There’s no dress code for the opera – we welcome you as you are! Some audience members enjoy coming in “Vermont formal” and others prefer more casual attire. Be yourself!

Please arrive on time, because performances start promptly. Make sure to allow sufficient time for traffic, parking, and weather.

Latecomers will be allowed in at intermission, an appropriate break, or will be seated at the discretion of the management.

At the opera, unlike at the symphony or at a recital, listeners like to express their pleasure by clapping after well-executed solos and even small ensemble numbers (very similar to a jazz performance). If you really liked it, it’s perfectly acceptable to yell “Bravo!” for men and “Brava!” for women, or “Bravi!” to everyone.

You do not need to have extensive background knowledge about opera to attend a performance. Opera is an extraordinary feast for the eyes and ears, and with English translations projected above the stage, it’s as easy as watching a foreign film. Some people enjoy savoring the experience as a delightful surprise, while others like to carefully prepare and learn all they can before the curtain goes up. (If the latter appeals to you, be sure to attend our pre-concert talks one hour before each performance to learn more!) There is no right or wrong way.

We perform operas in their original language (which is sometimes English!). English translations are projected above the stage for every performance, whether the singers are singing English, Italian, French, or Russian. The English translations make it easy to understand opera sung in any language, and you can follow every twist and turn of the plot without missing a beat.

An opera usually runs between two and three hours. There are usually one or two intermissions during which refreshments may be purchased in the Jackson Gallery on the lower level.