Opera Quiz 2 - the ULTIMATE TEST of your knowledge

[@Mestrcs]

Very good fun! I missed Louise, it is true I have never listened to it in its entirety. And Offenbach I got, but did not remember the correct title (the word Can-Can came to mind immediately). This is really fun!

[@peterpawlik2495]

Glad you liked it 🙂

[@Raulgermont]

This is very enjoyable! Thank you. Interesting to watch your facial expressions and body movement while you play the musical selections.

[@peterpawlik2495]

Not much of a poker face there, I guess 🤦‍♂ Thank you for your comment - I am happy you enjoyed the video. But you didn't mention your score? How many did you get right? 😄

[@Raulgermont]

@@peterpawlik2495All of them. Loved seeing Caballé, Price, De Niro, Tom Cruise, etc. thrown into the same cocktail.

[@peterpawlik2495]

@@Raulgermont holy moly 👏🍾

[@operaFan-tn8ng]

Ah! Now I get it. Orpheus in the Underwear. Whoops, sorry, Underworld.

[@virginiakramer9055]

I got four out of five. But even though I didn't get Freischütz, I did know it was Nicolai Gedda. That should count for something.

[@peterpawlik2495]

That absolutely counts 👍

[@jorgaba2865]

I got 4/5 -- I knew the first 2 almost immediately. You stumped me on #3 -- I have heard the aria, but didn't recognize it (First I thought maybe something from Saint-Saens). #4 opera is one of my favorites, but sadly almost never performed here in the USA for reasons I don't understand. #5 is another favorite, but also very underperformed here.

[@peterpawlik2495]

Thank you for your comment - the level of knowledge from my viewers is quite impressive as your message proofs 👏

[@operaFan-tn8ng]

Wow!! I didn't know you used to be an opera director at the Vienna State Opera. No wonder you know so much about opera. I am in complete awe of you. 😂

[@peterpawlik2495]

You are too kind, thank you. But I have to make a correction: I was assistant stage director at the Vienna State Opera, not stage director. My job was to assist the stage directors who were doing new productions. And in the day to day business to rehearse all the operas which are in the permanent repertoire (and there are a lot of them 😄) with the guest singers. For example: when there was a Tosca performance on the schedule for Friday I did rehearse the whole opera with the guest singers Wednesday and Thursday. And Monday and Tuesday I rehearsed for example La Boheme which was scheduled for Wednesday . I had a really great time and learned a lot which helped me for my career later on.

[@operaFan-tn8ng]

Wow! An assistant stage director is still a stage director. You must have some amazing memories. I am still in awe of you. 😲

[@peterpawlik2495]

@@operaFan-tn8ng You are really very, very kind - and yes: other viewers have asked if I could share some of those memories/stories in a video. And I am thinking about how to do it without betraying some of those wonderful singers I had the privilege working with. It could be fun though - thank you again and please take care 🙂

[@operaFan-tn8ng]

Oh blimey! No. 4. Nope,no idea. Told you I was stupid.

[@Nullifidian]

This was good fun. I got 5 out of 5, and I really appreciated your selection and choice of singer for the second clip because the RCA Victor recording of _La forza del destino_ on CD was the first full-length opera I ever bought for myself (I'd bought a few compilation or highlights discs before that). It had Leontyne Price as Leonora, Richard Tucker as Don Alvaro, Robert Merrill as Don Carlo, Shirley Verrett as Preziosilla, and Giorgio Tozzi as the Father Superior-a real cast of stars. I still have it and listen to it from time to time. Your video also made me want to listen to _Der Freischütz_ again.

[@peterpawlik2495]

Wow - 5/5? You really know your stuff! I am with you when it comes to the „Forza“ recording, so impressive. If I may suggest for Freischütz the recording with Carlos Kleiber? It’s so dynamic and was at that time quite revolutionary. Anyway, thank you for your comment!

[@Nullifidian]

@@peterpawlik2495 You're welcome, and thank you for the compliment. I've been listening to opera seriously for over 30 years. I had some desultory exposure to it before then, but what hooked me on the art form was hearing Alban Berg's _Wozzeck_ when I was 12 in the DG recording with Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau and Evelyn Lear, conducted by Karl Böhm. When DFD sang, "Marie! Marie!" in the third act, chills went up my spine and I became transformed into both an opera and a DFD fan in an instant. And that was fortunate for me, because at the time I was listening to a lot of modern classical music after having been hooked by Charles Ives' Piano Sonata No. 1, and DFD was a passionate advocate for the music of his time. After _Wozzeck_ , I hardly ever missed a weekly broadcast from the Metropolitan Opera, which is how I got most of my knowledge of the standard rep-and also increased my knowledge thanks to listening to the Opera Quizzes-and I started attending performances from our local opera company that offered $5 tickets to their final dress rehearsals for students 18 and under. And I continued to pursue my own weirder taste in modern opera through CDs and DVDs, and occasional live performances. That said, I'm still nowhere near an expert. I know operas and arias/ensembles/choruses, but I'm always impressed by people who have been at this so long that they can quote the libretto verbatim at seemingly any point or recognize singers from recordings going all the way back to Ernestine Schumann-Heink and Dame Nelly Melba. And thank you for the recommendation. I will listen to the Kleiber recording. I don't own it, but DG has made fully available on KZbin Music.

[@peterpawlik2495]

@@Nullifidian I love Wozzeck but that’s a hardcore introduction into opera for a 12 year old 😄👍

[@n.n.5293]

And another Lady will be helped across the street. Really got me with „Louise.“

[@peterpawlik2495]

😂

[@diecheneydie]

Missed Louise but I LOVE this guy....and I LOVE the "free prize"!

[@peterpawlik2495]

If you already loved this free prize you will be even happier with the free prize I have planned for my next quiz - it's even bigger and better 😱😄 Thank you for your kind words!

[@williamnethercott4364]

Hmph! I'm claiming two and a half. I got Der Freischutz and Orpheus in the Underworld but I took longer than 10 seconds to place Casta Diva (you know, the easy one) and I only worked out that La Forza del Destino was Verdi but couldn't identify the opera. Louise had me completely lost, I don't think I've ever heard anything from it. I haven't tried the first quiz, so I'll see if I can do any better with that one.

[@peterpawlik2495]

I looooove your honesty 😄 Louise is a really tough one. I bet not even Charpentier’s wife had heard of this opera so don’t be too hard on yourself. Good luck with the first quiz 🤞🤞🤞

[@abigailhamiltonactor]

I thought this was going to be a serious challenge, but you talked down to us Opera lovers far too much!

[@peterpawlik2495]

Dear abigailhamiltonactor, my intention was to keep the topic light and entertaining. I'm sorry that I sounded to you as if I was talking down to opera lovers. It's difficult to find a balance in providing content both for the opera connaisseurs and for those who have not the same deep knowledge as you seem to have. Thank you for your comment - I appreciate any feedback since my goal ist to improve my content. Maybe you want to make a suggestion how a serious challenge would look like or what it should contain?

[@operaFan-tn8ng]

Abigail Hamilton, aww don't be such a spoil sport! There are so many people who love this guy with the incredible knowledge and gentle sense of humour so much. I really don't think he would ever patronise people in the way you suggest. I am completely thick at opera knowledge and have learned so much from Peter Pawlik. These quizzes are meant to be a bit of fun, not university challenge.

[@hocbes]

Gedda's name is indeed pronounced as you said it, only with a more pronounced double D. The name was originally spelt Gädda (meaning a pike - the fish), but he simplified it for career purposes.

[@peterpawlik2495]

Thank you very much! I am relieved that I didn’t butcher his name completely 🙂🙏

[@waltergee1769]

Got all of them!

[@peterpawlik2495]

Very impressive - well done 👏

[@Mestrcs]

We want proof!! 😊 (just joking with jealousy)

[@peterpawlik2495]

@@Mestrcs 🤣

[@operaFan-tn8ng]

Aaah! I was right! lol can't get no. 3. 😢

[@javierlameiro3539]

at least you stepped out of the Verdipuccini confinement and even traveled to France and Germany! Now, are you brave enough to move forward and traverse the 1900 barrier???

[@peterpawlik2495]

Thank you for your comment! I don't consider myself brave but as a matter of fact a quiz for 1900 to 1950 is already in the making - good stuff there 😄

[@javierlameiro3539]

can´t wait!!! @@peterpawlik2495

[@javierlameiro3539]

when I was just a surprised adolescent I listened to a radio program presenting a complete recording of Berg´s "Wozzeck"... and I was absolutely fascinated! and never stopped since then...@@peterpawlik2495

[@operaFan-tn8ng]

Oh God, I can't take this quiz. I am too stupid and don't know enough of what I'm talking about! I just love opera, but haven't seen enough. 😢 I got the Norma one. Is the Force of Destiny number 2?

[@peterpawlik2495]

Don't be so hard on yourself. When it comes to opera and music what you feel is equally important with what you know, maybe even more important. I hope you enjoyed the quiz nevertheless? And yes; it was Force of Destiny 🙂👍

[@operaFan-tn8ng]

I did enjoy the quiz. These are such fun even if I am not very good at them. Mind you I thought I was lacking in knowledge. I told someone I was chatting to the other day that I had Cosi fan Tutte running on the tv. The reply? "Oh that's terrible is it something you have eaten" 😀😀😀😀😀

[@operaFan-tn8ng]

I've never heard of "Louise"

[@PetroNYC78]

Deborah Voigt tried to sing the Leontyne Price role after she lost weight - couldn't do it justice. First two I knew off the bat - last two I recognized but couldn't name. One if the middle was a bit obscure but sublime.

[@peterpawlik2495]

To know the name of a piece is not everything so I would give you 4 out of 5 🙂👍 If I may say so: Your mentioning of Deborah Voigt seems a bit random. What prompted you to share this with me/us? Anyway, thank you so much for your comment and I am glad you enjoyed this little quiz!

[@PetroNYC78]

@@peterpawlik2495 it was the only time I saw the opera live at the Met and it left an indelible impression for better or worse. Probably the only reason I recognized the overture. Thank you for your generosity and your quizzes - looking forward to the next one!

[@peterpawlik2495]

@@PetroNYC78 That's so nice of you - thank you!

[@samueljaramillo4221]

On that photo of the person that is supposed to be you, the other man looks like Benedict Cumberbatch. And the other man does not look like you.

[@peterpawlik2495]

You are absolutely correct - the other man is not me. Well spotted 😄👍

[@operaFan-tn8ng]

Nope, cant get no. 5 either! Lol

[@peterpawlik2495]

love the way you talk us quasi live through your journey through this quiz 😂

[@operaFan-tn8ng]

Yes, the real challenge would be shutting me up!

[@timharris2291]

I was drawn in with the first one but the moment you take the Lord's name as a common curse -- bye bye.

[@peterpawlik2495]

Thank you for your comment. Of course it's very sad to see you go but I totally understand that you can't support such blasphemic content. Please take care always and all my best! 🙏🙏🙏

[@vinoveritas4921]

Terrible ... 🤔🤨😕 I got only one (Norma/Caballe, too easy). I easily recognised Verdi/Price, I could not say which opera it was and I only could say it was not Aïda. For the three next, no way, I knew the last one was some Offenbach stuff but that's all and I have to help three old ladies to cross the street. It's funny because if I know some operas by heart (or almost), like Butterfly, La Fanciulla, Walkyrie, Turandot, Otello etc., I realise that my overall knowledge is poor. But I'm just a humble amateur rock guitar and bass player, I do what I can ... 😅

[@peterpawlik2495]

It’s not about winning, it’s about showing up and trying 💪 I hope you will find enough old ladies to guide them safely across the street 😄👍

[@vinoveritas4921]

@@peterpawlik2495 No problem, if I can't find enough old ladies, I will help younger ones 😇

[@peterpawlik2495]

@@vinoveritas4921 😱🙄

[@ЕвгенияМалышева-г7в]

Узнала все оперные арии, всех певцов и даже Зубина Мету. Только Надин Серра очень грязно пела Луизу, к сожалению попадала не во все ноты.

[@peterpawlik2495]

Congratulations for recognizing all the arias 👏👍 About Nadine Sierra: She still sang it beautifully. I think we all shouldn't be so hard on people who are, in our opinion, not 110% perfect... 🙏

[@ЕвгенияМалышева-г7в]

@@peterpawlik2495 Вы правы🥰 Я сама в прошлом певица, это профессиональный перекос🥴

[@peterpawlik2495]

@@ЕвгенияМалышева-г7в I totally get that. Music and opera are very emotional things. And we tend to have very strong feelings and opinions about things we love, that's just normal. Thank you for your kind and understanding response 🙂

[@riekoide4121]

Che terribile vento per cantante..! Poveretta..

[@peterpawlik2495]

Grazie per il commento. Penso che le performance all'aperto siano generalmente difficili per gli attori. Ma questo vento era certamente particolarmente inquietante per la povera Montserrat...

[@riekoide4121]

@@peterpawlik2495 Si, esatto..! Anch'io sono cantante giaponese..se Casta diva...non vorrei pensare🙏