When did encores become part of music tradition?

Encores are now an expected part of many concerts, but the practice is thought to have begun as a spontaneous audience demand during 18th-century Italian opera. Before recordings made music readily available, concertgoers sometimes called for favourite pieces to be repeated, making an encore a sign of enthusiasm rather than a planned finale.

An early recorded example came at the 1786 premiere of Mozart’s *The Marriage of Figaro*. In the 19th century, repeated demands could disrupt performances: tenor Sims Reeves returned to the stage five times after singing “Tom Bowling” in 1875 but refused to sing it again, while audiences sometimes rejected other performers. By the 20th century, some venues posted “No Encores” notices; union rules later curbed the disruption, though the tradition continues across popular music.