Schedule
HostsWays to Give
HomePlaylistSchedule
HostsEventsOn DemandOur StoryOur TeamWays to Give Become a Sponsor
How to ListenVisit Help CenterContact Us

Find Us on Social Media:

Logo image

Find Us on Social Media:

Download Our Mobile App:

google play icon

About

HomePlaylistSchedule
HostsOn DemandOur StoryOur Team

Community

EventsWays to Give Become a SponsorPressDiversity StatementCareersAnnual EEO ReportDigital Accessibility

Help

Visit Help CenterContact UsHow to Listen

©2025 Classical California

Sweepstakes RulesFCC ComplianceLocal Public FilesCPB ComplianceAnnual EEO ReportPrivacy PolicyCode of Integrity

articles / Pop Culture

Cocktails with the Coloratura?

Pop Culture

It’s been announced that San Francisco Opera is experimenting with a new beverage policy: drinks will be allowed in the hall. According to their website “drinks must be [an] approved compostable cup with lid, available at all bars in the War Memorial Opera House.”

For some, this is simply groundbreaking, though it’s not exactly a novel idea. Many venues in England have allowed plastic drink cups in the auditorium for years. Yet it looks like SF Opera may be the first arts group of this scale in California to experiment with drinks in the hall.

While many modern opera goers find this vulgar and yet another sign of the fall of western culture and society, the 18th century opera experience was wilder still. Opera houses in the time of Mozart were regularly the site of card games, drinking, gossiping, shouting back at the performers, and general carrying on. Concert hall etiquette seemed to change towards what we see today in a post-Wagnerian opera world when more restrained, upper-class behavior became the norm.

Again, this is a six month test to see if enjoying a beverage with Bellini is disruptive, or generally acceptable. Many have already opined as to the type of beverage suitable for various operas (a strong dark beer for a bit of Wagner – sorry – no such thing as a “bit of Wagner”). Others worry about the swishing of ice from the G&T crowd. Then there are inevitable needs to visit the facilities in the middle of a favorite aria.

What do you think?

Pop Culture
Written by:
Hoyt Smith
Hoyt Smith
Published on 06.21.2017
Loading...

MORE LIKE THIS

Sharing the Love of Music with Children

Sharing the Love of Music with Children

"Explore the Baltimore Symphony's OrchKids program, founded by Marin Alsop, aiming to diversify concert halls and inspire young musicians."

06/10/2018
The Ophi-What?

The Ophi-What?

Explore the history of the ophicleide, a 19th-century instrument used in orchestras and military bands, and its cultural significance in music and clergy.

05/11/2018
A Concerto with the Beethoven Stamp

A Concerto with the Beethoven Stamp

British pianist Paul Lewis performs Beethoven’s Third Piano Concerto with the San Francisco Symphony, highlighting its pivotal role in Beethoven's career.

05/11/2018
In Praise of the Violin

In Praise of the Violin

This article traces the history of the violin from its 16th-century Italian origins, through its evolution in playing techniques, to its role in classical music. It also explores its unique construction.

05/09/2018
Starting the Count with Opus 1

Starting the Count with Opus 1

This article explores the tradition of composers designating works as "Opus 1", often not their first piece, but a significant one, with examples from Bach to Debussy.

09/19/2017
Stash the Stilettos

Stash the Stilettos

Symphony organizations are asking musicians to audition barefoot to ensure blind auditions, eliminating bias based on gender, race, or age.

03/22/2017