Attending Opera at the Vienna Opera House in Vienna, Austria 🇦🇹

[@johnmaryn4497]

Yes indeed. World class opera, performers, orchestra, sets and the exterior and interior beauty of the Vienna State Opera house itself. In 1971 as a young music student, I attended over 50 operas all in standing room in the 4th and 5th tiers. Standing room was, I believe, 10 Austrian Schillings, about $1 US. The 10 Euro price for today’s standing room sounds right at slightly over $10-12 or so. There was a specific routine in 1971 for standing room 4th/5th tiers by following an usher up the flights of stairs to the two highest tiers and then we all-out scrambled to get as good a standing room place as possible. In 71, you could sit on the edge of your standing room position (4th/5th tier) or lean against the bars in the standing room spots. Great video and advice, Robert.. Thank you.

[@robertesell]

Wow that sounds amazing. I often try to get good seats but its expensive so I was thinking next time I might get seats further back so I can afford to go more often.

[@johnmaryn4497]

@@robertesell I see that nowadays they have standing room in the back of the main floor and you can lean (but not sit) on rails. If you can handle the large number of stairs, try the standing room one time. Nowadays, I'm too old for that. I know you buy tickets in advance for standing room but on the same day. Ask about the routine. One more interesting fact. In 1971-72, there was an elderly woman seated in her standing room place with a musical score and light. Always there, early. So, probably a special person. I have always wondered (just wild speculation) that maybe she was connected to Mahler, who was the opera director still early in that century. ENJOY your opera, Robert.

[@anusharao3248]

extremely informative video. Thanks so much for making it. I will be visiting this month and your video just prepped me up real good!

[@robertesell]

Glad it was helpful!

[@hails1244]

I totally understand you when you say the opera was strange. Seeing an opera is expensive so I'm so particular when seeing one (i.e. making sure it's an opera I like, seating, staging). If I'm going to spend the money it has to be worth it. The MET is doing Aida next season but it says it's a new staging with "intricate projections and dazzling animations". I'm not sure what that means but it sounds like projects in replacement of a lot of the physical staging.

[@UltraSir]

Hello Robert, me and my wife are going to Vienna in June 23. We’d never attend to an Opera and we’re are excited to whatch our first in this amazing place. Your video really helped. Thank you. By the way, I saw that It’ll be Madam Butterfly in our schedule. Do you think this Is a good opera for first timers? Cheers.

[@robertesell]

Sounds great! I think that would be an amazing first performance to see!

[@marieodar7667]

which opera was it in Vienna state opera.

[@MEMO4K]

👍 Nice Opera tour

[@robertesell]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@digitalsbysilvi]

hi, thank for your review it was very helpful. do you think if i go there with no tickets i would be able to get a standing ticket right away at the place itself? and is it really about 15 euros in the website the prices go up to 400 euros, tks

[@robertesell]

Ticket prices do vary a lot and depends on where you want to sit. However, I would warn you that the experience can also vary dramatically. For example, do you want to have a pillar or someone's head between you and the screen? Do you want a digital translator in front of you so you know whats going on? Do you want to be able to see the entire stage? I think you could easily pay a low fee but get a really bad spot and be frustrated all night. I always recommend to pay a bit more and ensure you are in a seat with an unobstructed view at very least.

[@yvonneyu7567]

Which opera was it if i may ask?

[@marilouchampagne5639]

Hi Robert, what box did you get ? Did you see all of the stage from a side box ? I can't decide between box 3, 4 or 7 on the pârterre et box 13 on rang 2 (so third level box). Wich one is the best do you think ? I am only looking for boxes that have front seats available. Thanks!

[@robertesell]

Hi! I dont remember the exact box. I was on the second level, right side. About 3 or 4 boxes from the front. Angle was pretty good. Front seats are a must as I think the rear seats would be really bad views. I think most boxes will have a good view however I like to be relatively close to the stage to see the actors.

[@emonbui]

I'm curious how safe it was walking late at night to get to your hotel. I see most venues end pretty late in general

[@DanielHarperGeekyJedi]

Very safe

[@melaniamonicacraciun9900]

Suuuuper awesome fans, big big like congrats, wishing you everybody a great Happy New Year full of music happenings dating your new cyber supporters & paaaarty in Vienna, very good decision

[@johnoleary5293]

Great that you went to the opera. I’d love to be there too. However, going to ‘the opera’ is not a single thing. There’s such a wide range of periods, composers, musical styles. Some you will like instantly, others take a lot of work to appreciate. Magic Flute is immediately enjoyable, whereas Tristan und Isolde can be a real grind to sit through if you don’t understand what’s going on. Some operas will last under two hours, while Parsifal will have you riveted (I hope) for six hours by the time you have two extended breaks. Also, productions can vary widely. There’s no one way to perform a particular opera. I recommend that you listen to as much as you can. You will develop your own set of favourites. Much of the joy of going to the opera is experiencing music that you already love.

[@robertesell]

Totally agree. While this visit to the Opera wasn't ideal and forced me to take a break, I still love the Opera and look forward to my next visit. Thinking about seeing it in Paris next. :)

[@rustwithrust]

is there any dress code ?

[@robertesell]

I'm not aware of any listed dress code but typically people dress up. I saw a lot of guys in suits but more common is a business casual. I never wear a tie. Blazers are common but I just wear my long jacked, long sleeve shirt with a collar and slacks. I've never seen anyone wearing jeans or shorts. You potentially could wear jeans and I am sure some people do but I've never seen it.

[@thomasmalloch8850]

How do you work out the seating plans the performance s I wish to see are Iin November struggling to work out prices and their spit in the auditorium

[@robertesell]

There is a seating map you can look at and it actually shows you the view from each seat. While not super accurate, it provides a good enough idea of what it will be like. I recommend never sitting behind someone however as that didnt seem very good

[@thomasmalloch8850]

It took me a lot of time but I worked out the plan as it was in German and tge seating was pretty ordering that is why I could not work out what prices matched

[@maxharrow]

Always interesting listening to tourists from the other side of the pond, Canada in this case right? (if I get the accent right that is). You talk about opera as if you went to the cinema... not a movie.. there are no spoilers in opera. You went to see an opera without knowing what was about, who was the author (which will make you understand whether you are going to enjoy it or not) how many acts it had (yes, that will determine how many intermissions it has). Sometimes it happens that a 2-act opera is performed with no intermission, but it is always announced on the program. And yes, there are operas that are an absolute delight and some operas that are as heavy as a brick and as boring to fall asleep! If I may say: get some info before going to see an opera, get the English libretto, and see what the plot is about. If you want to advise people about going to see Opera to somebody who has never been, the advice should lean toward the classic of the Italian Bel Canto: Madam Butterfly, Boheme, Traviata... Of course, I understand that when on holiday, one just goes to the opera for the experience of going there and must accept whatever is on that day. Nice video, thanks for showing us the Vienna Opera house where I am planning to go, I wanted to see how big it is and decide what tickets to buy. Thumb up for you. I am going to see The Marriage of Figaro in May. It's an opera buffa by Mozart, in 4 acts, but it will be performed with one intermission only, a total time of 3 and a half hours. P.S. Have you been to Prague? it has 3 opera houses, all beautiful if you go in winter not only will enjoy the winter scenery of the city and the castle but also you can go and see 3 different operas in 3 different theatres.

[@robertesell]

Thank you. Great advice for sure. I will try to get to Prague to experience opera there. I am a big fan just didnt have the best experience in this case. Something everyone should experience.

[@bengemeister]

Well put, Max. No spoilers. You often need to know what is going to occur and who the characters are to understand what you are seeing. There can be many characters in an opera and it may be hard to follow who is who. Or close your eyes and just enjoy the music without falling asleep. Especially if the program and projections are in a foreign language.

[@artlovervictoria]

Does any one know if there are afternoon performance? I prefer to be at my hotel before dark unless the city is super safe.

[@robertesell]

I think for some performances there are. Check their site for the specific performance you are looking at. The city was very safe. I walked alone at all times of the night/morning and never did I for a single second have a concern.

[@reinhardperner7205]

guys. if you go for the first time you do NOT go to whatever opera. you can end up really hating it if you pick an opera for ... let's say ... advanced opera buffs.

[@robertesell]

I normally just go to whatever is playing at the time. Don't really have a choice that way. Is there a way to tell if the opera is for beginners?

[@reinhardperner7205]

@@robertesell i would recommend a light italian opera such as l'elisir d'amore for absolute beginners, whilst a strauss (richard, that is) like "elektra" can be very challenging. may i guess? you attended "capriccio". i go to the opera very often, but i never attended that piece. no,thanks strauss made some excellent operas (salome, frau ohne schatten, elektra) and some very bad pieces (in my opinion. i stay away from rosenkavalier, capriccio or (the worst) ariadne auf naxos). to say it short: when you go for the first time, try to go to an italian opera from the 19th century to be safe.

[@thomasmalloch8850]

How did you Boo, the ticket.

[@robertesell]

Online. Just Google the opera house. Then you have to pick up in person the day of the event from the opera house.

[@thomasmalloch8850]

@@robertesell I have managed to get tickets . As tge tickets were pre order I could not work out what they were on the map . I ended up using a dictionary in German / English to translate . No one seems to do an English-speaking translation to help tourists. I now have 4 performances booked for November

[@robertesell]

I remember it wasnt very clear when I went how to acquire the tickets. I remember I purchased online but then had to queue up somewhere the day of to get the physical tickets. I've done it twice in Viennna and it was different each time. Other places like Poland was way easier. Glad you got it settled.

[@Ukash13MK]

What opera did you see?

[@robertesell]

I dont remember the name. Had a great set with boats. Was about a ship getting lost at sea then the captain married a young girl to break his curse.

[@Ukash13MK]

@@robertesell sounds like The Flying Dutchman!

[@irascheer5868]

Which was purposefully written as three continuous scenes,with no intermission @@Ukash13MK

[@maximilianhassler8379]

It was definitely the flying dutchman by Richard Wagner!!!

[@monicadelano256]

If you are not really fan of ópera, you better but y a DVD or Blu Ray

[@paullinos820]

The building outside is magnificent, and most of the halls and rooms around the the seating and stage are beautiful. The seating and the stage are not very impressive or big. It is always to busy to get inside. I have to attend the opera to compare it with the one in Chicago. However, I think that opera in general is very boring. I honestly tried many new and old operas but I just don't get it.

[@user-mw4dx3nu7t]

Can I just wear shorts? Or would they ask me to leave. I’m backpacking and traveling ultra light

[@robertesell]

I've never seen anyone wearing shorts in the Opera. My guess is they wont allow you.