Going to the Opera in Prague

For a sizable part of the population, the idea of going to the opera will likely inspire one of the following emotions: fear, boredom, cluelessness, or apprehension.

Like them, maybe you've never been interested in this centuries-old art form, or perhaps you don't know where to start.

Opera dates back to the late 16th century, when it was more like a sung play. Eventually, orchestration and elaborate arrangements were added, along with solos for vocalists, known as arias.

By the late 19th century a great number of European countries had a national opera that performed works in their native language. A popular entertainment for the rich and the masses alike, opera has been a powerful nationalistic and artistic force throughout the last half of the millennium.

Here is the task: see an opera. If you haven't yet seen one, or if there are some bad experiences in your past, a diagnosis is necessary.

The key to appreciating opera, like anything else, is finding something you like, and only later acquiring a taste for more challenging composers such as Schoenberg and Stravinsky.

There are certain operas that have never gone out of rotation, and for good reason. The operas that remain popular over time are those that entertain, innovate, and reflect universal human emotions.

A marvelous first bet would be an opera by Mozart, Verdi, Rossini, Gilbert & Sullivan, or Puccini, or, of course, by the beloved Czechs Dvořák or Smetana.

Many of these artists' works incorporate theatrical themes ranging from romance to violence to comedy, while keeping the onstage show entertaining and easy to follow.

Depending on your enthusiasm, you may even want to move up a notch, and take on the more atonal offerings of Wagner, Strauss, Mussorgsky, and Britten.

Usually the language barrier is not an issue. I say usually because I once saw Strauss's Elektra in German with Hungarian subtitles, as if the opera itself, based on a Greek tragedy, wasn't strange enough.

However, Prague's main opera houses -- Stavovské divadlo (the Estates Theatre), Národní divadlo (the National Theatre) and Státní opera Praha (the State Opera) -- all offer titles in English, Czech, and sometimes German.

A key consideration for the beginner is also length. Go for two-and-a-half hours, without intermission, rather than four.

Also, do a bit of research. You won't be confused and the experience will be more enjoyable if you read a bit about the opera beforehand.

Another reason why people avoid opera is because it's seen as stuffy and expensive.

These days, though, there are even operas for kids, with special showings of Mozart's The Magic Flute (Die Zauberflöte), and Humperdinck's Hänsel und Gretel.

You won't even have to wear a gown -- although it is nice to bathe and look presentable -- and tickets can be procured for a small price.

At Prague's main opera houses, student tickets can run as low as 50 CZK. Book early and cheap tickets in the balconies will be available for 300 CZK.

So pick a show, dress up a little, and discover the wonderfully extravagant and dramatic world of opera!

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