Every creative person wants their artistic output to be well-received. But “well-received” doesn’t always happen right away. Critical reviews and audience first impressions can sometime make a work of art get off to a shaky start. In this puzzle you might be surprised to discover that some of the most beloved works of stage, page, and screen were not instant hits. Beethoven’s Große Fuge was not initially well-received. Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto No. 1, now a staple in the repertoire, was panned as unplayable. The original ending of George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion was called unsatisfying, but My Fair Lady leaves audiences walking away with smiles.

Was every musical composed by Stephen Sondheim a hit? Is the English translation of Haydn’s Creation as beloved as the original German-language version? Did critics predict that Christie’s Mousetrap would run continuously in London for 73 years? Find some of these answers as this puzzle brings to light some famous creative beginnings. Enjoy.

Then and Now: Creative Beginnings – Click here for an interactive puzzle you can fill out in your web browser

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