During performances, the court nobility sat on wooden benches in the auditorium. Attendance at the operas put on for the dukes was an obligation and an honour – though not always. On 26 February 1729, when the performance did not get underway until long after 3 am, the noblemen and ladies decided to steal away, leaving the duke behind. He ordered the piece to begin anyway – and then fell asleep. The performance was halted and the duke was taken to bed.
