Know Before You Go
Whether you are coming to the opera for the first time or a season ticket holder, we want to ensure that your experience with Austin Opera is enjoyable. Below are some frequently asked questions to help you prepare for your performance at Austin Opera.
Before you Attend the Opera
You can buy tickets to the opera right here on this website or via phone (512-472-5992). You can also email [email protected] and ask for assistance.
On the day of the performance, tickets can be purchased in-person at the Long Center 3M Box Office starting two hours before the performance (701 West Riverside Drive, Austin, Texas 78704).
Please note: Tickets to Austin Opera performances are strictly sold through our Box Office or AustinOpera.org. Digital tickets will be available 48 hours prior to a performance, or physical tickets will be mailed to the address provided by the initiator. All other forms of tickets are invalid, and Austin Opera is not responsible for tickets sold through third-party websites and cannot offer refunds or exchanges.
We want you to be comfortable! Feel free to show off your individual style. A night at the opera offers a wonderful opportunity to dress to the nines if you like. Coming after work? Your business attire is perfect. Can’t part with that pair of old jeans? Keep them—and your sneakers—on.
There is no dress code at Austin Opera. Just enjoy!
You can come as prepared as you’d like. The story is meant to develop on stage, so there is no need for extensive background knowledge. For those who like to come prepared, Austin Opera offers FREE pre-show resources for each production.
Wanna dig deep before you come? You can read up on opera here:
A-Z of Opera – Naxos
Wikipedia entry on opera: click your way through operatic history from Baroque to now.
No problem! Every performance will feature projected English translations of what’s sung, above the stage. The translations are visible from every seat except the first few in front of the stage. You can also read a short synopsis of the opera on our website or in the printed program before the performance. This will help you follow the story.
Austin Opera also offers several opera preview events as well as digital offerings to take in before you arrive. Enhance your experience and geek out! Or just allow the music to carry you away.
All evening performances start at 7:30 PM and the matinee performance starts at 2:00 PM. Please arrive early as there is often traffic and we do our best to begin all performances on time. The lobby at the Long Center opens 90 minutes prior to the opera and offers refreshments for you to enjoy before the performance. Plus, Austin Opera often has planned pre-show activities to compliment your special evening out!
Warning chimes are sounded pre-performance and intermission prior to curtain. Please note that audience members who leave the auditorium during a performance will not be readmitted until intermission.
If you arrive later than you expected and after the performance has begun, you will not be allowed in the theater right away, but you can watch the performance on high-definition monitors located throughout the lobbies. Some performances—but not all—may have designated pauses, in which late arrivals can be seated at the discretion of the Long Center’s House Manager. We recommend that you wait close to your seating area’s entrance so that we can seat you as soon as possible if there is a pause. Ushers will be there to assist you regardless.
Performances can last anywhere between 75 minutes and 4 hours. The running time often includes one or two intermissions, depending on the number of acts in the opera. Our website will always list the approximate running time and our box office will be able tell you as well.
Photography, videography, and recording of any performance is strictly prohibited.
We encourage you to share your experience at Austin Opera on social media but ask that you refrain from taking photos or videos of the actual performance.
We want to ensure everyone has s memorable experience with Austin Opera. Review a full listing of accessibility services at the Long Center here. To learn of all the accessibility services offered by Austin Opera visit our Accessibility Page.
During the Opera
Yes. Bars are open before the opera and at intermissions to purchase beverages including coffee, soft drinks, and alcohol. Small snacks and treats are also available for purchase. Patrons can enjoy these items before entering Dell Hall. Only drinks are permitted in Dell Hall during the opera performance. Snacks muse be consumed before entering the theatre.
We kindly ask that you do not leave in the middle of a performance unless necessary as it might cause a distraction to the performers on stage and the people around you. Once the performance starts, the doors to Dell Hall are closed and locked from the outside for safety. If you do leave for whatever reason, re-entry to your seat will be at the discretion of the Long Center’s House Manager the option to sit in the back of another section might be available until you return to your seat after intermission.
Austin Opera intermissions are usually 20 minutes allowing enough time for artists to prepare for the next act. Please check your program book or your Know Before You Go email to confirm the timing of intermission. At the Long Center you will know it is time to return to your seat when you hear the chimes.
Our friendly front of house staff is alway ready and waiting to help you. Look for them on each floor of the Long Center.
After the Opera
We hope you enjoyed your experience with Austin Opera. We encourage you to follow us on Facebook and Instagram to get behind-the-scenes access and future event information from Austin Opera.
