My experience with opera houses in most places is they don't care if you're in jeans - they want your money. If they have a dress code, it will be on their website.
It's not that. A lot of places have dress codes - that's fine. We used to go a lot when I lived in London, my family were Patrons of Covent Garden and for opera nuts it really isn't anything special - you go for the show, not for the event and the proper opera nuts go in jeans or whatever they happen to be wearing at the time. It's the people in sequins in the Range Rover from Hampshire who get sozzled in intermission and talk all the way through the performance - those are the people who put a lot of thought into what they're wearing. I mean look at Glyndebourne - lot's of people in black tie and wellies, then during the tour afterwards it's jeans and t-shirt or whatever.
Not sure why the opera is a special occasion or who the respect is for? It's just a bunch of people singing, they do it every night and get paid quite well for it
I'd show the singers the same respect as the bus driver who drops me off in the morning!
We're just going for the music and will no doubt have a wee drink before and after! I think it will be smart casual for me and the wife will decide five minutes before and changing 28 times.
Seat wise, it's the carre d'or tickets .. So front and center.
I went to Zurich opera few times, there is no strict Dress code.
But to be formally dress for the show gives you a different experience you could connect more, and i don't prefer to be odd man out. Enjoy the Show..
It's unclear where this originates from: some say because in Italy the color purple is associated with funerals, or also, because back in the day the catholic church banned theater during Lent (clergy wear purple robes during Lent) and out of respect for the (starving) actors, that color was not worn.
True, he is going to the opera in Geneva...but still
Other than the soloists, the choirs do not get paid all that well considering the amount of work they put it. They do it for love not for money.
I got it.. Respect
It's nearly home time, long day!
It's a free open air Rigoletto at Sechseläutenplatz on the 21st. I'd love to join someone as none of my friends are willing to come with me.
Right on ! I worked 4 years in Opera Hause Zuerich .Best Job/Time I ever had
Lausanne-Zurich: casual dressing, some people came with their daily clothes.
We dressed up for Paris & Vienna (especially if you have good seats). And I will always thank that beautiful japanese woman who came to the Vienna opera wearing a wonderful furisode kimono....she raised the quality of the evening by her presence.
Eat to please thyself, but dress to please others.
On the other hand... I was once in Munich on a business trip (working for a company with a very casual dress code), and booked a ticket to see a concert at the Philharmonie in the evening. It was the opening night of the season, and I must have been the only person in the hall not wearing evening dress. I felt a bit self-conscious... :-)
Personally, I enjoy dressing up a bit, just because I enjoy it. It is expensive, it is a special night (I would assume - at CHF 300 per ticket), and wearing something a little nicer than everyday is part of the fun for me. If you do not enjoy that, then don't do it, but I have to say that I also do not think that clothing needs to be particularly shabby just to make a statement (by "shabby" I mean old, unwashed, torn t-shirts and jeans that make sitting next to the person a "scentific" challenge). That is simply rude, not only at the opera (not that anyone suggested that, but I have experienced such neighbours in concerts, and it did not add to my enjoyment).
But other than that: Just enjoy the night!
Back home, what I see all the time is people being absolutely silent during the actual singing, but then, they will let the singers know if they liked the performance or not. Very loudly.
I have seen a tenor repeating "Nessun Dorma" three times midway the show because the audience kept shouting "Bravooooo..... bis... bis... bravoooo!!!!". I have seen the audience whistle and "booooo" angrily at a "futuristic" Aida scenography at the Arena in Verona because people felt it was not true to the original story (set in Egypt). I have even seen rotten fruits flying down the "loggione" at La Scala. A few years ago (2005 or 2006), a tenor was booed off the stage during a performance and it was so bad that his replacement had to run up the stage and substitute him without even having time to change into the costume.
Although I personally disagree with booing, I tried to (loudly) show my appreciation in Zurich but I think I scared off my neighbours and was quiet afterwards...something to keep in mind in Geneva