Opera Attire

[Papageno]

I've been going to the Glyndebourne and the Covent Garden wearing a plain sweater and jeans (yes, that was me).  I've noticed every time, that I'm the only one wearing jeans.  What do you think about this nonsense of having to wear a suit to the opera?

[mc ukrneal]

I've been going to the Glyndebourne and the Covent Garden wearing a plain sweater and jeans (yes, that was me).  I've noticed every time, that I'm the only one wearing jeans.  What do you think about this nonsense of having to wear a suit to the opera?

I don't think a suit is necessary these days, but a lot of people like to make it an event, and so dress up (or come directlt from work). I must say I would wear some sort of slacks or more formal pants instead of jeans. Having said that, if I was a tourist, I might dress in jeans for comfort during the day, and thus end up at the opera in jeans, but if I could help it, I'd try to wear something else that day.  But otherwise, sounds fine to me.

[Lethevich]

Nose rings are a must!

[Coopmv]

I don't think a suit is necessary these days, but a lot of people like to make it an event, and so dress up (or come directlt from work). I must say I would wear some sort of slacks or more formal pants instead of jeans. Having said that, if I was a tourist, I might dress in jeans for comfort during the day, and thus end up at the opera in jeans, but if I could help it, I'd try to wear something else that day.  But otherwise, sounds fine to me.

Suit and tie were the proper attire for attending a classical concert 25-30 years ago ...

[Sergeant Rock]

Don't know about Glyndebourne, but Covent Garden is pretty free nowadays.  You can dress up if you want, or not, nobody seemes to care much either way.  At Salome back in the summer there was a guy in front of me wearing shocking pink corduroys and matching spangly flip-flops.  Of course we're a fairly egalitarian lot up in the Amphitheatre.  Downstairs I suppose it can be a bit more corporate-sponsorship-and-champagne-bar, especially for some of the big ticket shows.

During my "hippie trek" of Europe, summer of  '72, I saw Solti conduct Salome at Covent Garden (Birgit Nilssson in the title role). I lucked out, got one of the last available tickets on the day of the performance. It was an expensive ticket. It put me in an exclusive "gated community" on the floor near the stage. Of course I didn't bring a suit with me (I had to travel light for two months) and went in my usual t-shirt, jeans and army field jacket (I'd left the army a few months before). I shared the box with a gentleman in a tuxedo. He was a delightful chap, very friendly. I felt no prejudice from anyone, staff or patrons. A great experience. Going to the opera in Paris a few weeks later was an entirely different experience. Bunch of snobs there 

Sarge

[MishaK]

I've been going to the Glyndebourne and the Covent Garden wearing a plain sweater and jeans (yes, that was me).  I've noticed every time, that I'm the only one wearing jeans.  What do you think about this nonsense of having to wear a suit to the opera?

I think it depends on the place and the ticket you have. Generally, more expensive tickets draw more dressy crowds, while the cheaps seats it doesn't matter what you wear. There is so much nice designer clothes available now that allows you to dress nice without wearing a tie and suit anyway.

I have a friend from university who often went to concerts with me at Carnegie while we were studying together. He made the weird point of always wearing a suit and tie whenever we got cheap student tickets, but wearing jeans whenever we paid full price. He never explained the reasoning behind it. Go figure...