Opera Etiquette Tips

Sam W. Lee, PhD, brings substantial experience to his roles as the associate director of the Cutaneous Biology Research Center at Massachusetts General Hospital and an associate professor of dermatology at Harvard Medical School. Moreover, Dr. Sam W. Lee is an avid operagoer in his free time. As first-time operagoers may be unfamiliar with opera etiquette, here are some tips.

1. Grant the overture the respect it deserves and listen in silence. Applause is generally reserved for the arias that highlight the performance.

2. Don’t obsess about dress; while many enjoy dressing up, you don’t necessarily have to follow their example. Many will arrive in more casual attire.

3. Remember Italian gender linguistics. When praising a male performance, shout “bravo,” but use “brava” for a female performance. “Bravi” is the acceptable form of praise for a group performance. Alternatively, you could whistle, shout, or remain silent.

4. Although opera running times can vary substantially, they usually fall in the two- to three-hour range. It is advisable to eat beforehand.