We definitely are not opera goers. Never been.

However, we're going to be in Prague June 1 to 4 (leaving evening of 5th) and Budapest June 6 and 7 (leaving evening of 8th).

If you chose one which would it be?

I've been to the opera in both cities. Both were great. I saw La Traviata in Prague and Don Giovanni in Budapest.
What's playing??

Prague
National Theatre
Tosca
The Bartered Bride
Estates Theatre
Don Giovanni

Budapest
Mayerling

Any help would be appreciated.
Probably more interested in the venue than anything.

Myer,
If you're more interested in the venue, the opera houses give tours (cheaper than opera tickets).Why don't you just buy tickets in Prague for one of the hour long Church concerts celebrating Mozart's 250th anniversary? As you walk in the touristy areas, you can't escape from in-your-face pamphlets.

We went went to the ballet at the Estates. It's a tiny jewel where Mozart conducted the premier of Don Giovanni in 1787.

If you are mainly interested in the venue, I think either would be enjoyable in Prague. As for opera, I am not a big opera buff but like classical music and know these scores (which I like, just not the performance) -- and all I can say, having seen an excellent company (the Kirov Opera) doing Bartered Bride -- is yech, this opera stinks, don't choose it. There is a reason you don't heard that score a lot. I just could barely sit through it, and that wasn't the full performance. A lot of opera is really silly and dated, which is why I don't like it, but I hated that one.

I would choose Mozart's Don Giovanni, but know this, I'm biased. I just went to The Magic Flute last night (another Mozart), and it was sublime. Tosca is very good but personally a Puccini opera would rarely be my first choice.
There might be many people who would disagree.

I wouldn't substitute a church concert for an opera- it's just not the same.
The opera should be a feast for the eyes as well as the ears. Enjoy!
Before you go download the libretto for the opera you choose.

Actually, the State Opera in Prague is my favorite hall, as far as venue. You don't have it listed, but maybe there is nothing playing there at that time?

I've seen Don Giovanni at the Estates twice, but it was during the summer. I've heard that during the main season (which includes your time frame), the production is much better. I don't think there were any subtitles there, as far as I can remember. National Theater has subtitles, but are sometimes in Czech or German. The National Theater is extremely grand, while Estates is small, but very interesting historically, with the Mozart connection.

Anyway, whichever one you choose, enjoy!

Check seat location and ticket price. Make reservations. Many operas are sold out well in advance. Try day of opera ticket returns. Do not deal with touts! Opera is eclectic. Some people see the same one over and over! Usually each opera is staged/performed in a new or different way. I like the ballet, Bolero, and try to never miss it as it comes up!

Well, I bought tickets for Cosi fan tutte in Budapest.

It will be interesting to see how long we last given that we're going for the experience and the venue and not the event.

Since we may be going following a day of siteseeing without going back to the hotel, will my camera be an issue.

It's a digital single lens reflex and is definitely visible.

Thanks for all of the help with this.

Myer,
In Prague, the words were in Italian with Czech subtitles. Expect the same in Budapest.I suggest you read about the opera on the internet before.
Out of curiosity, Myer, is Sandy your wife?

Sorry, I meant Hungarian subtitles in Budapest.

Syl,
Yes, Sandi (not Sandy) is my wife.

Ok. You know who I am.
And you are.....?

Hi Myer,
I'd love to email you privately but I don't have a hotmail address.Sandy knows me from Outremont High & we lived near you in DDO as well (on Schubert).Syl is only a message board name.By the way, my husband graduated with Rhoda. Sandy will figure it out. Enjoy Budapest. We were there in October & loved it.

Sorry, I mean "Sandi".

Well,
I purchased tickets online for Cosi fan tutte at the State Opera House.

Will be interesting. Always a first time.

I wouldn't tell a newbie to go to a opera sung in German...italian opera is much more "easier" to begin with but now you have tickets for Cosi fan tutte just learn a bit about it and open your heart...maybe there's an opera fan inside of you and you just don't know !

Sorry, I wanted to say German opera , not sung in german (obviously cosi fan tutte is sung in italian)

How long we last???? I hope it's until the final curtain!

We were in Venice in March and, in Campo S.ta Margherita, one chilly evening heard the strains of "Cosi" wafting from the upstairs performance hall in a palazzo fronting the square.

I said "We're not leaving until I hear "Soave sia il vento"."

And we stood there in the cold until I heard it.

(Admittedly, it's in act 1.)