The first act and a half of Richard Wagner's opera Siegfried is spent building up to what ought to be an epic battle between the fearless Siegfried and Fafner the dragon. The actual fighting only goes on for one minute before Siegfried runs Nothung through Fafner's heart, and is set to uninspiring (though loud) music.
The victory of The Pirates of Penzance over the policemen is achieved still faster, in just a few bars of music.
