Are you in Vienna? Do you have 4 Euros, a scarf, and a free evening? Did you know that this is all you need to have in order to enjoy some world-class performing arts in a historic opera house?
Vienna is a city steeped in the arts and at the center of it all is the Vienna Opera House, which has been hosting iconic performances since 1869. Literally. It’s inaugural performance was the premiere of Mozart’s Don Giovanni. The opera house is incredible and its status as a major destination for tourists as well as theater lovers means that it can be pretty expensive and difficult to get good seats. But with a little patience and some good shoes, you can enjoy the opera just like Kaiser Franz Josef once did.
80 minutes before the start of each performance, standing room tickets go on sale for either 3 or 4 euros, depending on where you want to stand. The door to the waiting room is on the left side of the building. For a regular performance starting at 7 (not a premiere or a special guest star appearance), arrive at 4:30. This will insure that you will get a good spot as well as get to wait inside. If you want to have great visibility, don’t arrive after 5. Note that everyone in your party has to arrive at the line together and that only one ticket is sold to each person. So you can’t send someone to wait for you and then show up later to get in line with them. There are a few options as to where you should buy a standing room ticket for, but I would definitely say go for the parterre standing room, which is 4 euros and guarantees good visibility from pretty much every spot.
Pro tip: make friends with the people you are standing in line with, they might end up being really wonderful people who know a thing or two about the show and invite you to have a glass of wine with them during the intermission!
Once you’ve got your ticket, follow the guides to get in line for the standing room area. Don’t check your coat in quite yet, you’ll have a chance to give it up later. The ushers will eventually let you into the auditorium and you can go ahead and choose your spot. You can’t go too wrong in the parterre, but definitely stick to the middle/front if you can. The opera house is not very big and the front row of standing room is probably only 50 meters from the orchestra. Once everyone has their spots (now it’s probably about 45 minutes before the start of the performance) an usher will come out and tell everyone to mark their places with something (that’s where the scarf comes in!) and to be back 10 minutes before the start of the performance.
Take your time before the start of the show to wander around the opera house (it’s gorgeous). Take lots of pictures, check your coat, and be back in your spot on time. Then make yourself comfortable and enjoy the spectacular performance!
This is what I got lucky enough to see:
Featured image: wien.info
