Answer: Napoleon Bonaparte Ludwig van Beethoven's highly esteemed "Symphony No. 3" (1802-1804) was originally dedicated to Napoleon Bonaparte. However, due to financial considerations, he later rededicated it to a nobleman.
Answer: Johann Sebastian Bach In 1736, Johann Sebastian Back was appointed "Royal Court Composer" by King Augustus III, with that entitlement greatly increasing his public recognition.
Answer: Niccolò Paganini When Niccolò Paganini died in 1840, the Catholic Church refused to bury his body as some believed that he had a direct relationship with the devil. Likely contributing to these rumors was Paganini's well-known level of sexual promiscuity.
Answer: Richard Nixon John Adams' "Nixon in China", which premiered at the Houston Grand Opera in 1987, is based on the visit US President Richard Nixon made to China in 1972.
Answer: Classical The Baroque period of Western music lasted from 1600 to 1750. Afterwards, it was succeeded by the Classical period, which took up the timeframe of 1730 to roughly 1820.
Answer: "Dafne" The origin of opera can be traced by to Jacopo Peri's 16th century work "Dafne". Unfortunately for the world of classical music, most of that piece has been lost.
Answer: "The Hegemon-King Bids His Concubine Farewell" Xiang Yu (232 BC - 202 BC), a warlord, is a popular figure in Chinese history. For instance, in addition to having his likeness grace videogames, comic books and movies, he is also the central character in "the Hegemon-King Bids His Concubine Farewell" (1918) as well as a couple of other Peking operas.
Answer: Australia "Don John of Austria", which premiered in Sydney, Australia in 1847, was the first opera written, composed and produced entirely in that country.
Answer: Nellie Melba The "Melba" in Dame Nellie Melba's name is actually derived from Melbourne, Australia, her hometown. She holds a very special place in the history of Australia as she was the first classical musician from that country to achieve international fame.
