The quiz
It’s time to put your classical music knowledge to the test…
1. Which composer’s Second, Third and Fourth symphonies are nicknamed, respectively, ‘The Four Temperaments’, ‘Sinfonia Espansiva’ and ‘The Inextinguishable’?
2. A solo on which instrument opens Debussy’s Prélude à l’aprèsmidi d’un faune?
3. Who succeeded the 81-year-old Herbert von Karajan as principal/ chief conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic in 1989?
4. Fearsome though he was, Karajan famously met his match in the formidable Swedish soprano pictured above. Who is she?
5. In 1906, the great violinist Joseph Joachim stated that ‘The Germans have four violin concertos’. Which four composers did he go on to list?
6. And in 1935, which composer dedicated his Violin Concerto to ‘the memory of an angel’, referring to Manon Gropius, daughter of Alma Mahler and Walter Gropius?
7. Malcolm Arnold, Jean Berger and Arthur Benjamin wrote harmonica concertos for which famous player?
8. ‘Never pay any attention to what critics say… Remember, a statue has never been set up in honour of a critic!’ said which composer in 1937?
9. A statue of which music critic (and, admittedly, playwright) stands outside the National Gallery of Ireland in Dublin?
10. Who had hits in the UK singles chart with the following: a) ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ from Carousel (No. 1; 1963); b) ‘Happy Talk’ from South Pacific (No. 1; 1982); c) ‘Ain’t Necessarily So’ from Porgy and Bess (No. 16; 1984)?
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