Etiquette question: attire for "Messiah"

Will you manage to sit through a whole performance without removing that stick?

honey, don't over think it. The orchestra is great and the hall is splendid (and I'm friend's with one of the soloists!), but just make sure your hair looks clean and maybe wear a shirt with a collar. Philly is a notoriously dressed-down city. that said, if it makes you feel special. where your favorite caftan and earrings that go with it Xmas style

Obviously you must wear your most stunning caftan, preferably in a brightly colored batik print, with large dangling gold earrings.

Are you insane, OP? Have you literally escaped from an actual insane asylum? You must be, or you would know that the absolute MINIMUM for a Philadelphia Orchestra performance is White Tie, with a subdued Hermès pocket square.

Most attendees choose to wear an ermine robe and golden crown, as worn by King Charles at his coronation. But you do you, you raggedy urchin.

Here's my guess: most people who go to see The Messiah are going to be church people; not evangelicals, but more mainline protestants and perhaps Catholics. I've sung parts of The Messiah in church choirs myself back in the day, and churches that had choirs like that are few and far between these days. Hence their attendance at this performance.

So my suggestion would be to wear whatever you would wear to church. I'm betting that the other people in attendance will be doing the same thing, except for the people who are there to impress other people, and who GAF about them anyway? I mean, it's Philly, after all.

please don't arrive late from your golden litter either, even though the traffic on locust street is truly terrific at this time of year

[quote]Here's my guess: most people who go to see The Messiah are going to be church people; not evangelicals, but more mainline protestants and perhaps Catholics.

not necessarily in philly, but that element might be a bit more prevalent in these shows

[quote]honey, don't over think it. The orchestra is great and the hall is splendid (and I'm friend's with one of the soloists!), but just make sure your hair looks clean and maybe wear a shirt with a collar. Philly is a notoriously dressed-down city. that said, if it makes you feel special. where your favorite caftan and earrings that go with it Xmas style

Thanks, Philly Snoop! And clever boy, R4.

Agree with R4.

The Mister Peanut look (top hat, cane, monacle) is the way to go. The hookers who ply South Broad Street will find you irresistable.

[quote]and I'm friend's with one of the soloists!

Philly Snoop @ R2? Did you go to school in PA? Standards must be slipping.

Make sure your overalls is klean.

I have a few ideas.

It's 2024 and it's Philly. Expect jeans, sneakers, plaid shirts, sweatshirts, puffy coats - and that's on the elderly attendees.

Here are some ideas:

r10, sorry, bitch, but blame autocorrect not schools, in philly or out.

Things have changed a lot in the last few decades. Going to the symphony used to "require" a suit and tie, possibly a dark colored sport coat and slacks. Black shoes only. Now you see anything. It does seem like anyone wearing a tie at the symphony now is over 60. Younger men do the sport coat, dark dress shirt, no tie, business casual look. I feel old and creaky when I wear a time. But then I am old and crreaky.

[quote]The hookers who ply South Broad Street will find you irresistable.

At least they're better than the strumpets on Locust Street!

and you want philly, do Philly!

[quote]I feel old and creaky when I wear a time.

Sure, Mr. Snoop -- your "autocorrect" just happened to add an apostrophe that wasn't necessary. And then you didn't look at your post to see if everything was correct. Ooops!

Whatever you have to tell yourself to get you through the night.

Wear loud jangly bracelets and snap your gum.

If this were on the west coast, people would show up in shorts. Philly is probably more formal than that, but you're more likely to look overdressed than underdressed.

Nudity is the only proper attire

Qqq your "autocorrect" just happened to add an apostrophe that wasn't necessary.

I’m not the bitch you’re arguing with, but yes autocorrect did indeed add an incorrect apostrophe in many words. It drove me up the wall, having to go back and manually undo the change.

I haven’t seen it happening recently, though.

You cunts are funny, but too hard on the OP. OP, dress to your level of comfort. In this age of slovenliness, I appreciate that you are at least considering what you are communicating with your attire but accept you are in the minority.

Black tie to see the Messiah in a 3rd rank city? Insanity.

Obviously, a a night at the symphony demands you wear your cape, resist a loud lining like red or patterned, and carry your opera cane.

Leave your opera glasses at home, unless you want to ogle the conductor’s ass.

If you really wanted to dress in tribute to the Messiah, I would suggest you go dressed as Jesus...or Mary, depending on your pronouns.

[quote] Black tie to see the Messiah in a 3rd rank city? Insanity.

Point taken, but despite the city, it is one of the "Big 5". So, there's that.

Just don't snap your fingers to Mozart OP

Will you have supper in town or head back home on the Main Line for scrambled eggs and caviar?

Assless chaps, a vest with no shirt underneath and a cowboy hat -- all in black leather -- seems the most appropriate.

If you have a nice voice, it's encouraged in Philadelphia that you sing along to arias like "I Know That My Redeemer Liveth." Stand up so your voice really projects.

It's a Philly thing. Not singing along will mark you as a tourist or rube.

Project from the diaphragm, remember.

*

You haven't needed a tux as an audience member for a performance of Messiah in my lifetime. (Millennial). That's a Metropolitan Opera opening night gala sort of thing the past few decades.

Since it's Messiah, there will probably be a fair number wearing their church clothes.

You WILL see jeans these days and you would not stand out wearing them, but it's cool if you want to dress up a bit.

Be sure to wear your monocle with your top hat and cane so you can use it to stare at other patrons of the arts in the lobby.

One must weah the correct atti-yah

When attending Handel's Messiah

Oh, OP, just pull out your old Courrèges.

OFCS, people go to the theater in shorts these days. It's abominable.

OP, "please" tell me you "own" something with "quotation marks" splattered all "across" it.

[quote] I'm thinking he's batshit and I'd never be seen at such a performance without at LEAST a suit, and possibly a tux

Have you gone to a concert in THIS century?

Kmart hooker heels

Wear your tiara and jewels, with a low-cut gown to showcase your ample bosom. Beware of wisecracking guys in tails with bushy eyebrows, round glasses, and a large black painted-on moustache. Carry lunettes and a monocle.

R20, what I do tell myself is that you need to go eat shit and die

R31, no, that’s the Bikestop, dearie- around 3 blocks east of the Kimmel center

Will you wear paste or real stones?

Halter top, Daisy Dukes, and cha-cha heels.

I’m certain that Mr. French will lay out your proper attire.

Coming back to post here a second time... since people wear whatever they want to the symphony you should wear whatever you want. What a concept.

Go in the nude

God, I love you cunts. Never change!

P.S. Since the temps are in the 40s, I hope I'll be spared the sight of concertgoers wearing shorts. I may need to check out this Bikestop place though...

Green turtleneck sweater with low shoulders

Rust brown slacks

Brogues with tap soles

A simple gold necklace with a dove on it

Lip gloss and hair glaze

A cashmere pashmina for your cold shoulders

A pack of kents

R51 I am assuming the slacks are bell bottoms.

"Slacks," but not "khakis" when you "go" to the "Messiah," "OP."

[quote]P.S. Since the temps are in the 40s

It's 84 here right now (SoCal.)

R50, let me know. I’m friends with the bar staff. They have half-off nights

I hope it's the bottom half, R55.

Make sure to leave your sword at home, OP.

Perhaps a smart armor plated shoulder number would be appropriate.

I hear hoops are narrower this year.

Wear an orange jumpsuit in honor of Luigi.

Especially in the balcony and for something "popular" like this, you can get away with anything this side of athleisure.

"I may need to check out this Bikestop place though..."

Don't tell me that dump is still open. And probably packed with the same attitude queens and drunken barflies (in "leather" and "western" gear, no less) that were in it 30 years ago, only fossilized and ossified now.

Never change, Philly.

Wow, it's sold out. Yannick is hot, so no surprise.

A cilice.

R7: Atheists who like music will attend. This sort of thing draws more than just Presbyterians and Catholics. It will attract a few Jews some Muslims and the odd Buddhist.

[quote]Never change, Philly.

Don’t worry about that, jackass.

I don’t know how many of you have been to church recently, but the dress code isn’t what it was during my youth.

We are not even talking dress pants and khakis. Plenty of people wear what they rolled out of bed in, it appears.

But then consider how work dress codes have also changed. I worked in the corporate office for a large financial services provider and we wore jeans. The CEO wore jeans.

So I think that if you were going to the symphony, and I assume your ticket cost a fair amount, you can wear whatever you feel comfortable in.

Eagles jersey.

[quote]We are not even talking dress pants and khakis. Plenty of people wear what they rolled out of bed in, it appears.

in shitty evangelical ones. in mainline denominations they dress nicely enough.

We have had a Philadelphia Orchestra subscription since 1984. The dress code has, of course, slipped over those decades.

These days for our Saturday evening subscription concert, slacks (not jeans), collared shirt, nice cashmere sweater or blazer, no tie, is MORE than fancy enough. Many will be in jeans. The Academy Ball was the only performance of the year when anyone was in formal attire, and that has not been ended.

You may see a few suits in the high roller champagne reception during the intermission, but even there lots of men are in nicer business casual.

The orchestra itself went from white tie to all black casual a couple of years ago.

And Messiah draws a large family crowd, so there will be even more flexibility.

R69 Nah, I attend Grace Cathedral in SF (high church Episcopalian) and you can see jeans and hoodies all the time now. Never used to be the case.

[quote]The orchestra itself went from white tie to all black casual a couple of years ago

And look at their director!

Thank you, R70! That's the most useful bit I've seen yet! (To be fair, I didn't mention having likely future Orchestra invites as well, if this outing goes okay.)

[quote]the odd Buddhist

Great drag name.

Attire for messiah? Can’t go wrong with the classic.

Go for the good, OP. It’s the Philadelphia Orchestra & The Messiah. It’s Handel’s oratorio, one of the best-known and most frequently performed choral works in Western music. Yeah, it is often done in our Christmas season. And do not be surprised: a custom of standing for the Hallelujah Chorus originates from a popular belief that at the London premiere, King George II was so moved that he did so, which would have obliged all to stand. History today says there is no convincing evidence that the king was present or that he attended any subsequent performance of Messiah. But it is a fun tradition. Apparently the first reference to the practice of standing appears in a letter dated 1756, three years prior to Handel's death. The Chorus ends Part II. Go, enjoy. Wear a coat and tie. Any suit will do. It is how influential grownups dress. Be one; well, look like one.

I have family responsibilities in Cleveland and, if the Orchestra is playing something I want to see, I go. I pack light and would only feel underdressed if I sat in the Orchestra seats with the older subscription types, who often wear suits. In the balcony, you can wear what you want. A popular show like the Messiah will have a cross section of people who often don't go to concerts and there will be people who dress up and people who don't.

Don’t forget the Bikestop afterwards

R1 wins.

R78. Do you think more formal attire will attract more attention in the Bikestop basement?

This is what I'm planning to wear, OP

R80, it will, and it does

Expect a gaggle of scarf and sweater gays.

Earrings

OP I will attend tomorrow. I will wear a black dahlia with an orange jumpsuit.

I’ll wear nothing to a camelia in my hair

A long, bronze caftan, a small red beaded cap, and upwardly curled-toed sparkly slippers, OP. And bring a gift!

Blazer or jacket, dark color (black or dark blue)

Shirt with collar, tucked. No tie is necessary.

Pants: probably a dark color or dark wash jeans (no holes)

Shoes: Yes. No sneakers

Opera pumps, silk socks and a gold lamé smoking jacket. Leave your mother’s lorgnette at home.

I used to go to the Detroit Symphony Orchestra performance every year with my grandmothers when I was a kid and they would always dress me in my "Sunday best" (think frilly dresses, stockings, church shoes, etc). It was at Orchestra Hall.

I just assumed they wanted me to look nice because my grandmother was in one of the chorales and got us box seats. I sat next to the mayor once at the time (Coleman Young) but I barely remember that. So, the dressing up was likely due to her not wanting us to look like peasants in the VIP section.

I had a lovely evening, bitches, and you were correct that I'd feel overdressed in a suit, though I at least took off the tie.

Much of the remainder of the night is foggy, but IIRC the tie's in the Bikestop toilet stall. 😈

Glad that you had a whorish good time

HALLELUJAH!

R91. I thought over-dressed would be a hit at the BikeStop!

The hottest at the Bikestop is when overdressed becomes underdressed.

What ever you wore, OP, you did not outshine our beloved Yannick in his glitzy red shoes and sparkling shirt. The cross-dressing Chinese tenor in a Flamenco skirt was good too. It was a phenomenal performance.

they are sexy and savage