Serenademagazine iconSerenademagazineSep 6, 2026

Why Did Opera Used to Last Five Hours?

From lavish Baroque productions to Wagner's epic dramas, audiences accepted performances lasting five hours because opera offered far more than music alone.

Why Did Opera Used to Last Five Hours?

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From lavish Baroque productions to Wagner's epic dramas, audiences accepted performances lasting five hours because opera offered far more than music alone.

Opera was once an all-night spectacle of music, theatre and social life.

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From lavish Baroque productions to Wagner's epic dramas, audiences accepted performances lasting five hours because opera offered far more than music alone. Opera was once an all-night spectacle of music, theatre and social life.

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Opera was once an all-night spectacle of music, theatre and social life.

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