First Time to the Opera?
It seems intimidating right? What to wear, when to clap and what on earth is happening in this story? We promise you it isn’t as scary or complicated as you think. In fact we think once you experience the thrill of live opera, you’ll be hooked! To make your first time a little less stressful, we’ve compiled a quick Q and A below to let you know what you can expect when attending a Springboard Opera event.
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Whatever you like! No suit and tie necessary, we’d recommend something appropriate for a nice lunch out. But should you feel the desire to be a smidge glamorous, do go ahead!
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No! But, given that opera is often in a different language, with plotlines that get complicated, your best bet is to read up a little about the opera beforehand. Just so you know the main plot, and can focus more on your experience during the performance. We promise it will enhance, not diminish the experience.
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Nope! Operas that are in a foreign language are translated via surtitles on a screen. We’d still recommend having a read about the opera before you go, so you can relax and take it all in.
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The first time you clap is when the conductor come out to lead the orchestra. Beware newbies! Avoid clapping after the orchestra tunes.
The rest of the clapping is usually reserved for the very end…and there tends to be a lot of it. It’s the audiences chance to show appreciation for the performance! If you like a particular performer, clap extra hard for them. It’s a very democratic process. The longer and louder the clapping, the more you liked the performance. There’s even call sometimes for a “standing ovation”. That’s when you stand up to clap for the performers, because the mere act of clapping in your seat is not enough. As performers we can tell you, there’s no better feeling than looking out into a crowd standing up to appreciate you.
Occasionally, if the performance of a particular part of the opera is stellar, there can be some spontaneous clapping. To level up your opera etiquette you can even sprinkle in a well-timed “Brava” during these events.All clapping enquiries can be sent to info@springboardopera.com.au.
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No, nope, definitely not!
Look, we get why it seems that way. Opera is an expensive thing to put on, and has typically relied on a lot of wealthy patrons and donors to make it happen. This association has given it the air of unatainablity.
But Opera today is a diverse art form, performed, directed and written by people from all walks of life. Despite the typically glamorous exterior, it’s a gritty artform that takes decades of dedication and hard work to pull off.
The stories run the full range of the human experience, from more traditional operas, to modern works that address current issues. So go on and explore this whole world of art!
