OPERA 101

Let's dispel a few myths about opera.

First, opera is not just for the wealthy. Chances are, you could spend more money on football tickets this fall. In the Washington area, you can see professional singers in small companies without breaking the bank. And even bigger companies such as the Washington National Opera and the Baltimore Opera Company offer cheaper tickets. Some tickets for the National Opera start at $25, and both companies offer deals for young adult operagoers. (And on Saturday, you can head to Nationals Park to see the National Opera's live production of "La Traviata" on the jumbo screen for free; see next page for details.)

Second, opera is not snobby. "In the 19th century, [opera] was the pop form of entertainment. . . . It became an elitist activity in the U.S. because it was sung in a foreign language and people didn't understand it," says Michael Harrison, general director for the Baltimore Opera Company.

Today, many operas are translated through supertitles projected above the action (also known as Surtitles, which is a registered trademark). No excuses. Anyone can enjoy the drama.

Third, opera singers are not all fat. "You need a lot of pasta under there to stand and sing for five hours," the old saying goes, according to Harrison. For the most part, that doesn't hold true today with audiences more attuned to size and appearance and singers more attuned to health. Opera is a visual art form, after all, so today's audiences expect singers to look the part, too.

So, if you've ever thought you might like to go to the opera but were afraid that you didn't have the money, the clothes or the pedigree to carry it off, think again. "People are afraid of opera because they don't know what it is," says John E. Niles, artistic director of the Opera Theater of Northern Virginia. You don't have to be, though. Here's a guide to get even the newbiest opera newbie on his feet shouting, "Bravo!"

Q What should I do before I go?

Niles advises doing research. Check out YouTube, where you can get a taste of some of the big arias and opera scenes. Or read about the operas online so you'll have a sense of the story before you go.

Or you could do none of that.

Opera is about "basic and clear human emotions. I don't think people need to think they need to do anything different than if they went to a film," says Peter Mark, artistic director of the Virginia Opera.

Most companies use supertitles and provide a synopsis of the story in the program. So even if you don't prep, you'll still have all you need to enjoy the performance.

Q What do I wear?

Attire is up to you. Some people like to dress up, but increasingly, operagoers (young people especially) are wearing jeans. No one will kick you out if you're not wearing a suit or a cocktail dress. "Today, young people are put off by this formality," says Katerina Souvorova, founder and general and artistic director of the Bel Cantanti opera company. "The opera is pretty much for everyone."

Even at bigger opera houses, such as the Baltimore Opera, Harrison says, you'll "find a mix of attire. . . . It runs the gamut, and you see the same at the New York Metropolitan Opera and in Europe. . . . I personally just want people to come see the opera. I don't care what they wear. Some people really want to get dressed up and come to the opera; even some teens do that. They want to make an event out of it, and I think that's fine, too."

Q How do I behave when I get there?

In the movie "Pretty Woman," Vivian (Julia Roberts) dresses in a stunning red gown with long white gloves and a diamond necklace for her date with Edward (Richard Gere) to the San Francisco Opera. When the opera ("La Traviata") ends, a sophisticated gray-haired woman asks Vivian if she liked it. Vivian responds, "It was so good, I almost peed my pants."

Opera doesn't have to be strict and uncomfortable. It's okay to be yourself. Laugh. Cry. It's just like the movies in terms of rules: Don't talk. Turn off your cellphone. Don't open small pieces of candy wrapped in cellophane that seem to make more noise than the diva on stage.

Do, however, make sure you are on time. Otherwise you will have to wait until a break in the singing to enter the theater, and that may take a while.

Applaud after all the arias and chorus pieces but not in the middle of scenes. There are, however, arias that may sound deceivingly over before they are. ("La Traviata's" "Ah, fors' e lui" goes right into "Sempre libera.") Just follow the crowd.

Operagoers are extremely enthusiastic and passionate. If they love what they hear, they will show it. Hollering after an aria is acceptable. Feel free to scream "Brava!" at the soprano or "Bravo!" at the tenor if you liked what you heard. Many times, the divas will even take bows after their arias and break any suspension of disbelief. It might seem weird to a first-timer, but the singers are divas.

If you have a pair of binoculars and are going to a big opera house, bring them. It's fun to see the singers up close. Also, note the number of intermissions in the program. Many operas have more than one. At National Opera performances, which are at the Kennedy Center, you can grab a drink (including champagne) and a candy bar during breaks.

Don't be afraid to formulate your own opinion about the music and the voices. Many opera "experts" may try to convince you what they think is right. Even if they impress you with their musical terms and opera knowledge, remember, you know what you like.

Q Now what?

Now that you're no longer afraid of opera, enjoy it! Notice the sets, the costumes, the way the performers sing, act and connect with each other. Notice the conductor. Notice the different "colors" of the voices and which ones you like best. Or notice none of that and as Mark advises: "Sit and just float along on the currents of the music. It's just like starting off in shallow water in a river and letting the water cool you, and then you'll get carried away."