A pop concert at an arena uses Ticketmaster or AXS. One platform, one booking process. Opera houses and concert halls are different: each manages its own booking system, sets its own booking windows, defines its own seat categories and applies its own discount structures.
The Royal Opera House in London does not use Ticketmaster. The Metropolitan Opera in New York does not use AXS. Knowing which platform each venue uses before you start searching saves significant time.
The Met is the world's largest opera house by audience capacity (3,800 seats).
Booking: Directly at metopera.org. No third-party platform used for standard tickets.
Seat categories and prices:
| Section | Location | Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| Orchestra (front) | Ground floor, rows A to J | $120 to $390 |
| Orchestra (rear) | Ground floor, rows K to S | $85 to $270 |
| Parterre | Just above orchestra level | $95 to $310 |
| Grand Tier | First balcony | $120 to $400 |
| Balcony (rear) | Upper tiers | $25 to $85 |
| Standing Room | Behind orchestra and family circle | $20 to $27 |
Standing room: One of opera's great bargains. $20 to $27 for the same production as $400 seats. Standing room opens for purchase 2.5 hours before curtain on the day of performance. Queue forms at the Met box office from 1 hour before standing room opens.
Rush tickets: Available for select performances on the day. $25 for remaining seats regardless of location. Available from the box office 2 hours before curtain.
Advance window: Season begins in September. Most productions sell tickets from the June or July prior to the season start. Popular productions (Tosca, La Traviata, popular conductors) sell premium seats within days of going on sale.
Enter the opera house name or city to see upcoming performance schedules with current ticket availability. The Schedule Finder shows which nights still have tickets across all seat categories.
Find Opera PerformancesGet Booking GuideThe ROH hosts the Royal Opera and Royal Ballet in Covent Garden.
Booking: At roh.org.uk. No Ticketmaster involvement.
Seat categories:
| Section | Price Range |
|---|---|
| Orchestra Stalls (front) | £150 to £270 |
| Orchestra Stalls (rear) | £75 to £175 |
| Amphitheatre | £38 to £95 |
| Day seats (amphitheatre) | £10 to £22 |
| Standing | £7 to £18 |
Day seats: 67 restricted view seats in the amphitheatre are sold at the box office from 10am on the day of each performance. Maximum 1 ticket per person. Queue starts 1 to 2 hours before 10am for popular productions. Cost: £10 to £22.
Under 35 membership (ROH Young Friends): £30 per year. Access to booking periods before general sale opens for select productions. Worthwhile for London residents under 35 who attend multiple performances per season.
The ROH summer season (July): Outdoor free screenings of opera and ballet take place in Trafalgar Square and other locations. No tickets required; first-come standing. Check roh.org.uk/about/our-world-your-stage for the annual schedule.
The Vienna State Opera presents 50 to 60 productions per season, with a different opera performed nearly every night of the season (September to June).
Booking: At wiener-staatsoper.at. German and English interfaces available.
Seat categories and prices:
| Section | Price Range |
|---|---|
| Stalls centre | €30 to €253 |
| Boxes (Loge) | €50 to €300 per person |
| Gallery (Galerie) | €10 to €48 |
| Standing (Stehparterre and Galerie) | €3 to €4 |
Standing at the Vienna State Opera at €3 to €4 is the world's best classical music bargain. The standing areas hold up to 567 people. Space opens for purchase 80 minutes before the performance at the standing room box office (south entrance, Operngasse).
Regulars advise arriving 90 minutes before the standing room opens to secure the best position at the rail. Scarves and programmes are traditionally used to reserve rail positions while visitors explore the foyer before curtain.
La Scala is arguably the world's most famous opera house. The season opens on December 7 (Sant'Ambrogio, Milan's patron saint day) every year with a major premiere.
Booking: At teatroallascala.org. Italian-language primary; English available.
December 7 premiere: The most-sought-after ticket in the operatic calendar. Sold by ballot. Apply through the La Scala website in September and October for the December opening.
Standard season tickets: From €15 for upper gallery positions to €250 for orchestra centre seats for most productions. Less prestigious productions have better availability.
Australia's most recognisable building presents opera, ballet, classical concerts and theatre across its Joan Sutherland Theatre, Concert Hall and four smaller venues.
Booking: At sydneyoperahouse.com. Also sold through Ticketek for some productions.
Opera Australia: The national opera company performs at the Joan Sutherland Theatre. Tickets from $60 to $320 depending on production and seat.
Sydney Symphony Orchestra: Performs in the Concert Hall. Tickets from $39 to $185. Rush tickets for students and people under 30 at $39 available from the box office 1 hour before performance.
Architectural tours: If attending a performance is not your priority, the Sydney Opera House offers guided architectural tours at $40 adult, running daily. Book at sydneyoperahouse.com/visit.