Opera Etiquette

So you’ve got your ticket to the opera...
The first thing you should do is arrive in plenty of time.  At Calgary Opera we recommend that you arrive an hour early to allow for parking.  Before the show you can also take advantage of our coat check and restrooms (for your own comfort.)  Operas can be long so you’ll want to be prepared.

To enhance your opera experience, you can attend the opera pre-show chat which will give you an overview of the opera as well as information on how to deepen your understanding of the art form.  Calgary Opera’s pre-show chats take place 45 minutes before curtain.

You could hear a pin drop…
Theatres, like our own Jubilee Auditorium, are designed for maximum acoustic potential, so sounds like ringing cell phones and crinkling candy wrappers will be heard by every member of the audience.  Your fellow patrons will thank you for turning off, or putting your phone on silent, and refraining from crinkling wrappers.

Here are some frequently asked questions:

What should I wear to the opera?

The opera is the one special place where you can really dress up and go glamorous. Many dress in evening gowns and black tie for opening night, however, this being Calgary, you will also see everything from tuxedos to tartans, to jeans and cowboy boots (remember to take off your hat in the house so the people behind you can see). Business attire is usually the norm for men, and woman are normally in dresses or evening gowns. Pants or dresses, long or short, the important thing is to be comfortable.

Can I bring my children?

We do not recommend the opera for children under the age of five years. For children over the age of five it will depend on the opera and the child. Some operas, such as Cinderella, Hansel & Gretel, and The Magic Flute are more child friendly than operas such as Carmen or Dead Man Walking. Another thing to consider is the length of the performance, which can run between 2-3 hours. When bringing a child to the opera, it is helpful to explain the story in advance and instruct them on proper audience behaviour.

How long does the opera last?

Running times vary per opera, but most run between 2-3 hours in length. Most operas have one intermission, while others have two.

When should I arrive to the opera?

Latecomers can be very distracting to other members of the audience and to the performers onstage. If you are late the ushers may let you in after the overture (if there is one); otherwise you may miss the entire first act. We recommend showing up at least one hour prior to the performance due to common traffic and parking delays. As an added benefit to arriving early (aside from assuring a great parking spot) is that you will able to catch our informative and entertaining pre-show chats.

During the Performance…

Please wait until intermission or after the performance to talk, it can be very distracting to the other audience members. So can someone singing along to the opera and those who handle loud candy wrappers and/or chew/suck their candy loudly.  For the enjoyment of the entire audience you should turn off cell phones, pagers, and beeping watches, etc... 

Other distractions include sleeping, and with that snoring during the performance (it’s been known to happen from time to time), as well as wearing strong perfume or cologne as many people are highly sensitive or allergic.

If you leave the auditorium in the middle of the performance you will not be allowed back in until intermission.

How will I understand what is going on if the opera is sung in a different language?
English text & translation projected above the stage make it easier for newcomers and opera lovers alike to enjoy and understand the story, whether it is sung in Italian, French, German, or even English! The full synopsis of every opera is also available in the house program. Then again, many opera patrons don’t look at the opera titles at all, and simply sit back and enjoy the music and visual spectacle of the performance.

When should I clap?

As a general rule, applause occurs at the end of each act and the end of the performance. In between, when an especially impressive aria (opera solo) ends, the audience might also reward the singer by clapping for a brief time until the action resumes. Feel free to shout “Bravo!” (male performers), “Brava!” (female performers) and “Bravi!” (for an ensemble). Singers love to be appreciated. If you are unsure, just wait until someone else applauds first.