A Theatregoer's Guide to Attending the Metropolitan Opera

From what to see to what to wear (and drink), here’s what you should know before heading past Times Square to Lincoln Center in NYC.

Attending the opera for the first time can be intimidating, but with the right attitude, it's as accessible as a night at the theatre—and a far cry from the sacrosanct experience it's often portrayed to be.

Just a few subway stops from the marquees of Broadway, the Metropolitan Opera continues its 2018–2019 season, featuring four new productions and the return of Wagner's Ring Cycle. The lineup began September 24 with a new staging of Saint-Saëns' Samson et Dalila directed by Tony winner Darko Tresnjak. Myriad additional titles take the stage through May 11 before a new season kicks off in September with Porgy and Bess.

Read: PORGY AND BESS, AN ANNA NETREBKO PUCCINI TRIPLE BILL, MORE SET FOR THE MET'S 2019–2020 SEASON

Opera offers a grand variation on traditional theatergoing, but if those massive arches seem daunting, here are a few tips and tricks to make your night at the opera one to remember.



What to See

With over 25 productions per season, the Met’s lineups are an eclectic mix of familiar favorites and adventurous picks, classic stagings and the avante garde. Here are just a few suggestions from this season’s offerings:

Stories you know: La Bohème (you’ve seen Rent, right? Think that but with a set ten times larger and a donkey); Falstaff and Otello (brush up your Shakespeare); La Traviata (check it out before Moulin Rouge! makes its way to Broadway).

Broadway names: Tony Award-winning director Michael Mayer has three productions lined up: the return of his Vegas-set Rigoletto, as well as La Traviata and the U.S. premiere of Nico Muhly's Marnie. In addition to him and Tresnjak, familiar names behind this season's offerings also includes Bartlett Sher (Otello), Julie Taymor (The Magic Flute), and Jack O'Brien (Il Trittico).

Read: ANASTASIA DIRECTOR DARKO TRESNJAK ON MAKING HIS MET DEBUT WITH SAMSON ET DALILA

Star power: Samson et Dalila (led by the acclaimed Elīna Garanča and Roberto Alagna); Les Pêcheurs de Perles and La Fille du Régiment (soprano Pretty Yende brings two more roles to the Met); Aida (Anna Netrebko and Sondra Radvanovsky share the title role this season).

For the daring: Marnie (Nico Muhly and Nicholas Wright's operatic take on the Hitchockian tale); The Ring Cycle (who's ready for 20+ hours of German epics?).

Getting Tickets

The Metropolitan Opera sells tickets in the back of the family circle for around $30. While you’ll want to bring binoculars, opera buffs claim these seats offer the best sound quality.

Seats closer to the stage—and ground—will cost more, but just like on Broadway, affordable options exist, including a day-of online rush and student performances.

Doing Your Homework

From the potential language barrier to the grandeur of the staging, opera can risk a sensory overload. If you’re not bothered by spoilers, go ahead and read opera’s summary on either the Met’s site or Wikipedia.

The Met does offer individual translations (located on the seat-back in front of you, more on that later). However, if you're already loosely familiar with the plot, you can follow the captioning casually, and you’ll recognize plot points on stage without relying too heavily on them. This will also free you to take in what’s most important: the music.

Speaking of which, get hyped for your night at the opera by giving a key aria or two from the show a listen. You may be surprised by how much you already know, and it’ll make the unparalleled experience of hearing that unamplified sound live all the more special.

What to Wear

Dress up as much or as little as you want. For some, the opera is an opportunity to go all out; no matter what you wear, there will be someone more opulent than you. Some still wear gowns and gloves. Others treat it as any other live experience; if you’re comfortable wearing it to a show on Broadway, that’ll do here as well.

People-watching around the Metropolitan Opera House it just as much a spectacle as the story unfolding onstage. If you’re looking for an occasion to wear that bold statement necklace or don that flashy suit, this is a safe bet. You’ll fit right in while still getting the attention you want.

For some opera attire inspiration—from jeans to floor-length—check out the Met’s style blog: LastNightattheMet.com.

What to Drink

Sparkling is the drink of choice, but not your only option. There’s also coffee, which could be a blessing during even the most exciting of Wagner epics. Keep in mind: unlike a Broadway theatre, drinks are not allowed in the auditorium itself. Drink up in the lobby.

Taking It All In

Unlike most opera houses, the Met’s captioning system is as an individual experience, located behind the seat in front of you. As the performance commences, press the red button once for English captions, or continue pressing it to scroll through additional options.

The screens are tinted, so your neighbors’ screens will not be visible to you. If you’re leaning over to press their button in an attempt to help, chances are you’re doing just the opposite.

As for applause mid-performance, opera scores are generally more fluid than musical theatre, so read the room before clapping. Applause following an overture, a notable aria, or a particularly impressive vocal performance is common (especially at the Met), and in some rare cases, could even lead to an encore. Lucky you.

In general, operagoing etiquette is akin to theatregoing etiquette: Don’t do anything Patti LuPone would disapprove of.

If you're late, don't expect to be seated during a lull in the first act as you would during most Broadway ventures. If you arrive after those auditorium doors closed, you'll instead be sent to a separate viewing room, where you'll be able to watch a live feed of the action (sans subtitles) until intermission.

Intermission(s)

Most productions have at least one intermission, oftentimes more. Unlike a majority of Broadway houses, there’s far more to do than browse through your Playbill and wait in line for the restroom between acts.

As previously mentioned, people-watching is an opera tradition, so grab a spot overlooking the staircase (or on the staircase!) and catch the varying degrees of fashion. The Met also has displays and exhibits scattered through the entire house; walk around and take a glance at the galleries on the lower level or inspect some costumes up close on the grand tier.

Many intermissions are longer than the standard 15 minutes—sometimes as long as 45; those set changes are no joke. Check ahead of time to plan your breaks accordingly.

Curtain Call

Do some hand stretches now; opera curtain calls run long, with the singers, occasionally the chorus, conductor, and—on premieres of new productions—design team each enjoying their moment center stage. But don’t leave. See the rule above concerning Patti LuPone, and it can be fun to see how dramatic an opera singer can make just one bow (or several).

Occasionally, and particularly at premieres of new productions, operagoers who fancy themselves connoisseurs may “boo” the creative team. Don’t join in—especially if you're new to the scene. The only thing more cringe-worthy than a severely misguided production is someone thinking a “boo” is a legitimate critique.

If you feel compelled to accompany your applause with an exclamation, a quick glossary of what to shout and for whom:

To commend a male performer: Bravo!

To commend a female performer: Brava!

To commend a group: Bravi!

For a full season lineup, visit MetOpera.org.

