Almost everyone has questions about the opera in one way or another. We have put together some information to help make your experience at the opera more pleasurable. If there are unanswered questions here, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Where can I park?
Please allow time to find a parking place downtown. Click here for the latest information about parking options from the good folks at the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts (link): http://www.myalaskacenter.com/YourVisit/yourvisit_Directions.aspx

Can you recommend places to dine before the opera? After the opera?
Wooooo hooooo, you betcha… there’s some mighty fine dining options in Anchorage. Click here to check out the dining recommendations made by our good friends at the Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau. Link: http://www.anchorage.net/671.cfm

Also, check out the list of recommendations from Anchorage Press or in the Anchorage Daily News’ Friday Play section.

We would like to make a fun and memorable ‘day’ out of our night at the opera, can you recommend “opera day” itineraries’?
A Big Wild Yes! Anchorage is the biggest city in the largest state in the union; your activity options are greater here than most places on the planet. Where else can you see pre-historic glaciers during the day and a grand opera at night? Here are a few “opera day” itineraries recommended by our staff.

For more ideas, please visit the Anchorage Convention & Visitors website at www.anchorage.net

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How will I understand the story and what is happening on stage?
No, you don’t have to speak Italian. Every opera has an English translation projected above the stage. In addition, the program you receive at the performance has a summary of the opera’s plot and other background information.

Consider familiarizing yourself with the work by attending a Before-the-Opera chat.
One hour before curtain, AO will present a 30-minute talk filled with insights about the show. If you prefer, buy the CD or borrow it from Anchorage Municipal Libraries beforehand.

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What is opera?
An opera is a story set to music. People all over the world, including Alaska Natives and the folks in Asia and Africa, have been combining stories, music, (wind, string, and percussive instruments), elaborate costumes, and dance, in highly stylized “operatic” ways to entertain and pass on traditions for thousands of years. Truth be told… opera is in everyone’s DNA!

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What should I wear?
Wear what you like – jeans or your tuxedo or gown. We love you just the way you are.

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Is there a pre-opera lecture?
Yes, One hour before curtain, AO will present a 30-minute Opera Chat filled with insights about the show.

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How long is the performance?
An opera usually runs 2 ½ to 3 ½ hours, including intermission(s).

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When should I arrive? What if I’m late?
Don’t be late! Consider arriving thirty minutes before the performance so you can be seated. If you arrive after the performance has started, you will be asked to wait in the lobby, where you can watch the opera on closed-circuit television, until a suitable break in the performance. In some cases, you may have to wait until the end of the first act or the first intermission.

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Are refreshments available?
Yes. Beverage service is available in the lobby before the performance and during the intermission(s).

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What about restrooms?
There are plenty of restrooms available in the facility. Ushers will be happy to direct you to the nearest location. We encourage you to use restroom facilities before the performance and/or during intermission.

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Other reminders to make for an enjoyable experience:
Please turn off all beeping devices. Remember our divas carry spears…and they’re not afraid to use them.

Respond appropriately. Laugh if it is funny, cry if it is sad, and applaud loudly at the end.

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FUN AT THE OPERA
Fabulous ways to spend your day at the opera! Learn more