Crying baby at the opera

[Binfairy]

I went see Ainadamar on Saturday night in Edinburgh, performed by Scottish Opera. Fantastic performance but I was very surprised and not very happy to hear a baby crying. AIBU to think opera isn't for young babies?

Ooh I went to the premiere of Ainadamar at Tanglewood years and years ago, I'm so pleased it's still being performed!!

YANBU re: babies. I have been going to operas to years and it's about the worst place to take a baby I can think of - no space for a pushchair, impossible to escape if you need to, quiet bits that would be disrupted by a crying baby, with occasional very loud bits calculated to startle a sleeping baby. It never occurred to me to bring mine, I'm only now taking my kids that they're in double digits.

I would have been extremely annoyed to have had the music interrupted by a crying baby, same as a mobile phone ringing, people eating or talking, etc.

No way. Tickets are expensive. Leave the baby at home ffs.

I'm generally all for taking babies and small children to places but agree, not the opera. The ROH has a minimum age of 5 unless it's an event aimed at children and I think that seems reasonable.

No it's not right , I have no issues with children being brought as long as they are quiet throughout. My dd went to her first opera at 5, she's now singing professionally

YANBU. Ludicrous place to take a baby, and would ruin it for other audience members. Surprised they were allowed in to be honest.

Yanbu! Did they take the baby out?

I couldn't see if they left - we were near the front of the stalls. It was a gorgeous production but not my idea of child-friendly at all. Like others, i think well behaved children are welcome at any production.

Good lord that's a whole new level of entitlement - I wouldn't take DS to a cinema let alone the opera! Did the ushers not get involved?

I would not expect a baby at the opera unless it was a family type event. I have taken my DC to the theatre, but to Frozen, Wicked etc and only from he was 5. I think that taking a baby to the opera seems like a stressful experience.

Had similar recently at a concerto. Expensive tickets. Toddler chattering throughout.

I complained afterwards. No response. I won't go again.

Jesus I don't even take my babies to the cinema and tickets are about 1/10 of the price of the opera. Having said that, I can absolutely understand the urge to go and do something cultural when you're mired in the musical stylings of Little Baby Bum and The Wiggles day in day out. That's what babysitters were invented for though.

Looking forward
To the Met Opera putting on Der Ring with an innovative chorus of screaming toddlers to accompany the Valkyrie.

I don't get it though, I thought most opera companies, theatre productions and ballet companies usually stated their work was unsuitable for very young children. How did they even get in? The poor baby sitting through 4-5 hours in a confined space, no wonder they were crying.

I wouldn't, there are sometimes special music events for babies which would be much more appropriate. Although I'm all for exposing kids to these experiences as early as possible.
Ps I'd be interested where someone is that cinema is 1/10 of opera tickets? This is a sad perception that fuels ideas of elitism. Scottish opera tickets are from £21 ( 10 if under 26) and my cinema is about £8 so not even a third of the price.

I’ve a colleague who insists on taking their 3 under 4 (twins and baby) to opera, art galleries, ballet etc. Says it’s more important that they’re surrounded by art than that other attendees are “as comfortable as they would be in their living room”. People like this really do exist.

Actually cineworld is £12!!

Inappropriate. YANBU.

Oh - it makes me so cross! When I think of all the performances that I missed out on when the children were little because there was no way I would take them and disturb other people's enjoyment!
It is selfish and thoughtless.
A lot of opera companies and orchestras have what they call "relaxed" performances where children and people with dementia etc. can be brought and noise is tolerated.

I had a babbling and crying toddler yesterday at a West End show. Not one of the kiddie ones. It was very irritating. They didn't take him out.

I have a 4 month old, not a chance would I bring him somewhere like that! The only public place he's had a melt down was the one time I took him to mass and that was free, also we left.

Stupid, selfish, entitled and utterly thoughtless behaviour.

I'm glad i'm in Germany where you'd never get a baby past the ticket check at the door. And even if you did you'd be made aware of the glaring disapproval of the rest of the audience even before curtain up. (see also: people who cough at classical concerts)

YANBU. Babies cry and they shouldn't be kept away from restaurants etc because of it but the opera... no. Not a place for young children. No parents had suffered terribly for being excluded from watching opera for a few years.

Selfish gits. You would expect staff to speak to the parents at least and ask them to leave (but no doubt they won't as they would then be the ones in trouble)..

Church is entirely different.
One expects babies at church services.
Not Operas!