An Easy Guide for Attending the Seattle Opera
When you’re visiting Seattle, you must go to the Seattle Opera, and if you’ve never attended an opera before, here are a few tips, like what to wear or what time should you arrive, all of which will make your first time at the opera a memorable, enjoyable experience, instead of a miserable, embarrassing or boring experience.
Usually it is the etiquette and outfits that put people off from attending the opera, but most are simply common sense, just like how every baseball fan knows what to do during the seventh-inning stretch, going to the opera has it’s own traditions, such as being on time, latecomers are not allowed to take their seat if the performance has started, they will be seated during an intermission. The talent at the Seattle Opera is quite exceptional and the musicians are topnotch, but all is done without amplification, and some of the most memorable and dramatic moments in opera are usually the quietest, so keep those candy wrappers inside your purse, or unwrap the cough-drops before the performance. Talking, even whispering to your companion is not even a consideration, and by all means fiddling with your program is out of the question.
The only time enthusiastic displays of appreciation are welcome is after a well-executed aria. Basically, the experience of the audience will let you know when it’s time to shout ‘Bravo!’ Opera used to be patronized by royalty, but today’s opera is for all people to enjoy. In these modern times and especially in Seattle, you’ll see opera-goers wearing everything from Ball Gowns to Birkenstocks shoes. So feel free to dress-up for the night, or dress-down and be comfortable, because when it comes to opera, almost anything, but the most casual wear is appropriate.
Here is a list of the most common sense reminders before entering the theater: turn-off all cell phones, watch alarms, make sure the material of the opera is appropriate if you are bringing children. There’s no food or drink allowed in the theater, no humming along with the music or beating time to the music. Don’t leave just before the end of the opera in order to ‘beat’ the traffic; you might consider sticking around for the free post-performance Q & A session, which is always enlightening.
And most of all, don’t worry if you don’t know the language the opera is in usually German, Italian or French, because there is an English captions board above the stage, so this way anyone, from any walk of life can thoroughly enjoy a night at the opera. If you’re from another country and staying at a boutique hotel, Seattle USA opera is still a ‘must see’ event.
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