easytraveler

Having searched in vain on the internet, I'm hoping that Fodorites may have the right information on standing room tickets at the Vienna State Opera.

On the Staatsoper website, there seems to be three kinds of standing room tickets: the single day purchase which involves standing in line before the performance when the tickets go on sale 80 minutes prior to performance.

Then there's another category called <i>"standing room season passes"</i> which is described as "a pass [which] enables the holder to purchase one standing room ticket performance (including advance ticket sales) up until 12 noon on the day of the desired performance".

Question: does this pass mean that I can prepurchase the ticket and don't have to stand in line just prior to the time of performance? If so, how far in advance can the standing room ticket be purchased - a week ahead of time? a month? a year?

The third category is for <i>"Standing Room Vouchers for Balcony and Gallery"</i> and it's a booklet of vouchers. "The vouchers can be use for standing room in the balcony and gallery [not the parterre]."

Question: Can I just go into a performance with a voucher and not have to purchase a ticket?


You see the presumed advantage of the vouchers and the passes - one doesn't have to stand in line just prior to the performance to purchase a standing room ticket. If you count the time spent queuing for the ticket and then the performance itself, this could easily add up to six hours of standing! I'm just afraid that there will be a sold-out performance and having either a pass or a booklet of vouchers will, at least, allow me into the standing room areas without the additional two hours of standing in line for a ticket.


One final question: do people bring stools and chairs to the standing areas? There was one internet source that mentioned a camping stool, but it wasn't clear whether the stool was used for queuing and waiting to purchase a ticket or whether the stool was used in the standing room area.

I've searched for hours on the internet and can't seem to find any answers to these queestions, therefore, your help will be very much appreciated! Thanks in advance!

bratsandbeer

When we were there in September, we were told that the standing room only tickets went on sale at 4pm. We were there right at 4 and purchased our tickets. Can't remember if they were 3 or 4 Euro. The standing room area was crowded. There are bars about counter height which is marked off in sections so you have your small space to stand. We left at intermission. Tired of standing and the program on that night was not so great.

If you brought stool to sit on you will not see anything as people will be standing in front of you. Here is a picture of the standing room only area.
http://mostlyopera.blogspot.com/2008...nna-state.html

easytraveler

bratsandbeer: thanks for your response and link.

Looks like your tickets were the same-day, single purchase.

The Staatsoper site also mentions the other two kinds of multiple ticket categories. I just don't know how they work.

At 60-100 euros, they are the equivalent of a single less expensive ticket, so may be worthwhile buying, especially for popular operas which may be sold out.

Thanks for the input on the stool. Seems like that's possible. If the music is good, it might be worthwhile not having visual.

Which opera did you see?

lincasanova

I think the stool is for waiting in line.

molker

Standing room tickets go on sale 80 minutes before the performance time which is usually 7 PM ( 19:00 ) Stools in the standing room area are not permitted.
Bring a scarf with you to mark your " spot " this is commom practice and by those of Vienna much observed.

For populr performances , the line begins quite early in the afternoon.

Please note thjat just one ticket can be purchased by each person. A friens for example casn not stand in line and purchase multiple standing room tickets.
The line most normally self policing and very effective in stiopping those trying to beat the rules.

The other tickets mentioned are season type The season pass for 60 euro - not effective for the visitor- allows a single standing room ticket purchase per performance - still waiting in the line.
These are aimed to the local market - often music lovers and students
as frequent visits make these effective but not for a single performance.
For 60 euro you can buy a ticket for a seat.

The 100 euro provides vouchers for advance standing room purchase - again for the visitor not a good thing unless you plan a huge number of visits to the opera.

Again for 100 euro you can buy a fairly good ticket with a seat.

Standing room areas can get very warm too.

easytraveler

molker: thanks ever so much!

You've answered most of my questions! How wonderful!

Just one more: you said that for the passes one still has to stand in line, how about the vouchers? Does one still have to stand in line to get a ticket even with a voucher?

I plan on attending several operas, so it will be worth it not to have to stand in line for the price of one regular ticket. It's even worth it as backup, just in case one can't even get a returned ticket for a popular opera.

Thanks again! You've been very, very helpful!

lincasanova

I think with these passes/vouchers you can pick up your standing room a lot earlier when there are no lines..

easytraveler

lincasanova: thanks for your responses! Sorry, I missed your first one!

That would be great if one could just go and pick up a standing room ticket beforehand without having to wait in line to purchase a ticket prior to performance.

The Staatsoper website gives few details; guess most people aren't interested in these passes or vouchers.

PS I already have my scarf picked out!

annhig

hi easy,

rather than stand at the staatsoper, have you thought abou going to a performance at the volksoper - cheaper and easier to get tickets, I believe.

easytraveler

Hi, Ann!

Thanks for the suggestion!

Yes, I've mapped out several months and what is playing at which opera house in Vienna and the Volksoper is definitely penciled in!

The problem with the Staatsoper is that their tickets go on sale 30 days ahead of time, which means sleepless nights for me in California in order to get tickets for the most popular operas. I was just trying to work out some options to having to be up all night.

bratsandbeer

easytraveler - It wasn't any opera I was familiar with and I forgot the name now. Think it was more of a local "show" and not too interesting to us. Probably why we left at half time.

bratsandbeer

easytraveler - might mention we stayed at Pension Suzanne in Vienna which is just across the street and down 1/2 block from the opera house. It was very convenient.

lincasanova

ps.. i see the vouchers are not for standing room at Parterre.. ( my favorite place) definitely worth standing inline for that standing room and paying the extra 1.5E

The PASS OTOH seems it allows you to buy that standing room ticket at any time up until NOON the day of the performance which will help you avoid all crowds.

I have never used this system but I would think even with vouchers you still must go past ticket office at some point as this seating is limited and counted.. so they would not know how many people were showing up with vouchers unless they passed through a ticket window and you were given one of the spaces.

I go to the Vienna Opera every night I am in Vienna .. standing room, parterre, even just to see the stage sets. If I am tired after the first/second act, I leave. Otherwise, I am so enthralled that even standing I can deal with it.

Enjoy!

easytraveler

bratsandbeer: thanks so much for that hotel recommendation! Sounds like the perfect place to stay, as it's just "around the corner" from the opera house!

lincasanova: I'm green with envy! "every night" - what a treat!

Yes, you're correct, the parterre is the best standing room area (which is why its tickets cost more!). I also read somewhere that the Galerie area, although the highest, also has the best acoustics, whereas the standing room for the Balcony are off to the sides and therefore wil have some obstructed view. Does this accord with your experience?

May I ask how much time you spend in line waiting for the ticket office to open? And do you always manage to get a parterre ticket?

And then what happens once you get your ticket? Do you go and stand in another line? How do you know which of the three standing room lines to be in? Or do you enter with everyone else through the front of the opera house?

Is there a "stampede" to get the best "seats" in the standing room areas?

Do you get an individual screen in the parterre area to get English translations?

I apologize for the numerous questions, but I thought to take advantage of your experience. Otherwise, it looks like a solid week or two of opera attendance to master this system!

yk

Regarding buying tickets online 30 days prior to performance, it's not too bad since you're on the Left Coast. I believe MFifi had recently reported that the online sale starts at 8am central european time, which means 11pm pacific time.

We stayed at Pension Suzanne on our first trip to Vienna. Its location cannot be beat.

lincasanova

Every night.. no kidding. I have been lucky and had a variety of things to see over a weekend or two -three day period.( I do not go to see the same production twice unless it is ballet).

I usually go half an hour before they start selling tickets, for an event I am mildly interested in. I go at least an hour beforehand for a special ballet.

Once you have your ticket then you do proceed to the stairwell to gather to be let in to secure your "space". ( just ask around you. I think it must have been well marked as I had no problem, or someones told me exactly where to go)

This is where your scarf comes in handy and is completely necessary.

Once you place your scarf, you are free to go off to enjoy the ceilings and chandeliers of the opera house.

Do not be surprised if when you come back there is an unsuspecting foreigner with his friends in all the scarfed spaces.

They usually keep their stance( not believing the scarf system as anything they need to respect) until they physically get MOVED by everyone when the entire group comes back.

Needless to say, these tourists do not like the system, but I find it so logical. Why should you have to keep standing there for 30 minutes or more when you already did all the standing previously? It is very civilized and does not make you waste any time at all.

I have always been able to get parterre.. mostly because I think most students will save a euro no matter what. However, I was unaware that the acoustics are much better above. So maybe that is why Parterre is not hard not get for Opera? However, I found the upstairs too cramped.

There are individual screens in several languages along the large railing in front of you i parterre. If you get tired or knees hurt, you can slip out and sit on the few upholstered benches nearby outside in the hallways. I have done that once or twice during a heavy opera scene.

If you are claustrophobic, put your scarf on the aisle..

Vienna is just so full of wonderful cultural events. Budapest is a huge rival though.

111op

I reviewed my own notes on the Staatsoper.

The box office during the day is on Operngasse (not at the opera house).

And in case anyone is interested in the Vienna Philharmonic, standing room tickets are available by phone -- at least in 2006.

From October 2006:

But I did find out that there are supposedly 500+ standing room tickets (3.50 euros for orchestra, 2 euros nosebleed). They do indeed go on sale 80 minutes before. I was told that the standing room tickets for a "Magic Flute" performance the previous night sold out completely. People started lining up about 3 hours before for that performance.

Obviously "Peter Grimes" tonight didn't sell out. I bought a 9 euro box seat (it's interesting how the box seats are frequently the least attractive seats in Europe). I went to one act of the opera. In the evening, the box office at the opera house does open. I noticed that there were still 9 euro seats available when I got there.

easytraveler

yk: thanks so much for the reaffirmation of the Pension Suzanne. This certainly saves me hours more of hunting for a convenient place to stay. Thanks to you and bratsandbeer!

I am planning to stay up at least one night to try and buy tickets online when they come on sale. However, staying up several nights just to get tickets - well, still mulling over whether getting a pass or a voucher as backup would be a viable choice. For one thing, a last minute choie would still work out.

lincasanova: a million thanks for taking the time to answer my questions in detail!

The process doesn't sound too complex. Thanks for the warning about the foreigners taking over others' scarfed sections!

Somewhere there was a picture of the scarves and it showed how people would tie one end down and then loop it over and tie down the other end in order to reserve a fairly long section of the rail.

When you slip out, can you slip back in or do you have to wait until intermission?

I plan on attending a number of operas, so will let you know how the acoustics are for each area: parterre, balcony or galerie. However, I tend to let the beauty or the emotion of the voice move me rather than how mathematically precise a singer has come to a particular note. My tin ear isn't that well-trained!

<i>"If you are claustrophobic, put your scarf on the aisle.."</i>

Do you mean to the side so that there is a wall on one side? Or is there a center aisle?

On Budapest, have you attended anything there? Is it worthwhile making a detour? I've only attended events in Prague and am trying to schedule in some time there. We attended a wonderful Haydn piece (forgot what it was) in the gorgeous Spanish Room at the Hrad and I'd love to find something there again this trip.

111op: that's really valuable information on where to pick up the tickets! Thanks so much!

For the period that I've initially selected (plans could change!), the Vienna Philharmonic is playing mostly more modern music (atonal, etc.) but I'll try for at least one performance.

Right now my crib sheets are a crazy patchwork. One day there looks to be a must-attend opera in Lyon followed the very next day by a must-attend opera in London. Obviously some things will have to give. However, Vienna comes first and foremost and will be my base.

Thanks again, everyone, for your invaluable help!

lincasanova

The aisle would be the center aisle as the end is against a wall and people do cram in, so those towards the walls have less space IMO.

I did not have to wait to come in at intermission as I was on an aisle, was allowed to slip back in. It is very intimate.. not sure if I could have been stopped. It is all very civilized and you can probably still stand at the back if you are not allowed down the very short aisle.

Budapest is amazing for music and dance. Not sure less than http://www.travelzoo.com/es/828425/?...=email_top203- 4 days would do it justice.

one report on budapest

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...budapest-1.cfm

my second longer report

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-revisited.cfm

hope you can use some of the info.

molker

Just for some added info.


One should not judge tickets for the Ballet whether standing room or others as the Ballet is usually the least popüla of the State Opera offerings.

The pass requires waitning in the normal line for standing room tickets , the voucher allows earlier purchase but considering the price is a poor bargain.
These marketed to local popülace.

Numerous cheap tickets are often available in advance .
Poster does not mention when they attend or at least I did not see it.
One should note that advance tickets for September 2010 offerings are now available for sale.

While some very cheap seats may have some sight limitations of the entire stage- the acoustics everywhere in this hall are excelent . The same applies to the Musikverein.
The Opera closes for vacation in July and August.

No one mentions the free outdoor area next to the State Opera ( side toward the Bristol Hotel that offers the particular nights presentation for free on a very large outddor screen live.
Seats available.
Many offerings during May, June, September and October.
perfect sound and fine definition on the screen.
festive surroundings.

Also if visiting in summer until early September is the open air offerings on the massive screen at the Rathaus ( City Hall ) - opera , operetta, concerts

this is also free - large amonut of seating available and a nice food court to allow fun dining .

Offerings begin about dusk and with the nearby buildings along the Ringstrasse lighted make a superb surrounding.

The Vienna Philharmonic every year has an open air free concert in the Garden at Schonbrunn Palace.

This held in June.
In fact last night was the Gala evening with 100000 plus attending.

Fine offerings from Strauss to Star Wars.