Brits reveal ignorance of classical music

LONDON, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- More than half of 1,183 respondents to a British poll knew little about classical music, but the same amount said more should be taught in school.

The Sky arts channel Artsworld found more than half of those polled did not know composer Edward Elgar was from England or that Ludwig van Beethoven was German -- or even knew his first name, the BBC reported Friday.

A majority thought Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro" was composed by Puccini while 63 percent knew Mozart died in his 30s.

One in three of the people polled between Dec. 21 and Dec. 28 said they attended an opera or classical music concert in 2005, but two out of three said classical music should be taught in Britain's public schools.

Artsworld conducted the poll to promote its live Mozart broadcast on New Year's Eve.