka' for circus elephants to perform?
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igor stravinsky
Which 1850 Wagner opera features the song 'Farewell, farewell, my beloved swan'?
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lohengrin
What mode of transportation is depicted in Arthur Honegger's symphonic piece 'Pacific 231'?
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train
What popular dance of Beethoven's time, developed from the Ländler, did Beethoven incorporate into his music?
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waltz
In which Verdi opera does an Ethiopian slave girl struggle with feelings of love and patriotism within the context of Pharaoh-era Egypt?
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aida
Which Baroque composer was appointed choir leader at St. Thomas Church in Leipzig in 1723?
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johann sebastian bach
Which composer wrote 'Das Rheingold,' with its first scene set at the bottom of the Rhine?
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richard wagner
Dvorak's Symphony No. 9 has a title that indicates it is from which place?
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new world
What completes the title of the Strauss waltz 'Tales from the...?'
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vienna woods
Which country inspired Mendelssohn to write the 'Hebrides Overture' after his visit?
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scotland
Which composer, along with his sister, introduced the overture to 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' as a piano duet in 1826?
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felix mendelssohn
Who is the composer of the song sung by Siegmund?
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richard wagner
Which opera, unfinished at the time of his death, was composed by Borodin and centers around a Russian prince?
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prince igor
Which 'Four Seasons' composer and ordained minister was nicknamed 'Il Prete Rosso', or the 'Red Priest'?
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antonio vivaldi
Who is the composer of 'Mephisto Waltz' who is known for being a strong Hungarian nationalist but barely spoke Hungarian?
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franz liszt
Which city did Mendelssohn visit in 1829 that inspired him to compose the 'Scottish Symphony'?
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edinburgh
In Handel's Messiah, which brass instrument is mentioned in an aria describing it 'shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible'?
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trumpet
In which country is Amonasro, the father of the slave Aida, the king in the opera Aida?
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ethiopia
In which country is Puccini's 'Madama Butterfly' set during the early 1900s?
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japan
In which Verdi opera does the character Iago, a baritone, appear?
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otello
What is the name of Bach's set of repetitive pieces designed to demonstrate contrapuntal technique, known as 'The Art of'?
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fugue
Which 19th-century composer had an adopted niece named Johanna who created the role of Elisabeth in his opera 'Tannhauser'?
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richard wagner
What are Bach's 1721 'Concerts a Plusieurs Instruments' popularly known as?
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brandenburg concertos
The music from what Tchaikovsky suite, originating from his 1892 ballet, is especially popular during Christmas time?
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nutcracker
Which composer adapted Victor Hugo's play 'Le Roi S'Amuse' into the opera 'Rigoletto'?
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giuseppe verdi
How is all dialogue performed in grand opera, unlike operetta?
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singing
Who composed variations on 'I Got Rhythm' for piano and orchestra in 1934?
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george gershwin
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