Vienna Opera will reopen without standing room

The Vienna State Opera has issued an equivocal statement about the future of the Stehplatz section, where so many people young and old have watched opera cheaply and in close proximity.

Under Covid regulations, the section will be closed off when the opera house reopens. Once Covid is gone – whenever – the status of the section will be restored.

Here’s the statement:

Under the current conditions of the federal government, the standing room of the Vienna State Opera cannot be offered in its usual form. The theaters are only allowed to carry out performances for a certain number of people if the visitors keep a minimum distance and have been assigned numbered seats.

The standing room is a particularly important institution in Viennese opera life; not least because it enables participation in the performances at prices that are unique worldwide. The management of the Vienna State Opera wants to ensure that this important facility does not fall victim to the COVID-19 measures and has therefore temporarily seated the standing room for the duration of these measures. After they are removed, the standing area will return to its original shape.