Your ultimate guide to opera in London

Always wanted to try it, but not quite sure which opera to choose, where to go, or what to wear? We've got you covered in our handy explainer to London's opera scene.

Among London’s unmissable cultural offerings – from theatre and comedy to art, dance and more – is its world-class opera. There are numerous venues and companies to choose from, such as the beautiful Royal Opera House, the English National Opera (ENO) productions at the London Coliseum, and Opera Holland Park’s magical outdoor shows.

Opera can seem a bit intimidating at first – especially if you’ve got that My Fair Lady-esque image in your mind of lords and ladies in Covent Garden wearing top hats and long gloves! Of course, you can dress up for the opera, but it’s definitely more casual these days, and lots of the work is cutting-edge, funny, or even family-friendly.

So, if you’re opera-curious but not quite sure where to start, follow our guide to the experience, and start planning your trip now.

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What is an opera?

Opera, like theatre, is a performance on a stage, but music, traditionally classical, does all the storytelling instead of dialogue. The art form came to prominence in Italy near the end of the 16th century, but different nations have their own proud opera tradition – including France, Germany and England.

An opera generally consists of a libretto (the equivalent of the book, or script, in musical theatre), which is sung-through but includes the more speech-like sections which generally supply information and help move the plot along. When a character stops the story to express a big emotion through a dedicated song, that’s called an aria.

What’s the difference between an opera and a musical?

As above, there are plenty of similarities. In fact, a sung-through musical (one with no dialogue) is pretty much the same as an opera in structural terms. Some musical theatre composers also borrow some stylistic elements from opera – famous examples include Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera and Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd.

Both forms usually involve a big orchestra, too, and both may use a chorus who support the stars. The principle is the same: Music is a driving force for the drama.

However, most musicals incorporate dialogue as well, which you don’t find in opera. Words are a key tool in musicals, just as much as the notes – which is perhaps why composers tend to be the famous names in opera, while in musical theatre, book writers and lyricists get top billing, too.

The singing style differs as well. Opera singers use much more vibrato and projection so their voices carry over the orchestra without a microphone, and there is more vocal decoration (or "coloratura"), such as trills and runs. In musicals — especially contemporary ones which incorporate pop, rock, or rap — actors are often miked, and the emphasis is more on what they are singing than how they're singing it.

But if you’re a big fan of musicals, the chances are you’ll love opera too, as there are so many overlaps.

What to expect from an opera

As with theatre, there is a wide range of operatic works. You’ll find tragic operas and comic operas, huge epics and shorter works, period pieces and modern shows.

But if you take a classic opera like Puccini’s La bohéme, which ENO is performing this autumn (and which is the inspiration for the musical RENT), that’s a wrenching love story told over four acts, over around two hours.

ENO’s version moves the action from the 19th century to 1930s Paris – the kind of updating you’ll often see in opera productions, just as directors can change the setting of Shakespeare plays while keeping the text the same.

Operas are often sung in a foreign language – in which case the English translation is shown as surtitles on a screen. This La bohéme is both sung in English and has surtitles, so it’s a good introductory show.

Opera productions operate exactly like theatre: You’ll generally get at least one interval, and the running times are fairly similar, though sometimes opera is a bit longer. For example, Verdi’s beautiful La traviata, which is being performed by the Royal Opera in September, is just over three hours but has two intervals, so it’s nicely broken up.

If you’re not sure about how to respond to an opera — for example, when to clap — take your cue from the people around you. It’s slightly more formal than theatre in that sense, but it’s fine to have your own reactions too. The best opera is incredibly emotionally moving.

Who are the most famous opera stars?

Among numerous opera composers, the best-known classical ones include Verdi, Mozart, Wagner, Puccini, Handel, Britten, Monteverdi, Rossini, Donizetti, and Strauss.

You’ll probably have heard of some of the modern opera performers, too, such as Luciano Pavarotti, Maria Callas, Andrea Bocelli, Renée Fleming, and Placido Domingo. Bryn Terfel, the famous Welsh bass-baritone, is among the cast of the Royal Opera’s Tosca later this year.

But there are exciting singers coming through all the time from all around the world, so you might be introduced to someone you don’t know and be blown away by their performance.

What are the best opera venues?

The Royal Opera House in Covent Garden is jaw-droppingly gorgeous – just visiting this historic venue is a treat in itself. It’s also perfectly situated if you’re combining an opera trip with sightseeing and shopping.

Likewise, the ENO’s London base, the Coliseum, is in the heart of the West End, close to Trafalgar Square and Leicester Square. That is another spectacular building.

Or, for an alfresco experience, Opera Holland Park is a delight. You can take along a picnic (weather permitting!) and combine entertainment with a lovely park visit.

What to wear to the opera

These days, there’s no specific dress code for the opera – you don’t need a tail suit or a gown to attend (or a horse and carriage!).

However, rather like going to the theatre: It can be fun to dress up and make it a proper night out. That especially applies if you go to a magnificent venue like the Royal Opera House – you’ll feel a bit more at home there in smart trousers or a dress than in jeans.

Can you take kids to the opera?

Just like plays and musicals, each opera production will have an age recommendation. You probably don’t want to bring very young kids to a three-hour show or one with adult themes.

But there are plenty of operas that are fun for the whole family – and even some aimed specifically at younger audiences, which make a great introduction to the art form.

This Christmas, the Royal Opera is performing the fairy tale favourite Hansel and Gretel. It’s a story many children know, making it particularly accessible. The staging is done with young audiences in mind, so it’ll be colourful, exciting and engaging.

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