The Père-Lachaise quiz
Musicians and Composers
The ten questions in this series
Chopin, Rossini, Bizet: a whole alley doubles as a concert hall. Each question stands on its own, with its story — or can be played as part of the full series.
- This Italian composer died in Paris in 1868 and was initially buried at Père-Lachaise. But in 1887 his remains were exhumed and repatriated to his native country. To which city?
- This Italian composer of Norma is buried at Père-Lachaise, in Division 11, but his grave has been empty since 1876. Where does he now rest?
- Just three months after the premiere of Carmen, which was coolly received by critics and audiences, this composer died at thirty-six, without knowing his opera would become a worldwide triumph. Who is he?
- Director of the Paris Conservatoire from 1822, this Italian composer rests at Père-Lachaise just four metres from his friend and fellow composer Chopin. Beethoven considered him the greatest living composer of his time. Who is he?
- This composer, director of the Paris Conservatoire after Cherubini, died on 12 May 1871 in the midst of the Paris Commune, in the arms of his own successor — a man who had never once left the capital in his life. Who is he?
- This Greek-American soprano, one of the greatest operatic voices of the twentieth century, was cremated at the Père-Lachaise crematorium in 1977. But her urn was stolen by an admirer before being recovered, and her ashes were eventually scattered in 1979 off a Greek island. Who is she?
- Born Ivo Livi in Tuscany, this performer began his career at seventeen as a music-hall singer before becoming one of France's greatest actors. He rests in Division 44 alongside his wife Simone Signoret. Who is he?
- This French jazz pianist, affected from birth by a bone condition that kept him very small in stature throughout his life, rests at Père-Lachaise just one grave away from Chopin. Who is he?
- On Chopin's grave, in Division 11, a marble statue depicts a weeping muse, sculpted by Auguste Clésinger. Which muse, associated with music in Greek mythology, is depicted there?
- Chopin, Cherubini, Bellini: several great names of nineteenth-century music are neighbours within the same division of the cemetery, to the point that it is sometimes informally nicknamed the musicians' corner. Which division is this?