Carl Maria von Weber Quiz Questions and Answers
Q1. In what year was Carl Maria von Weber born?
A. 1770
B. 1786
C. 1792
D. 1800
Answer: B. 1786
Q2. Where was Carl Maria von Weber baptized, and what additional name was added to his at that time?
A. Salzburg; Friedrich
B. Vienna; Ernst
C. Eutin; Maria
D. Munich; Anton
Answer: C. Eutin; Maria
Q3. What was the profession of Carl Maria von Weber’s father, Franz Anton?
A. Composer
B. Violinist and theater director
C. Opera singer
D. Piano teacher
Answer: B. Violinist and theater director
Q4. Who was Carl Maria von Weber’s mother, and what was her profession?
A. Aloysia Weber; pianist
B. Caroline Brandt; actress
C. Genovefa Brenner; singer
D. Helmina von Chezy; librettist
Answer: C. Genovefa Brenner; singer
Q5. What physical condition affected Carl Maria von Weber from birth, causing him to limp throughout his life?
A. Vision impairment
B. Congenital hip disorder
C. Hearing loss
D. Respiratory issues
Answer: B. Congenital hip disorder
Q6. Under whom did the young Carl Maria von Weber study in Salzburg from 1797 to 1798, receiving free lessons?
A. Joseph Haydn
B. Abbe Georg Joseph Vogler
C. Michael Haydn
D. Johann Nepomuk Kalcher
Answer: C. Michael Haydn
Q7. What was the title of Carl Maria von Weber’s first published work, released at age 12?
A. Invitation to the Dance
B. Six Fughettas for Piano
C. Clarinet Concerto No. 1
D. Das stumme Waldmädchen
Answer: B. Six Fughettas for Piano
Q8. Which of Weber’s early operas, composed at age 14, was produced in Freiberg and later staged in several European cities?
A. Peter Schmoll und seine Nachbarn
B. Die Macht der Liebe und des Weins
C. Das stumme Waldmadchen
D. Abu Hassan
Answer: C. Das stumme Waldmadchen
Q9. In what unconventional skill did Carl Maria von Weber train during his family’s stay in Munich in 1799?
A. Engraving musical scores by hand
B. Lithography for printing music
C. Guitar construction
D. Opera stage design
Answer: B. Lithography for printing music
Q10. Who recommended the 17-year-old Carl Maria von Weber for the position of Director of the Breslau Opera in 1804?
A. Michael Haydn
B. Heinrich Baermann
C. Abbe Georg Joseph Vogler
D. Giacomo Meyerbeer
Answer: C. Abbe Georg Joseph Vogler
Q11. During his time as private secretary in Stuttgart from 1807 to 1810, what scandal led to Weber’s banishment from Wurttemberg?
A. A failed opera premiere
B. Involvement in financial schemes and embezzlement charges
C. A public feud with a rival composer
D. Unauthorized publication of royal music
Answer: B. Involvement in financial schemes and embezzlement charges
Q12. With whom did Carl Maria von Weber collaborate extensively in 1811, resulting in several clarinet works during a European tour?
A. Heinrich Baermann
B. Giacomo Meyerbeer
C. Caroline Brandt
D. Sir George Smart
Answer: B. Heinrich Baermann
Q13. In what year did Carl Maria von Weber marry the singer who had starred in his opera Silvana?
A. 1810
B. 1813
C. 1817
D. 1821
Answer: C. 1817
Q14. As director of the Dresden Opera starting in 1817, what was Weber’s primary goal in promoting German opera?
A. To rival French ballet traditions
B. To champion nationalist works against Italian dominance
C. To focus exclusively on comic operas
D. To integrate more piano solos
Answer: B. To champion nationalist works against Italian dominance
Q15. What famous piano piece by Carl Maria von Weber, composed in 1819, was later orchestrated by Hector Berlioz?
A. Konzertstuck in F minor
B. Polacca Brillante
C. Invitation to the Dance
D. Piano Sonata No. 4
Answer: C. Invitation to the Dance
Q16. On what date and in which city did Weber’s opera Der Freischutz premiere to overwhelming success in 1821?
A. June 18, Berlin
B. April 12, Dresden
C. May 5, Prague
D. November 20, Vienna
Answer: A. June 18, Berlin
Q17. Which of Weber’s operas, premiered in 1823, is notable for its through-composed structure and early use of leitmotifs?
A. Oberon
B. Silvana
C. Euryanthe
D. Abu Hassan
Answer: C. Euryanthe
Q18. For which theater was Carl Maria von Weber commissioned to compose his final opera, Oberon, in 1824?
A. Dresden Opera
B. Royal Opera in London
C. Prague National Theater
D. Vienna State Opera
Answer: B. Royal Opera in London
Q19. What was the cause of Carl Maria von Weber’s death on June 5, 1826, at age 39?
A. A carriage accident
B. Tuberculosis
C. Heart failure
D. Poisoning
Answer: B. Tuberculosis
Q20. In which city was Carl Maria von Weber initially buried after his death?
A. Dresden
B. Berlin
C. Vienna
D. London
Answer: D. London
Q21. How many symphonies did Carl Maria von Weber compose during his career?
A. Four
B. Two
C. None
D. Six
Answer: B. Two
Q22. What innovative technique did Weber introduce in his Horn Concertino, expanding the instrument’s expressive capabilities?
A. Extended harmonics
B. Muted passages
C. Multiphonics
D. Circular breathing
Answer: C. Multiphonics
Q23. Which early incident in Breslau permanently impaired Carl Maria von Weber’s voice?
A. A fall during a performance
B. Swallowing engraving acid in a near-fatal accident
C. Tuberculosis onset
D. Overuse from singing lessons
Answer: B. Swallowing engraving acid in a near-fatal accident
Q24. Starting in what year did Carl Maria von Weber begin keeping a detailed diary to track his expenses and life events?
A. 1798
B. 1804
C. 1810
D. 1817
Answer: C. 1810
Q25. What was the name of Carl Maria von Weber’s son, and what tragic fate befell him?
A. Franz; died in infancy
B. Alexander; died of measles at age 19
C. Carl; became a composer
D. Eduard; survived to adulthood
Answer: B. Alexander; died of measles at age 19