Question

Giovanni Francesco Busenello invented an alternative ending for this character in the libretto of an opera by Francesco Cavalli. Klaus Nomi’s synthesizer-laden rendition of an aria sung by this character (-5[1])is retitled “Death” and was released a year before Nomi’s death from AIDS complications. At the end of an opera, a march first heard at the end of Act I accompanies a final curse laid upon the person responsible for this character’s death, (15[1]-5[1])which occurs after this character (*) predicts that a city will be “immortal.” This character sings an aria introduced by a C-minor recitative with melisma on the word “darkness.” That aria is underpinned by a chromatic fourth ground bass ostinato and ends (10[1])as this character insists, “Remember (10[2])me, (10[2])but ah! forget (10[1])my fate.” For 10 points, what character who appears in Les Troyens (“lay twah-YAWN”) and sings “When I am Laid in Earth” in an opera by Henry Purcell? (10[1])■END■ (10[1])

ANSWER: Dido [or Didon or La Didone; accept “Dido’s Lament”] (“Death” is Nomi’s recording of “When I am Laid in Earth.”)
<Will Nediger, Classical Music and Opera>
= Average correct buzz position

Back to tossups

Summary

2023 Chicago Open08/05/2023Y9100%11%22%119.78

Buzzes

PlayerTeamOpponentBuzz PositionValue
Jim FanQuasicrystal SilenceTeam Name Think Detail29-5
Rob CarsonBHSUIn Search of Things Past72-5
Milan FernandezThe CanadiansDon't be Afraid, the Clown's Afraid Too7215
Swapnil GargEvans Hall destruction awaitersTeach Us to Outgrow Our Ladness11310
Earthflax GeologybuzzerThe anti-STOON-dahl cabal (the tall Keyal et al.)[moderator voice] yes that is so tenpointscore! is your team feeling bonuspilled?11810
Nick JensenThe Catastrophic Implosion of Packet SubRomanos IV Diogenes’ Macaroni Grill11810
John LawrenceCurse you, Periplus the Platypus!Hang et al., Robert Browning11910
Taylor HarveySaint Peter Andre 3000wave2: trimming membership codes 9655377758gp11910
John Marvinremembrance of lost timeI would prefer not to12210
Mike SoriceTeam Name Think DetailQuasicrystal Silence14810
Robert CondronIn Search of Things PastBHSU14910