Opera Etiquette

Manners matter at the theater, where guests should be as gracious as the performers

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You don’t need to be a full-fledged devotee of the arts to enjoy an opera, with many communities offering performances geared toward the entire family. For those new to the opera, here are a few etiquette tips.

Budget-Friendly Tickets

Afternoon matinees are a great way to enjoy an opera when an evening performance isn’t convenient or simply as a way to save a little money on tickets. The performance is exactly the same as that seen by the audience later that evening, but the dress code is relaxed, and it isn’t uncommon to see more children in attendance. If you insist on wearing shorts, choose nice ones instead of cutoffs, and choose a collared shirt rather than a T-shirt.

Enjoy Quietly

It’s understandable to be captivated by the drama and excitement of a live performance, but in order to avoid disturbing those seated around you, or even possibly the performers, resist the urge to talk to your date. However, it’s perfectly acceptable to laugh; many operas have comedic scenes that are intended to provoke laughter. As soon as you take your seat, turn your phone off—not just mute, which still allows the screen to light up and distract others.

Enjoy the Pre-Show Activities

Arriving early lets you explore the opera house, enjoy a snack in the lobby, and perhaps sit in on a pre-show discussion in which a cast member will provide a synopsis of the opera or answer questions about the performance and the actors. On a related note, because not everyone speaks French, German, or Italian, a growing number of opera houses utilize unobtrusive subtitle-style displays above the stage to provide translations of the dialogue, allowing for a better appreciation of the performance.

Dressed to the Nines

Most of us rarely have an opportunity to dress glamorously, so consider making a night at the opera even more memorable by wearing your tuxedo or a favorite but infrequently worn gown, accented with a few choice pieces of jewelry. It simply isn’t possible to be overdressed at the opera. A glance around the lobby will reveal that for at least several of those in attendance, “dressing to impress” may well play as large of a part as the actual performance in their opera experience.

Basic Etiquette

Be in your assigned seat no less than 15 minutes prior to the start of the performance, placing your jacket or other belongings on your lap or under your seat. Resist the urge to sneak snacks to your seat in a purse or jacket pocket or to bring food from the lobby into the seating area. In addition to possibly creating a mess, the sounds of eating and drinking can disturb those seated around you.