First Timer's Guide

Opera is the only performing art form that is growing in popularity - especially with younger audiences. Why? Opera, like no other entertainment or art form, helps us transcend our ordinary lives and be carried away with unbelievable drama, sights, sounds and emotion.

So, do you have to learn about opera to enjoy it? No, you don’t. But, as with life’s other exquisite pleasures, a little background knowledge can turn “great” into “unforgettable”.

Never been to an Opera? Here's all you need to know:

English Captions

Although opera is usually performed in its original language—generally Italian, German, or French—you don't need to speak a foreign language to understand it. Fort Worth Opera projects English captions, a simultaneous translation of the sung words, above the stage during every opera performance. These captions are visible from every seat in Bass Hall.

Think of English captions as the subtitles in foreign movies. (Even the operas sung in English are usually captioned. Why? In singing, vowels are held longer, and this distortion sometimes makes it difficult to understand every word.)

How do I know which opera to go to?

There are as many different styles of opera as there are styles of movies. And just like Hollywood remakes, the same opera can be performed in different ways. At Fort Worth Opera, we try to give you a good idea of what you’re going to see and what style an opera is, plus we are dedicated to providing a wide variety of styles each and every season. Simply check out our operas under “Season” and if one sounds interesting to you, try it.

Note that it takes many people two or three trips to the opera house to get a good feel of opera – giving up after your first one is like seeing one movie and deciding you don’t like any movies. In fact, you may want to consider purchasing a season ticket – you’ll save money and get a good sampling of operas at the same time.

TIPS FOR ATTENDING:

What do I Wear?

Whatever you want; we have no dress requirements. The largest number of our patrons wear business or “after-five” attire; the others wear everything from jeans to tuxedos (or both). The most important thing is that you be comfortable and enjoy yourself.

Eat, Drink, be Merry.

There are tons of restaurants and fun things to do in downtown Fort Worth. The area is convenient, well-lighted and reasonably safe, and parking is free on evenings and weekends. Some operas can be up to 3 hours long, so we suggest you eat before you come. Be sure to allow yourself plenty of time; no food or drink is permitted into Bass Hall.

Getting There, Up or Down.

Be sure to arrive early. As a courtesy to other patrons, we don't seat latecomers until the first intermission (which means you’ll have to watch it on a little monitor in the hall - a total drag). Also, use the restroom beforehand. We strongly discourage - as will the people around you - getting up and down during the performance.

Phones and Other Noise.

Bass Performance Hall has been named one of the top-ten opera houses in the world. The main reason for its fame is the outstanding acoustics. For the singers, this means that every person in the audience will clearly hear their unamplified voice. For you, it means that they will equally hear your unamplified pager, cell phone, candy wrapper and other noise. So, unless you want 2,000 people leaning forward to stare at you, we suggest you shut everything off. (In fact, we suggest it even if you do want 2,000 people staring at you.) If you have a cough, note that we provide cough drops at the entrances of the seating areas for your convenience.

Clapping and Yelling.

Opera singers love to hear appreciation for their work. So do we. Clapping, standing, yelling, and other types of applause are very welcome at the right times. As a general rule, opera patrons clap at the end of each act and after a spectacular song. When in doubt, don't applaud until you hear everyone else doing it.

Should I Bring the Kids?

That depends on the kid. While we do encourage parents to expose their children to opera, mainstage operas are not suitable for young children, who can get restless and make noise. Older children should be left at home if you have any doubts as to their ability to remain quiet during the performance. Older kids and teenagers often enjoy opera, it’s like Classical MTV, only more intense. Before you decide to bring older children or teens to an opera, we recommend you read the synopsis or call the opera office to make sure it’s suitable - many operas contain adult subject matter.

LEARN MORE:

Seize the Educational Moment.

The truth is: you don't have to know a thing about opera to enjoy it. But learning a little of the background behind your opera or listening to the music beforehand will definitely enhance your experience. We suggest attending one of our entertaining - and free – pre-opera talks.

If you really want to widen your horizons, check out Opera for Dummies by David Pogue & Scott Peck (our favorite and we’re not that dumb), which comes with its own CD, or one of many books that tells the stories of various operas. Also, bookstores, online and brick, have a wide variety of opera music to choose from, from entire operas to samplers with different themes.

Additional Information Links

Click on the following links for more opera resources from our friends at Opera America:

Welcome to the fascinating world of opera. You’re going to have a great time.