ETIQUETTE FAQ's
The opera is the one special place where you can really dress up and go glamorous. Cocktail dress is usually the norm for evening performances, while Sunday matinees generally see more casual sport jackets and dresses. Your opera experience is what you make of it - you'll fit in with San Antonio Opera's patrons in everything from Birkenstocks to Blahniks!
English translations of the lyrics (surtitles) are projected on a screen above the stage as they are sung. Also a synopsis of the opera is provided online and in the evening's program.
Running times vary per opera, but many clock in between 2-3 hours in length, like most Broadway musicals. For time estimates for the coming season, click on the opera you are interested in.
Yes. San Antonio Opera has two intermissions for most three-act operas, and a single intermission for two-act operas.
Latecomers will not be seated until a suitable interlude in the opera (often after the overture, but sometimes not until intermission). If there are available seats in the rear of the theater, ushers may seat patrons who are late.
At the end of big arias and, of course, at the final curtain call. Feel free to shout out "Bravo!" (for a male performer), "Brava!" (for a woman) or "Bravi!" (for an ensemble) - singers love an appreciative audience!.
Don't let a foreign language stop you from enjoying the opera - thanks to surtitles, opera is easy to understand! Surtitles are English translations of the singing and dialogue of an opera projected on a screen above the stage. Just like subtitles at a movie, they help the audience follow along quickly and easily.
Please remain quiet from the time the orchestra starts (the overture is part of the opera, too!) so that everyone around you can enjoy the music. Don't open candy or gum wrappers, talk, use your cell phone or pager during the performance. Be sure to turn off your pager, watch alarm and phone when you enter the theater. There is plenty of opportunity to chat with people during intermission. Please do not sing along, tap in time, get up and move around or try to read your program while the performance is in progress - it's really distracting to the people around you!
