There’s nothing quite like attending the opera for the first time in London. I often take my friends who are opera virgins who invariably ask the same questions about how to prepare, what to expect, what to wear and how to behave…let’s see if I can answer them.
London Opera Houses
In London we have two opera houses, the London Coliseum and the Royal Opera House.
The London Coliseum
The Coliseum is a beautiful Frank Matcham designed theatre. It is swathed in red velvet with ornate stucco ceilings and statues at every turn. You will find it in St Martin’s Lane near Trafalgar Square. It is home to the English National Opera. As the name may suggest, all of its performances are sung in English so no need to lose the plot. The ticket prices are friendly. Many are priced at under £20 and there are fabulous deals for young people and new opera goers. Recently, I had one of the cheapest seats in the house which was £10 in the balcony and I had a very good view of the stage and subtitles.
The Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House is one of the most chic and glamorous venues in town. It is famous for its multimillion pound productions, world class singers and fabulous sets. Each opera is sung in its original language. A seat at the front of the stalls will set you back about £200. Many performances are booked up months in advance. In the amphitheatre, on the fifth floor, there are more affordable seats. The cheapest seats are dotted about on the upper floors and are standing only You may also be able to find a cheap seat in the amphitheatre side slips.
Dress Elegantly for a Night at the London Opera
Going to the London opera is one the most memorable experiences you will have. People go to be seen. So make an occasion of it and put on your most glamorous outfit.
I see women visiting the London opera wearing sequins, gold and silver embellished knitwear, silk scarves, costume jewellery, Chanel jackets, cocktail dresses, velvet, diamante, diamante and diamante.
People make correspondingly more effort with their attire in the stalls and boxes which are the more expensive seats. Arguably the opera goers at the Royal Opera House make more effort (but this is controversial!).
London is an inclusive place and you will see a lot of young people in ripped jeans and street wear. But if you dress down for the London opera you may feel a bit out of place.
Prepare for cold, drizzly London weather when you leave the venue in winter. Bring hats, scarves and thick coats. Most people take public transport home.
Read the Plot Synopsis
Read the plot synopsis on the London opera house website before you arrive. You will get much more from the opera if you know in advance what happens. Specifically, make a mental note of how many acts there are and when and how long each interval is. Some operas are five hours long! If there are several short acts, the director may ask the audience to remain seated for a 5 minute set change.
If you would like to know more details about the production, including the careers of individual artists, buy a programme. This is also a good way to support London opera.
If time and enthusiasm permit, use You Tube to research any famous arias or pieces in your opera like Brindisi in Verdi’s La Traviata. Then you will instantly recognise these special moments and the raucous applause following them.
Get to the London Opera Early
Part of the fun of a night at the London opera is to soak up the atmosphere. I get there shortly after the doors open which means that I can collect my ticket before the queues form. I then go to the bar.
Getting there early means you will have time to photograph the stunning interiors before people arrive.
This is a wonderful opportunity for people watching…you will see politicians, celebrities and swathes of London society especially on press night.
The Royal Opera House is magnificent. It has been enhanced by a recent restoration. You could spend your pre-show time taking the escalators between the different floors and checking out the modern bars, sumptuous restaurants and costume displays exhibited in glass cases which line the walls.
Use the Cloakroom
Like almost all London theatres, there isn’t much leg room in either of our main opera houses. If you leave your coat and extra bags on the floor, latecomers will be clambering over both you and your prized possessions. Park your belongings in the cloakroom before the opera starts. It’s considered polite to stand as people pass you in the row. Don’t be the rude person who stays seated and expects people to clamber over them.
Be on Time for your First Opera
The curtain goes up exactly on schedule. If you are late, you may not be allowed to gain entry until a suitable break in the performance. The ushers may also move you to a different and inferior seat to that shown on your ticket until there is an interval. You will hear a bell ringing at intervals warning you of the need to get to your seats. It is better to have a meal or a sandwich at the venue than risk being late by eating in a local restaurant and rushing.
Turn off Your Phone
Double check and triple check that you have turned off your mobile phone…and then check again. Operas are sung without any amplification, with the orchestra playing under the singer’s voice. This means that the slightest noise can be heard even the vibrations of a phone set to silent
If a phone rings the whole audience will as one, irately mutter under their breath.
Don’t think you can take a sneeky peak at your phone while burying it in your handbag. Lighted screen glow like a beacon in the darkened auditorium and you’ll be seen by everyone, both behind and above you! A lighted phone will not only risk the ire of those around you but it will command the attention of an usher who will whisper in your ear to turn it off…very embarrassing.
Exchange Pleasantries
You will be sitting in close quarters with people on either side, so acknowledge your neighbour and exchange a few pleasantries, this way they will be helpful and patient when you need support leaving your seat, cough involuntarily, or require them to stand as you arrive after the interval. These conversations are usually quite dull, along the lines of “Have you seen this opera before?”, “I love this building!”, “I am keen to hear the soprano.”
This year I attended a brilliant Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Guided Walking Tour put on by the ENO which you may enjoy reading about.
Carry Opera Glasses and Cough Sweets
Opera glasses are a must if you are in the back of the dress circle, upper circle or amphitheatre (Royal Opera House) and balcony (London Coliseum). This will allow you to see facial expressions, costumes and set details.
A few cough sweets, paracetamol and tissues are useful emergency items. If you find yourself in the middle of a row, you are not going to be able to leave your seat if you have a coughing fit or a headache. This has happened to me on a few occasions when I have had coughing fits that have come from nowhere and lasted agonising minutes,
Operas are a lesson in sitting still in a sphinx like pose.
Check the Surtitles Every Few Seconds
As a novice opera goer you will be reliant on the subtitles so make sure that you have purchased a ticket with a clear view of the surtitle screen (these are like film subtitles but are on a screen above the stage). During the opera, get into a rhythm of quickly glancing up at the surtitles. They give you the English translation of the performance and are shown even for performances that are sung in English. Then move your eyes down to focus on the stage. That way you will know what is being sung without missing any of the action.
If you are enjoying this post on the attending opera for the first time you may want to read our opera reviews.
Move Fast at the Interval
If you need to use the rest room at the interval, leave your seat as soon as the safety curtain goes down, as within minutes a large queue will form.
The same is true if you are buying interval drinks, be the first at the bar, or better still order your drinks before the performance and they will be waiting for you.
Stay for the Curtain Call
The curtain call is a choreographed spectacle. It is the only occasion at the London opera when you can photograph or video the performers. As the last scene ends, switch your phone on, so that it is ready for action and zoom in. Stand up for the ovation and hold the camera above the heads of those in front of you.
You are encouraged to share the curtain call on social media.
The curtain call is a lot of fun. The leading ladies are given extravagant bouquets, the crowd always booes the villain which he (and it usually is a he) finds amusing, each singer takes a bow, or a curtesy, in keeping with their on-stage character and at times you will see not only the orchestra conductor, but the director and choreographer. This is especially true on Press Night which is usually the opening night of any performance. I was thrilled when Jonathan Miller appeared after a performance of the Barber of Seville at the Coliseum.
Read our latest opera review on Peter Grimes which started the ENO 2023 opera season in style,
To Get the most out of your First Visit to the Opera Read your Programme
Make use of your tube journey home to read your programme or plot synopsis – research the careers of the cast, the conductor and the director.
And the next morning, do one of two things, check the opera reviews to see if you agreed with the critics, or better still, book your next London opera.
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