Format
The first programme was hosted by Lohengrin Filipello, which lasted approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes. Although it was mainly a radio programme, there were cameras in the studio for the benefit of the few Europeans who possessed a television.
Only solo artists were allowed to enter the contest, and their songs were not to exceed three and a half minutes in length, and were accompanied by a 24-musician orchestra, which was led by Fernando Paggi. The interval act, whistling by the Joyeux Rossignols, had to be extended due to a delay in the voting procedure. Mandatory national finals to select the representing songs were held in each participating country. It had been strongly recommended that each participating country have a preliminary national song contest.
Read more about this topic: Eurovision Song Contest 1956