The greatest early opera composer, he wrote "Orfeo".
Who is Claudio Monteverdi.
100
The title of this aria, and the opera it came from.
What is "Habanera" from "Carmen".
100
This style of sweet singing is taught to singers even today, and emphasizes breath control, a beautiful tone, and great flexibility in dynamics (going from loud to soft, for example).
What is bel canto singing.
100
Her nickname was La Stupenda, "The Stunning One".
Who is Joan Sutherland.
200
The reason opera was invented.
What is an attempt to imitate ancient Greek drama.
200
Composer of such well-known operas as “The Magic Flute” and “The Marriage of Figaro”.
Who is Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
200
The opera the famous Queen of the Night aria comes from:
What is "The Magic Flute".
200
Both terms were especially used in the 18th century. The first term means a funny opera, the second means a formal, serious opera.
What is opera buffa and opera seria.
200
Arguably the most famous of The Three Tenors.
Who is Luciano Pavarotti.
300
The musical make-up of an opera.
What are vocalists with orchestral accompaniment.
300
This composer, creator of “Madam Butterfly”, is often cited as the end of Grand Opera.
Who is Giacomo Puccini.
300
The earliest surviving opera and its composer.
What is "Euridice" by Jacopo Peri.
300
The script of the opera.
What is the libretto.
300
The three members of The Three Tenors.
Who are Placido Domingo, Jose Carreras & Luciano Pavarotti.
400
The six different voice types of opera performers.
What is soprano, mezzo-soprano, contralto, tenor, baritone and bass.
400
Famous for his complex operas, he was also known for his anti-semitism.
Who is Richard Wagner.
400
The opera from which this aria is taken:
What is "The Barber of Seville".
400
Speech-singing, in which the singer semi-chants the words, imitating the free rhythms of speech.
What is a recitative.
400
This operatic soprano is considered one of the top female opera singers of the 21st century. She sang the olympic anthem at the 2014 opening ceremony for the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.
Who is Anna Netrebko.
500
Three of the genres or categories from which operas are created.
What is (any three) history, mythology, fairy tales, folk stories, literature, etc.
500
Though a composers of many different types of music, this British composer wrote more than 14 operas after the premier of his first opera, "Peter Grimes", establishing himself as one of the leading 20th century composers in the genre.
Who is Benjamin Britten.
500
The English-translated title of this well-known piece from Wagner's "Ring Cycle" series of operas:
What is "Ride of the Valkyries".
500
This is a little melody that plays every time a certain character or object appears.
What is a Leitmotif.
500
This German operatic tenor studied piano at age 8 and was a member of his elementary school choir, though he did not initially plan to go into music.