The Eurovision Song Contest 1956 was the first edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, held at the Teatro Kursaal in Lugano, Switzerland. Organised by the European Broadcasting Union, the pan-European music competition was an inspiration of the Italian Sanremo Music Festival. Lohengrin Filipello hosted the first contest which lasted approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes. Seven countries participated in the first edition, with each of them performing two songs in a bid to be crowned winner of the Eurovision Song Contest. Two jury members from all participating countries cast their votes in secret, based on which song was their favourite. Lys Assia won the contest for the host country Switzerland with the song "Refrain"
Read more about Eurovision Song Contest 1956: History, Location, Format, Participating Countries, Results, International Broadcasts
Famous quotes containing the words song and/or contest:
“Half of my life is gone, and I have let
The years slip from me and have not fulfilled
The aspiration of my youth, to build
Some tower of song with lofty parapet.”
—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1809–1882)
“You may be always victorious if you will never enter into any contest where the issue does not wholly depend upon yourself.”
—Epictetus (c. 55–135)