Onward we go to familiarize ourselves with the opera.
You know how we say 'break a leg' to someone going on stage in the theater? Well, in the opera they say 'toi toi toi' (toy toy toy) to wish the performers good luck.
How does one know when to clap at an opera?
- Applaud when the conductor enters the orchestra pit at the start of the performance and after intermissions.
- Applause is customary at the end of each act.
- If a soloist or group performs a particularly captivating aria or ensemble piece, it's acceptable to applaud.
- Some audiences might applaud when the curtain rises, revealing a beautiful stage setting. You might also hear shouts of BRAVO (for men), BRAVA for women, or BRAVI for a group, after exceptionally good performances.
- Avoid clapping mid-aria, during dramatic moments, or before the end of a piece if the composer intends for the music to flow without interruption.
- If you're unsure when to clap, observe other audience members and follow their cues.
- Also, I'm sure the etiquette varies between regions, countries, houses and times.
- Unlike a musical, opera singers don't use microphones to amplify their voices, and the music played by the orchestra, is completely live.
I now realize that it's too big a challenge for me to write about the opera.........
- In order to write about the opera, one needs to be familiar with the composer, the writer of the text, historical context, voice types, orchestration, musical forms and performance history.
