Dress up! Tuxes and evening gowns are not required, but most patrons love to break out their best clothes for a night at the opera. Think classy and stylish (but not necessarily conservative) when choosing your outfit for the evening.
Get to your seat before curtain time. Operas start punctually, and if you arrive late, you may not be seated until after the overture or first act!
Shut off all cell phones, pagers, PDAs and other electronic equipment before the performance. Unwrap candies or other items before the curtain rises as well. And while the occasional cough or sneeze might go unnoticed at a ball game or pop concert, such noises are more apparent during an opera. Take cough drops or use tissues prior to the show.
Know the storyline before you arrive at the theatre. Reading a synopsis from a book like The Grove Book of Operas by Stanley Sadie will enhance your enjoyment of the opera and enable you to concentrate on the singers' performances.
Refrain from talking, whispering or singing along during the opera. You will have ample time to discuss the performance with other patrons during the intermission.
Applaud at appropriate times. It is proper etiquette for audience members to reserve their applause until the end of each act. The first round of applause usually occurs after the introductory overture. Opera performers take bows when the show is over, and may take a bow after each act.