What is the longest opera ever written?

Answer 1

Easily, the longest Opera would be Wagner's The Ring Cycle which was written in four parts: Das Rheingold, Die Walkure, Siegfried, and Götterdamerung. It lasts around 18 hours (with intermissions) and is normally performed in four shorter performances. By contrast, the longest single performance would be Wagner's Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg which is around five and a half hours long. But then..."long" is a relative term and much depends on whether or not you're enjoying the experience. If I'm not mistaken, The Ring technically is considered to be a tetraolog(or triology, with prologue): a grouping of 4 different operas, not a single opera: it therefore would not qualify as a correct response. Also, an uncut version, usually last 15-16 hours, depending on the conductor(s) tempi: but not 18. Loge!