History Main / AtTheOperaTonight

Compare DancesAndBalls and ConcertClimax.

* In the 2002 miniseries ''Series/{{Napoleon}}'', Napoleon Bonaparte goes to the opera and other public events in Paris so his enemies, the Austrians and Russians, won't expect his "Grand Armee" as it secretly marches across Europe without him.

** In "[[Recap/InterviewWithTheVampire2022S1E1InThroesOfIncreasingWonder In Throes of Increasing Wonder...]]", the first opera Louis de Pointe du Lac and Lestat de Lioncourt attend together is ''Theatre/{{Iolanta}}''. Louis is so dazzled by the performance that he was "near weeping when the curtain fell," while Lestat prefers to study the [[PrettyBoy gorgeous facial features]] of his LoveInterest despite being an opera aficionado.
** In "[[Recap/InterviewWithTheVampire2022S1E2AfterThePhantomsOfYourFormerSelf ...After the Phantoms of Your Former Self]]", the couple later see ''Don Pasquale'' at a more upscale, formal venue (they dress in tuxedos instead of suits) and Lestat pays for a private box, but the big downside is that black people are barred from entering unless they're a servant of a white person, so Louis must pose as Lestat's valet. Although they were impressed by the soprano Sofia Consoli, their date was marred by the tenor who portrays Ernesto, whose singing was out of tune throughout the show. Lestat decides to [[DisproportionateRetribution punish the tenor by making a meal out of him]].

** The first opera Louis de Pointe du Lac and Lestat de Lioncourt attend together is ''Theatre/{{Iolanta}}''. Louis is so dazzled by the performance that he was "near weeping when the curtain fell," while Lestat prefers to study the [[PrettyBoy gorgeous facial features]] of his LoveInterest despite being an opera aficionado.
** The couple later see ''Don Pasquale'' at a more upscale, formal venue (they dress in tuxedos instead of suits) and Lestat pays for a private box, but the big downside is that black people are barred from entering unless they're a servant of a white person, so Louis must pose as Lestat's valet. Although they were impressed by the soprano Sofia Consoli, their date was marred by the tenor who portrays Ernesto, whose singing was out of tune throughout the show. Lestat decides to [[DisproportionateRetribution punish the tenor by making a meal out of him]].

** The couple later see ''Don Pasquale'' at a more upscale, formal venue (they dress in tuxedos instead of suits) and Lestat pays for a private box, but the big downside is that black people are barred from entering unless they're a servant of a white person, so Louis must pose as Lestat's valet.

* In ''Fanfic/ASagaOfParallelWorlds'', Ted Woolsey meets the actors for [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI Draco and Ralse]] at a performance of ''Theatre/TheMarriageOfFigaro''.

* In ''Anime/CowboyBebop'' Faye tracks the leader of the [[TheSyndicate Red Dragons]] to his box at the opera hoping to collect a bounty on him, only to find that he's already been murdered by his subordinate Vicious as part of a trap for Spike.
* ''Anime/{{Cyborg 009}}'': 009 and 003 go to the ballet early on in episode 34 of the 1979 series. As they watch a performance of ''Theatre/{{Giselle}}'', 003, herself a ballerina, imagines herself in the role.

* ''Manga/GunslingerGirl'': Rico assassinates a target at an opera. What's playing is ''Theatre/{{Tosca}}, but she doesn't pay attention to it at all while Claes and Triela are back at the dormitory musing at what they think Rico and Henrietta's reactions would be if they were to see the whole opera and Claes even recites Tosca's Cry to God aria.

In some stories, this is just to show one or more characters trying to be cultured, while other characters are bored to tears. When MenAreUncultured, this is an opportunity to demonstrate masculinity by swearing off the flowery show to which their wives have taken them. Conversely, the more worldly man can take his less sophisticated love interest to the opera to impress and cultivate her. Sure enough, she is wowed by the glamorous surroundings and mesmerized by the performance, while he observes her contently. (See also GirlsStareAtSceneryBoysStareAtGirls)

* In ''Fanfic/ASagaOfParallelWorlds'', Ted Woolsey meets the actors for [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI Draco and Ralse]] at a performance of ''Theater/TheMarriageOfFigaro''.

* In ''Fanfic/ASagaOfParallelWorlds'', Ted Woolsey meets the actors for [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI Draco and Ralse]] at a performance of ''Theater/LeNozzeDiFigaro''.

In some stories, the real show is the people attending. They come in their finest [[SharpDressedMan suits]], [[PimpedOutDress dresses]], [[EverythingsSparklyWithJewelry jewels]], [[PrettyInMink furs]], and opera-length HighClassGloves, often tailored to fit the current styles... and by current styles we mean an unwritten DressCode that sorts out the OldMoney patrons from the NouveauRiche. As a consequence the patrons may not even pay attention to most of the show itself (which was the case in RealLife until about Music/RichardWagner's day) so they can talk and gossip. If they are in a private box, they may even play cards or have an amorous dalliance or two...

Basically where characters are attending an {{Opera}}, {{Classical Music}} concert, {{Theater}} shoe or a similar performance to take in some culture. Yet this is mainly about what the characters ''do'' in the velvet seats in the posh auditorium. What happens on stage is usually irrelevant, even though we do usually get to see a little of the opera or concert. If what is being performed matters at all, it's to give the attending characters something to emotionally relate to. If the story features characters involved with the actual production in an important way (such as the main character finally getting the big part he/she dreamed about), it's not this trope.

Basically where characters are attending an {{Opera}}, concert, or other {{Theater}} performance to take in some culture. Yet this is mainly about what the characters do there. What happens on stage is usually irrelevant, even though we do usually get to see a little of the opera or concert. If what is being performed matters at all, it's to give the attending characters something to emotionally relate to. If the story features characters involved with the actual production in an important way (such as the main character finally getting the big part he/she dreamed about), it's not this trope.

In some stories, the real show is the people attending. They come in their finest [[SharpDressedMan suits]], [[PimpedOutDress dresses]], [[EverythingsSparklyWithJewelry jewels]], [[PrettyInMink furs]], and opera-length HighClassGloves, often tailored to fit the current styles... and by current styles we mean an unwritten DressCode that sorts out the OldMoney patrons from the NouveauRiche. As a consequence the patrons may not even pay attention to most of the show itself (which was the case in RealLife until about Music/RichardWagner's day) so they can talk and gossip.

In some stories the real show is the people attending. They come in their finest [[SharpDressedMan suits]], [[PimpedOutDress dresses]], [[EverythingsSparklyWithJewelry jewels]], [[PrettyInMink furs]], and opera-length HighClassGloves, often tailored to fit the current styles... and by current styles we mean an unwritten DressCode that sorts out the OldMoney patrons from the NouveauRiche. As a consequence the patrons may not even pay attention to most of the show itself (which was the case in RealLife until about Music/RichardWagner's day) so they can talk and gossip.

In some stories this is just to show one or more characters trying to be cultured, while other characters are bored to tears. When MenAreUncultured, this is an opportunity to demonstrate masculinity by swearing off the flowery show to which their wives have taken them. Conversely, the more worldly man can take his less sophisticated love interest to the opera to impress and cultivate her. Sure enough, she is wowed by the glamorous surroundings and mesmerized by the performance, while he observes her contently. (See also GirlsStareAtSceneryBoysStareAtGirls)

* A [[http://youtu.be/WgxRg3pnBWo Bud Light commercial]] has two men bring bottles of Bud Light to an opera...only to have all the bottles burst on them when the Fat Lady hits that one high note. Another, more savvy attendee shows that ''he'' brought ''cans''.

In some stories this is just to show one or more characters trying to be cultured, while other characters are bored to tears. When MenAreUncultured, this is an opportunity to demonstrate masculinity by swearing off the flowery show to which their wives have taken them. Conversely, the more worldly man can take his less sophisticated love interest to the opera to impress and cultivate her. Sure enough, she is wowed by the glamorous surroundings and mesmerized by the performance, while he observes her contently.

* In episode 61 (appropriately titled "Invitation to an Opera") of ''Anime/LegendOfGalacticHeroes'', the Supreme Chairman of the [[TheFederation Alliance]] High Council is supposed to watch an opera together with the [[TheEmpire Imperial]] consul before he got himself kidnapped by rebelling soldiers. The Imperial consul watching the opera alone was not pleased about the chairman's tardiness.

* ''Webcomic/TheAdventuresOfWiglafAndMordred'' has an arch featuring the entire cast ([[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters at the time, anyway]]) attending a piano concert to see one of the protagonists sisters perform. Of the 73 strips in the arch about three deal with the actual piano performance, most of which involves Wiglaf outperforming the actual pianist.