Hello all,
We have two nights in Vienna, and want to buy opera tickets. Some sellers advertise tickets, but I found the best prices at culturall.com, which appears to be the box office itself, the official website for the Wiener Staatsoper. There is a link to purchase tickets for the show we want, but the next page says "your criteria for standby tickets." What does this mean? Are they sold out? I'm allowed to put in a commission I'd be willing to accept, if a customer wants to release tickets for a profit. And are there actual tickets available from the other sites with higher prices? Would love to have advice from those who've been through this routine, what you did, and what do you advise. Thanks for reading, and we look forward to your reply. --C & N Stevens, San Luis Obispo, CA.
Posted by
Olympia, WA, USA
208 posts
I also had this very question, for this and other similar sites.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
16178 posts
From what I have read, tickets do not actually go on sale until April. Before that, you can enter a request for tickets within a certain price range, and you will be notified later of your reserved tickets and when and how to pay. See the discussion on TripAdvisor here:
I don't think that site you link is the official site. It may be legit, but they are probably just entering the ticket request for you and then charge an agency fee. Try going through the official website:
https://www.wiener-staatsoper.at/en/your-visit/ticket-sales/ticket-sales/
Click on the link for advance ticket sales and they explain how you can send your request for a specific date.
Posted by
1895 posts
I don't think that site you link is the official site.
This is not correct. Culturall.com is the official booking platform for Austria's federal theaters and operas. All bookings from the individual websites of the different venues will be redirected there. Consequently there is no surcharge imposed on the price of the tickets.
Posted by
WV
67 posts
Like the OP, I would like to order opera tickets through the stand-by process, and I have a different question. Not only does the opera not sell tickets more than 2 months in advance, but they do not publish the performance times before then. Is there anything to make me not assume a start time around 7:30/8:00? I only ask because I am also eyeing V. philharmonic tickets, which happen to be for a daytime performance—on a different day. (I do not want to assume and then have to make drastic changes in my planning!). What’s everyone’s experience with opera performance times—are they pretty much as we see in the US?) Thanks!
Posted by
1895 posts
According to Austrian overtime work regulations the opera has to pay a 50% surcharge on the salary of its workers (ushers, stage crew, sound, light, etc.) after 11pm. To avoid this performances end normally not later than 10:30pm. Hence the start time depends on the duration of the opera performance.
Most performances start at 7pm, but the range on workdays is usually between 6pm and 8:30pm. In exceptional cases, like a Wagner opera, it can be much earlier, as well as on all Sundays where the overtime rules kick in earlier.
Posted by
Vienna, Austria
5371 posts
On timing, I would only add that during the summer the Opera leaves the city and the building is rented out to tourist companies. As summer is being discussed, I would only note that those summer tourist concerts in the Opera might happen at earlier times. The actual Opera, however, is an evening thing as noted by wmt1.
Posted by
WV
67 posts
Thank you for the clarification. This is very helpful!