Saturday matinee opera

[LoveTrains]

What would you wear to a 2 pm opera at Lincoln Center in NYC?

[chikastuff]

I would probably do a dress with hose and heels, nice makeup and hair with my date in a suit. I wouldn't go full formal like I would for an evening opera, but definitely not as casual as I'd go for a broadway matinee. Does that make sense?

[LoveTrains]

v any ideas?

I have some colleagues going for work and they are stressing.
They are trying to decide between a more business-y type outfit (since they are working) and a more dress-y cocktail-y type outfit.

[Deleted]

@bonsoirlune might know

[genet313]

Where are you sitting?

At night I always wear a dress, but not a long dress unless it's opening night (which I really can't spend that much money on anyway, so really, it's always a short dress for me. typically black, not too "party-ish" a bit more like a work-to-night dress).  Always wear heels.  However, if you're sitting in family circle or some of the upper tiers, it is generally more casual and you could probably wear a nice pair of dress pants and a fancy top with heels. 

[Deleted]

wanderlustfoodie is the expert!

But I always dress up a bit for these kinds of thing. Not like opening night gown, but I'd do the casual side of a party dress with tights and heels.

I don't know that my husband would wear a suit, but he'd definitely wear dress pants and a sport coat at the very least.

[LoveTrains]

I believe the tickets are in the "grand tier". It is a Saturday and correction to the above, the performance is at 1 pm (not 2 pm as I originally posted).

It is a more contemporary opera (ie, I believe it was commissioned for the Met Opera and this is its first run in the US). 

[Deleted]

People wear jeans to matinees, so you don't need to go too crazy. Although most people will be a little more dressed up. I either wear a jersey wrap dress with ballet flats or black pants with a nice top and a cardigan. MH wears khakis and a button down and either a blazer or sweater.

ETA - We tend to go in the dead of winter, so I'm also dressing for warmth. Also, suits have not been the norm when I've gone, but a man in a suit wouldn't feel out of place.

[genet313]

Oct 23, 2013 13:02:10 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

I believe the tickets are in the "grand tier". It is a Saturday and correction to the above, the performance is at 1 pm (not 2 pm as I originally posted).

It is a more contemporary opera (ie, I believe it was commissioned for the Met Opera and this is its first run in the US). 

I'd follow @bonsoirlune's advice re: a nice dress and flats then.  don't wear jeans.  i feel like the opera is one of the last cultural activities in the US where people still mostly get dressed up, and should get dressed up.   

plus it makes it feel more festive when you're dressed nicely. 

[msmerymac]

I had this problem once, except substitute ballet for opera. I went with a cocktail dress.

I saw someone show up half way through in sweat pants. Cést la vie.

[wanderlustfoodie]

I rarely see jeans at the Met. I would wear a knee-length dress with tights and heels.

The performance your coworkers are going to is going to be broadcast live in HD at certain select movie theaters around the country (list located here www.metoperafamily.org/_uploaded/pdf/HD%20theaters/Website-%20MET%20US%20THEATERS%2013-14%20as%20of%2008.08.13.pdf ) which I love because that makes this accessible to a large subset of people.

[Deleted]

Oct 23, 2013 13:27:11 GMT -5 @bonsoirlune said:

People wear jeans to matinees, so you don't need to go too crazy. Although most people will be a little more dressed up. I either wear a jersey wrap dress with ballet flats or black pants with a nice top and a cardigan. MH wears khakis and a button down and either a blazer or sweater.

ETA - We tend to go in the dead of winter, so I'm also dressing for warmth. Also, suits have not been the norm when I've gone, but a man in a suit wouldn't feel out of place.

To the opera?  That makes me sad.  To me, opera, ballet, and philharmonic still require dress up (for Broadway, on the other hand, I think a burlap sack is fine).  Dressing up is half the fun!

[wanderlustfoodie]

Also, despite being a matinee, I wouldn't be surprised if some opera-goers there get decked out. If they are older and live in the burbs, the matinee makes the most sense for them time-wise but that doesn't mean they're going to skimp on the experience despite not having a post-5PM curtain call.

[genet313]

Oct 23, 2013 14:13:53 GMT -5 wanderlustfoodie said:

Also, despite being a matinee, I wouldn't be surprised if some opera-goers there get decked out. If they are older and live in the burbs, the matinee makes the most sense for them time-wise but that doesn't mean they're going to skimp on the experience despite not having a post-5PM curtain call.

There are few things in life that make me smile as much as seeing old folks all dressed up for their big day out.  Jackets and dinner, getting dolled up for the opera, I love it. It's so cute.

[wanderlustfoodie]

Oct 23, 2013 14:25:44 GMT -5 operagirl said:

This opera looks so interesting - and it is sung in Russian. But I've never seen it. There are three Russian operas this season, and I've seen Onegin and Rusalka.
When we go, we dress up in the evening, cocktail attire, and wear work type dresses for matinees.

Are you going to go to Prince Igor? We are.

[Deleted]

Oct 23, 2013 14:13:34 GMT -5 v said:

Oct 23, 2013 13:27:11 GMT -5 @bonsoirlune said:

People wear jeans to matinees, so you don't need to go too crazy. Although most people will be a little more dressed up. I either wear a jersey wrap dress with ballet flats or black pants with a nice top and a cardigan. MH wears khakis and a button down and either a blazer or sweater.

ETA - We tend to go in the dead of winter, so I'm also dressing for warmth. Also, suits have not been the norm when I've gone, but a man in a suit wouldn't feel out of place.

To the opera?  That makes me sad.  To me, opera, ballet, and philharmonic still require dress up (for Broadway, on the other hand, I think a burlap sack is fine).  Dressing up is half the fun!

Yup, not a lot of people, but I've seen more than one show up to a matinee in jeans. They definitely are the out of place ones. I agree it is sad.

It is a more casual crowd during the day - it's rare to see full length gowns, suits and tuxes - but dresses, skirts, and dress pants with blazers are the norm. Some of the best things about going to the opera are getting dressed up and sipping champagne at intermission!

[LoveTrains]

Sorry folks they are going to see Two Boys, not the Russian one.
www.metoperafamily.org/opera/twoboys-muhly-tickets.aspx

[LoveTrains]

And sadly I am NOT going.

[wanderlustfoodie]

Oct 23, 2013 14:51:21 GMT -5 operagirl said:

No, my daughter studied with a famous singer/teacher, and I would meet her in NYC for several operas. Now that she is out of the business, we don't go much. Her friend Brian Hy.mel is going to be a big star and is Pinkerton in Butterfly this season, but he will star opposite Fleming next year, so we may go then. Lara's best friend's husband is under contract for smaller roles. Wish I could afford to go more often. But the movie theater experience is great. We saw Brian as Aeneas last year.

Sometimes it is hard for Lara to go since she can no longer sing at that level. I try to be sensitive to that.

Have a great time!

I will keep an eye out for this Brian Hymel in future performances.

I can empathize a little with your daughter's story. I played the piano competitively growing up but didn't want to focus exclusively on it which is what is required if that's the direction you want your career to take so I opted for a more traditional college experience and thus gave up the competition life. But whenever I sit down at my piano I invariably think about how much better I used to be than I am now. I still enjoy attending the NYPhil regularly, though, since I have such respect for their skill. 

I cannot sing at all (I sound like a dying animal) so I'm envious your daughter has as much talent as she clearly does.  The performing arts are a tough life.