Music in Victorian Times

Music was an important part of life in Victorian times. The upper middle-classes, especially the ladies, were expected to play, an instrument, usually the piano and they would play or sing at musical evenings. There was no television or video then!

The opera was the rage of the 19th century. The Italians, like Verdi or Rossini, were especially liked. Going to the opera was a social occasion. It was the place were you could meet people. Big Opera Houses were built. The Royal Albert Hall is still used to stage operas.

Two well-known British composers were W. S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan. Together they wrote light-hearted operas, the famous Savoi Operas, so called because they were produced at Savoy Theatre in London.