Vienna State Opera in December
 

Hello... I am making plans for a trip in November and December, as some of you already know because you've helped me on various topics about it. I will have two possible dates to see a show, Sat. November 24th or Sun. the 25th. About what time of year will a schedule of performances be available for this time period? Is there something going on at the State Opera House every night?

Thanks for any advice... I would like to purchase an actual seat, not just standing room. Oh, and what does the guided tour of the Opera House include that a person can't see from just attending a performance?

Apologies for the error in my thread title about the month.

I would think the schedule should come out some time during the summer.

IIRC, the Staatsoper has performance every night. We were able to attend the Magic Flute performance last November, but that involved me getting up at 3am here to buy tickets online. I believe non-subscribers can purchase tickets 1 month in advance of the performance.

I took the guided tour rather than see an opera and loved that. We got to see some of the waiting rooms, staircases, go up on stage, etc. Our guide was very interesting. If I had seen the show, I think I just would have walked in and gone to my standing room place and not really explored. So I recommend the tour.

I bought tickets on line for 9 Euros each for an opera performance. I knew that my husband & I would not want to stand for any length of time. I could have gotten better seats if I had not waited until they were nearly all sold.

I'm not sure there will be a performance on those nights...nothing is listed (yet). A check of a couple of Vienna events sites listed only one opera performance on those dates--Orlando Paladino (sp) at the Theater an der Wien (which is a nice venue, I've seen Elisabeth there a few times, but it's not in the same class as the opera house). Of course, something may show up on the calendar as the year wears on.
Re the tour, yes, you will get to see some things you wouldn't at a performance (unless you have a back-stage pass). When I took it, they were building the sets for a performance, which was pretty interesting. The guide also explained in depth how they're able to turn the main floor into a ballroom.
If nothing is happening at the state opera house, perhaps you'll find something going on at Musikverein or the Konzerthaus. Both are impressive places and performance there are generally worth seeing.

I think that at that time of year there will be a performance just about every night, it's just that the schedule hasn't been published yet.

I concur that tickets go on sale one month in advance - DH booked ours by phone.

Thanks, everyone. I'm surprised that you can't order tickets earlier than a month before the show. Glad I asked. I am interested in the tour of the opera house and if I have time to squeeze it in, I certainly will.

Idnas, are you aware that while the opera house has been restored to its original appearance outside, the inside is 1950s & quite ugly ? Not the best one to tour.

Caroline,
Which one would you recommend to tour?
Thanks,
Sandi

I have to disagree with caroline. I thought the inside of Staatsoper is quite nice.

You should also consider touring the Burg Theater. I believe English tours are conducted at 2 or 3pm. We didn't have a chance to take the tour while we were there. Klimt did the murals inside the Theater.

Hi ldnas71. Sorry, that wasn't very clear. I haven't been to any other theatres in Vienna so don't know about there. I just meant there are opera houses elsewhere which are more spectacular to tour, so if this was to be your first tour of an opera house it wouldn't be the most interesting. But maybe you tour the opera house everywhere you go.

The last place we visited an opera house abroad was Naples last year & we were going to do the tour, but didn't bother when we found it only took in the stalls i.e. no more than we were going to see by attending a performance. Prior to that we toured the Staatsoper in Berlin which was nice - and we later saw our guide in a name part in 'Parsifal' that night !