Discussion»Questions»Human Behavior» Someone gives you two tickets to the opera, and formal attire is required/expected for the audience members. What do you do? ~
If they're for an opera I like (by, say, Mozart or Puccini) at the Met, I would put on my tux and attend. If not, I would sell or give them away. However, many folks don't dress up for the opera these days, or even own formal wear.
I can't fathom me wanting to attend the opera. It seriously sounds like Hades to me. I cannot come up with a single circumstance I'd go; not even if I was paid to. The symphony would be a bit different, but it's also not so formal anymore. I think women have it easier in this respect; a nice black dress works for all occasions. I could pull off a formal look in a pinch.
It can be hellish, depending on the opera. But a performance of comic opera, such as the works of Gilbert and Sullivan, or a lighter grand opera such as Rossini's The Barber of Seville or Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro or The Magic Flute, especially as produced by a first class operation like the Metropolitan Opera with wonderfully colorful and detailed costumes and sets, can be a very delightful and memorable experience. In other words, don't knock it until you've tried it!
My husband is an enthusiast and we go to operas both staged and in concert performances several times a year. I had never enjoyed opera as I thought it too long-winded and seemingly too star-driven but now I have come to rather enjoy both famous operas and modern both musically and dramatically and quite look forward to going.
Look at when is the performance, block the time off my calendar then. Take my Tux out of the suit bag, Make sure the shirt is properly ironed, and polish my shoes. If my Tux were not available my Black Suit with a fine pinpoint oxford shirt and a solid color tie, polished black shoes
Same as I do for any other formal event. I generally hit 8-10 in a year minimum. Formal Wear, Tux or Dinner Jacket is NBD, just another suit in a slightly different form.
Shuhak 