Test Your Wits

10 Questions | By Thuizenga | Updated: Mar 22, 2022 | Attempts: 723

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1.

In a year overstuffed with projects, which of these did conductor Gustavo Dudamel not get around to? Deutsche Grammophon
- A.
  
  Conducted all of Mahler's symphonies twice in back-to-back performances on two continents
- B.
  
  Wrote a film score
- C.
  
  Mounted a production of 'Eugene Onegin' in two weeks
- D.
  
  Took four orchestras on international tours on three continents
Correct Answer
C. Mounted a production of 'Eugene Onegin' in two weeks

Explanation
We start with a bit of a trick question. Dudamel did actually mount a fully staged opera production in less than two weeks. But it was of Mozart's 'Don Giovanni.'

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2.

Which American orchestra emerged from bankruptcy? Melanie Burford/NPR
- A.
  
  Atlanta Symphony
- B.
  
  Philadelphia Orchestra
- C.
  
  Minnesota Orchestra
- D.
  
  Detroit Symphony
Correct Answer
B. Philadelphia Orchestra

Explanation
A month after a U.S. Bankruptcy court approved the reorganization plan, the Philadelphia Orchestra emerged from Chapter 11, in late July.

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3.

Which American conductor announced he'll be making a move Down Under in 2014 to take over Australia's Sydney Symphony? iStockphoto.com
- A.
  
  Robert Spano
- B.
  
  James Levine
- C.
  
  Marin Alsop
- D.
  
  David Robertson
Correct Answer
D. David Robertson

Explanation
In May, the Sydney Symphony announced that David Robertson would become its chief conductor and artistic director for a period of five years, beginning with the 2014-2015 season. Robertson is currently the music director of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra.

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4.

Which venerable American music festival celebrated its 75th anniversary? Wolftrap
- A.
  
  Tanglewood
- B.
  
  Marlboro
- C.
  
  Ravinia
- D.
  
  Caramoor
Correct Answer
A. Tanglewood

Explanation
Tanglewood, the verdant summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, turned 75 this year and celebrated with a cast of stars concert which included James Taylor, Anne-Sophie Mutter and Yo-Yo Ma.

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5.

Opera star Cecilia Bartoli dressed like what on the cover of her latest album?
- A.
  
  A marble statue
- B.
  
  An opera diva
- C.
  
  A priest
- D.
  
  A Private Detective
Correct Answer
C. A priest

Explanation
Bartoli's priestly garb on her album 'Mission' is in reference to the little known composer Agostino Stefani, whose music is featured on the album. Stefani's life reads like a spy novel, as he was also a political operative, priest and politician.

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6.

Which choral work became a surprise hit after being featured in the novel 50 Shades of Grey?
- A.
  
  Miserere (by Allegri)
- B.
  
  Spem in Alium (by Tallis)
- C.
  
  Spam in Aluminum (by Pythonius)
- D.
  
  Song for Athene (by Tavener)
Correct Answer
B. Spem in Alium (by Tallis)

Explanation
Thomas Tallis must be rolling in his grave. His gorgeous, devotional 40-part motet 'Spem in Alium' provides a sado-masochistic soundtrack for the novel's lead character. As a result, a recording of the work by the British group The Tallis Scholars raced to the top of the UK classical music charts.

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7.

The teeth of which composer were stolen from his grave? iStockphoto.com
- A.
  
  Beethoven
- B.
  
  Brahms
- C.
  
  Mozart
- D.
  
  Elgar
Correct Answer
B. Brahms

Explanation
Yes, a thriller for dentists everywhere! This summer, Austrian officials were on the hunt for the thief who busted into the graves of both Johannes Brahms and Johann Strauss Jr. and stole their choppers.

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8.

Which famous pianist sold more than 150 personal items at Christie's auction house? iStockphoto.com
- A.
  
  Leon Fleisher
- B.
  
  Byron Janis
- C.
  
  Martha Argerich
- D.
  
  Van Cliburn
Correct Answer
D. Van Cliburn

Explanation
If you had been at Christie's in May you could have bid on such items as two jewelry boxes made for Tsar Nicholas I, a Steinway piano and jewelry, all from the iconic pianist Van Cliburn.

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9.

Which opera production was trashed by a critic as: "Pound for pound the most witless and wasteful production in modern operatic history?" Wikimediacommons
- A.
  
  Wagner's 'Ring' cycle in Los Angeles
- B.
  
  Glass' 'Einstein on the Beach' in Brooklyn
- C.
  
  Wagner's 'Ring' cycle in New York
- D.
  
  Stockhausen's 'Light' in Lithuania
Correct Answer
C. Wagner's 'Ring' cycle in New York

Explanation
It was the New Yorker critic Alex Ross who, like many of his peers, did not care for the Robert Lepage production of Wagner's 'Ring' cycle at the Met in New York. The set literally hinged on a single 90,000-pound, dizzyingly high-tech contraption dubbed the "machine," which was prone to failure.

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10.

A significant work by which long dead composer was discovered in a Dresden library? iStockphoto.com
- A.
  
  Antonio Vivaldi
- B.
  
  J. S. Bach
- C.
  
  Leos Janacek
- D.
  
  Uuno Klami
Correct Answer
A. Antonio Vivaldi

Explanation
Vivaldi wrote hundreds of them -- and here comes one more. In June, Icelandic scholar Johannes Agustsson, working in the archives of the Dresden State Library in Germany, unearthed a violin concerto, believed to be by Vivaldi.

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Current Version
Mar 22, 2022

Quiz Edited by
ProProfs Editorial Team
Jan 09, 2013

Quiz Created by
Thuizenga

Test Your Wits

In a year overstuffed with projects, which of these did conductor Gustavo Dudamel not get around to? Deutsche Grammophon

Which American orchestra emerged from bankruptcy? Melanie Burford/NPR

Which American conductor announced he'll be making a move Down Under in 2014 to take over Australia's Sydney Symphony? iStockphoto.com

Which venerable American music festival celebrated its 75th anniversary? Wolftrap

Opera star Cecilia Bartoli dressed like what on the cover of her latest album?

Which choral work became a surprise hit after being featured in the novel 50 Shades of Grey?

The teeth of which composer were stolen from his grave? iStockphoto.com

Which famous pianist sold more than 150 personal items at Christie's auction house? iStockphoto.com

Which opera production was trashed by a critic as: "Pound for pound the most witless and wasteful production in modern operatic history?" Wikimediacommons

A significant work by which long dead composer was discovered in a Dresden library? iStockphoto.com