The Opera House: Make Yourself Comfortable

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Many people feel uncomfortable with the idea of attending the opera and consider it a very formal occasion. But, as with anything, if you prepare and follow opera etiquette, you can enjoy both its loftiness and magic.
 

Choosing an opera

For those who have never been to the opera, it is best to choose an appropriate performance to avoid being bored or repulsed by sophisticated masterpieces best suited for advanced opera goers.

You might start with the light, entertaining, and joyful operas of Italian musical genii like Rossini, Puccini, and Verdi. If you crave more finesse and sublimity, Mozart might also charm you. French composers are also a possibility: Gounod, Bizet and Saint-Saens are sure to astonish your senses with romance and intrigue. (It might be wisest to leave German authors for a later stage, due to their heaviness and profundity. If you are keen on the German school, however, Bach, Beethoven, and Wagner are a must to see and relish.)

As the opera is a multimedia experience with singing, music and potent visuals of scene, costumes, and acting all in one, it is of utmost importance that you read the libretto. You are sure to understand and sympathize more with the protagonists if you are first aware what will happen on stage.

It is also advisable, therefore, that you check your the nearest library or the internet beforehand. The illustrated “New Kobbe's Opera Book” might give you a very quick idea of what will quench your musical thirst. If you prefer net surfing, you can fully count on the website Classiccat.net. It will serve as your all-inclusive opera encyclopedia. You can freely download classical music, including opera arias and overtures.

In lieu of that, here are the top ten opera suggestions for newbies:

1. Tosca (Giacomo Puccini)
2. Don Giovanni (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart)
3. The Barber of Seville (Gioachino Rossini)
4. La Traviata (Giuseppe Verdi)
5. Rigoletto (Giuseppe Verdi)
6. The Marriage of Figaro (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart)
7. Carmen (Georges Bizet)
8. Romeo and Juliette (Charles Gounod)
9. Samson and Dalila (Camille Saint-Saens)
10. The Valkyries (Richard Wagner)

Choosing your seat

 
When choosing the right seats, you need to first consider what your priorities are: is it to hear the music, follow the action, or enjoy the orchestra? If all of these are equally important to you, then find a high seat as near to the stage as possible.

Some prefer to sit in the high-price tier lower balcony seats where the entire orchestra is visible and the sound is mild. Others take price into consideration and choose terrace seats. Those seats are good if you want to see the orchestra up close and even catch some interplay between the conductor and musicians. Front row seats are not always the best option, as the sound is too loud and you cannot embrace the whole picture.

It is important to note that the sound and visual aspects depend on the characteristics of the each specific opera hall, so the choice should be made case by case. Besides, the most expensive seats are not necessarily the best. It might be better to take a central position some rows behind at a which cost less than to sit in the dearer outskirts of the auditorium in the front lines.

However, as a neophyte it is advisable that you find a seat with a panoramic view so that you can see the whole stage, and also one that is close to the stage so that you take maximal advantage of the live music.

Buying your ticket

Nowadays there are many ways to purchase opera tickets starting from the classical way of just going to box office, making a reservation by phone, or buying them with a credit card on the Internet.

Despite usually “selling out” fast, major opera houses around the world have a very easy-to-use seating charts where you can directly book a seat in a preferred price tier. The system automatically offers you a ticket and often lets you view the stage from that vantage point. If you don’t like the seat, you can cancel and ask for another seat.

If you are late and search for a ticket in the last couple of days before the performance, don’t worry: Sometimes subscribers return their tickets to the box office for resale, so “sold out” is not always final.

Price ranges are extensive–you can practically take your ticket starting from $25 and going to above $500 per seat. The most expensive seats are at the front rows and front balconies. Prices gradually dwindle as you move further away from the doors of the venue. Certainly, operas grant discounts for children, students, retired people and groups. Anyway, every cent is worth it when you are going to enjoy two or three hours of splendid music, singing, lights,and costumes.

Dressing: Choose your own costume

The first thing to consider when dressing for the opera is your being elegant but still comfortable. If you have bought premium price tickets, you should dress accordingly: tuxedos for men and evening gowns for women. Extra formal clothes are also obligatory for a premiere.

If you have a lower-tier ticket, don't try to look like a princess and just dress decently. For instance, slacks together with a fine silk sweater and a casual coat will do for men; women can put on a simple elegant dress.
 
Although you will sit all the time, it is good to choose comfortable shoes. If they leave a stylish impression, then it would be even better. In terms of accessories women can add a small evening handbag and a pair of beautiful diamond earrings. Men will look stylish with a dashing tie or a cashmere shawl.

You can be sure about one thing: Jeans, T-shirts, and tennis shoes are totally inappropriate for this special occasion, so leave them at home.

Things to remember

It is in bad taste to leave the auditorium before the end of an act. (In the best case scenario they will just not let you out.) Conversely, it is disrespectful to enter the hall in the midst of an act–so if you are late, you had better just wait till the act is over. Some opera halls have television monitors in the lobbies to accommodate latecomers.

During the performance, try to be quiet and change your leg positions as silently as possible. Never leave your mobile on, nor your vibrating signal—(except, perhaps for doctors on call).

Though you might admire every single scene in the performance, hold your applause for the appropriate moments. For example, the first applause is usually acceptable when welcoming the arrival of the orchestra conductor. If you do not want to make others turn contemptuous eyes on you, it is better to applaud at the end of an aria. Nonetheless, if you are not familiar with the opera composition, it is best to wait for others to start clapping and just follow suit.

If you want to show sophisticated appreciation, you can give a “Bravo!” to a male performer (tenor or bass), and “Brava!” to a remarkable female singer (alto or soprano). Fortunately, here you will not make an easy mistake.

Last but not least: Get dinner

Excellent preparation for attending an opera includes an early dinner. Keep in mind that operas usually last from one to three hours. For a matinee, where you can, of course, have a dinner after, make a reservation in a nearby restaurant so that after the performance you share your impressions and inspiration with your opera-going partners.

Armed with all these tips, take a look at the opera calendar and start preparing for a new adventure—opera!