Classical Music and Opera: A Beginner's Guide to Terms and Etiquette

The Basic Forms: Symphony, Concerto and Sonata

A symphony is a large-scale work written for a full orchestra with no featured soloist; the orchestra as a whole carries the main melodic material, typically across four movements, according to Classic FM. A concerto, by contrast, puts one or more soloists in front of the orchestra and traditionally runs to three movements arranged fast–slow–fast, with the orchestra providing accompaniment while the soloist plays the more virtuosic passages. The term sonata is broader: it can describe the overall three-to-four movement structure shared by symphonies and concertos, but on its own it usually refers to a smaller combination, such as a solo piano piece or a work for piano and one other instrument.

Opera Vocabulary You'll Hear

Opera has its own working vocabulary. The English National Opera's glossary defines the terms as follows.

• Aria — a long accompanied song for a solo voice.
• Libretto — the sung text, or script, of an opera.
• Overture — an orchestral piece at the start of an opera, often previewing musical ideas heard later.
• Recitative — a speech-like vocal style used for dialogue and narrative passages.
• Surtitles — projected captions above the stage that translate or display the sung text.
• Encore — a repeated performance at the end of a concert, called for by the audience.
• Bravo / brava / bravi — shouted exclamations of approval: bravo for a male performer, brava for a female performer, bravi for an ensemble, per the ENO glossary.

Step by Step: Your First Concert or Opera

1. Arrive early. The Austin Symphony Orchestra advises arriving 30–45 minutes before a concert to find seats and settle in. At the Metropolitan Opera, Playbill notes that latecomers are sent to a separate viewing room with a live feed but no subtitles until intermission, so it helps to be seated before the performance begins.
2. Don't worry about a dress code. Neither the Austin Symphony nor the Met requires formal wear; Playbill says Met attendees can dress up as much or as little as they want, with looks ranging from casual to elaborate.
3. Silence your phone completely. The Austin Symphony's beginner guide specifies turning off phones, pagers and watches, since instruments are unamplified and audience noise carries.
4. Check the program for movements. Symphonies and concertos are divided into movements listed in the printed program; knowing how many there are helps you follow along.
5. Know when to clap. The Austin Symphony's guidance is to applaud when the concertmaster and then the conductor enter, and again once a full piece ends — not between individual movements. Watching for the conductor to lower the baton is the clearest signal a work has finished.
6. At the opera, applause is more frequent. Playbill describes it as standard for the audience to applaud after an overture, a notable aria, or an impressive vocal moment, adding that it pays to "read the room before clapping."
7. Use intermissions. At the Met, Playbill reports intermissions can run up to 45 minutes, giving time to view gallery displays or costume exhibits in the lobby areas.
8. Stay for the curtain call. Playbill notes that opera curtain calls tend to be lengthy, and this is the moment to applaud generously and use "Bravo," "Brava" or "Bravi" as appropriate.

Keeping the Cost Down

Opera and orchestra tickets are not always priced at the top end. Playbill points to budget options at the Metropolitan Opera such as back-of-the-house Family Circle seats priced around $40 (binoculars recommended), along with day-of online rush tickets and discounted student performances.