Appropriate dress for La Scala
 

We were lucky enough to get box seats for an opening night at La Scala in Milan in June. Does anyone know what women should wear? Should it be long/short dress. How dressy? <BR> <BR>Thanks <BR> <BR>Judy

Judy, I can't tell you how much I envy your box seats at La Scala. What opera are you seeing and who is singing? <BR> <BR>I can't tell you how to dress, but I do know that it is generally dressy. Men should wear dark suits and women can go as dressy as they want. That's been my experience when I have attended opera anywhere in Europe, though I have spent more time on the stage looking out at the audience than actually in the audience. <BR> <BR>We'll be in Rome in June and just miss opera productions both before our arrival and after our departure. We do have tickets to the opera in Munich where we will see "Lustige Witwe" at the opera house where I sang more than 100 times. I'm looking forward to that. <BR> <BR>Enjoy La Scala. If this is your only chance at seeing an opera at La Scala, live it to the hilt and go wild. <BR> <BR>John

John <BR> <BR>Thanks so much for your reply. We are seeing Puccini's Turandot, but to be quite honest I do not know who is singing. We were so excited about getting the tickets I didn't even look to see who was singing. <BR> <BR>I would hate to think that we would never get back to La Scala, but it is unlikely. For this reason we actually extended our holiday so we could attend the opera. I am sure it will be very memorable. <BR> <BR>You may envy our box seats but to experience actually singing an opera, to look out to the audience and hear their applause must be such an exhilerating experience. I would envy that! <BR> <BR>Thank you for the insights regarding dress code. We had decided on black tie and long dress but were just not sure so now I feel convinced that we have decided correctly. <BR> <BR>We are leaving tomorrow morning and returning on 15th June, the day after the opera. I will do a posting regarding our opera experience. <BR> <BR>I hope you also enjoy your opera in Munich and revisiting the opera house where you have sung so often. <BR> <BR>Thanks again for your reply. <BR> <BR>Judy

I have attended several opera performances in Paris, and have always been surprized that we are nearly overdressed (never opening night). My husband always wears a tuxedo, and I always wear a simple, floor length black dress, and we are ALWAYS overdressed or at least in the top 5%. Fortunately, I would always rather be overdressed than underdressed, so it's not a problem for us. <BR> <BR>While I base my advice primarily on Paris (where we had expected to see people very, very dressed up), I would caution you to not to go to dressy or flamboyant in your dress. The dress I typically wear (horrors - it's usually the same one!!) falls in simple lines - it's plain black, not a frill, sequin, or pouf on it, and I am still just a bit overdressed. If a woman were to wear a red, poufy, sequined gown, she would stand out (again, I can only speak for Paris). But, then again, who's to say that standing out for being stunning wouldn't be a good thing!?!?! <BR> <BR>Please do re-post after your trip and let us know what the dress was like. We will probably be in Italy again this year and would love to catch an opera - perhaps this will be the time for me to run down to Villa della Spiga and buy a poufy red sequinned dress!