The Opera

The view of the Opera House on the way to the subway station

The screen on the side of the Opera House, showing the live performance (you can see Rodolfo and Mimì!)

The audience outside

Jay & me

Here is the Vienna Opera House (Wiener Staatsoper). Two nights ago, I saw La Bohème. My friend from IU, Jay, is studying abroad in Vienna this semester, so we met up at about 4:30 to get in line for standing room tickets, which only cost 3 Euro! Here's how the system of the standing room seats, or Stehplätze, works: The box office for the Stehplätze opens at 5.30PM, but people start getting in line sometime in the early afternoon, because there are only so many tickets available. Once you've bought your ticket, you must go up to the standing room immediately, to secure a spot for the evening's performance. You reserve your place by wrapping or tying a scarf around the rail directly in front of your spot. Then, you can go and have a coffee, and come back just a bit before the opera begins. Jay and I, however, were the typical Americans who just assumed that we could waltz right in ten minutes before the performance and have a place waiting for us. Well, we quickly learned that this is not how things work in Vienna. Fortunately, we were able to watch Act I outside on a huge screen that is mounted on the side of the opera house (see photo). It was actually so interesting watching the opera outside, and observing all of the passersby. Also, it was exciting to see so much enthusiasm for opera; not only was the house completely sold out, but there were a few hundred people watching outside, too!

Luckily a kind little Viennese usher found us great standing room spots after intermission, way at the top, dead center. It was so interesting hearing the singers live in the house after watching them on the big screen. It was a very strong cast, both singing and acting-wise. I went back to the opera last night to watch Die Zauberflöte outside, and there was an even larger audience for this one...I think the Viennese have a thing for Mozart. :) It was so thrilling walking up from the subway station to hear "Dies Bildnis" echoing through the streets of Vienna, with people of ALL ages completely engrossed in the opera.