Opera
Most operas are tragedies, but your search for information about opera doesn’t have to be one. It’s possible for anyone with a computer to become an expert, find inexpensive tickets, and listen to the best opera recordings. And if you’re already an opera buff, use the Internet to stay connected with the worldwide opera community, locate the best CDs and DVDs, and share your love with others.
Below, you’ll find databases for researching operas, their various components, and related... read more»
Opera is an international art, and using the Internet as your source for news and reviews puts the... read more»
You might think going to the opera is an old-fashioned activity, but you certainly don’t have to buy your tickets in an old-fashioned way. Make your life easier by researching opera companies and season schedules online, and then purchase your tickets through the company or an online vendor.
- The Metropolitan Opera, familiarly known as the Met, seeks to change the popular impression that opera is an elitist, expensive form of entertainment, typically reserved for people who are “old” or “stuffy,” by simulcasting performances in high definition at 118 U.S. movie theaters. Visit the Met’s Web site to search for a theater near you, find show times, and even purchase tickets.
- Not only can you see the Met simulcast at movie theaters for $20, but you also might be able to see live opera for the same price. Simply search a company’s Web site to see if they offer standing room only or rush tickets for select performances.
- When purchasing tickets online, expect to pay a surcharge of a few dollars.
For performance listings …
Opus 1 Classical
searches for classical music concerts and operas in New York, London, Paris, Berlin, Vienna, Sydney, and other major cities around the world. Use the “concert finder” box on the right to search for upcoming concerts by city and/or date.
AllAboutOpera.com
, cited in the first section for its news resources, also provides season schedules for all the major U.S opera companies. Select a company and then choose to read a “Summary” of the season, the “Next 30 Days,” or the “Next 60 Days.” The latter two choices list actual performance dates, as well as links about the opera’s history and its composer.
PlaybillArts
, noted earlier as a worthy opera news source, posts worldwide opera listings. Choose a time frame between today’s date and three weeks from now, as well as a location, and get all the essential information about a performance, including who’s in it, how to buy tickets, and how to get to the venue.
For finding specific opera companies …
OperaGlass
, a useful research tool offered by Stanford University, has a worldwide list of opera companies. It includes many more companies than the AllAboutOpera.com company season list, and it links to particular companies for more season information. View the list geographically (by continent and country) or
alphabetically (by company or theater name).
The Seattle Community Network
provides links to opera companies in the Northwest including companies located in Washington State, Oregon, and British Columbia. The site’s attention to smaller companies in those areas makes it stand out; however, as you scroll down the page, you’ll find that the list inches its way southeast until it’s covered pretty much the whole country. There are some international companies listed as well.
For online ticket vendors …
Coast To Coast Tickets
is a small, easy-to-navigate online ticket sales company that offers alphabetized lists of operas and venues in Europe and America. Find your show, select your seats and performance, and then follow directions to purchase the tickets using the site’s secure connection.
StubHub
is a branch of eBay devoted entirely to the reselling of tickets to concerts, plays, and sporting events. On the “Classical Music and Opera” page you’ll find listings of all available performances. Use the search tool on the upper left of the page to find a specific production.
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