Guides
Everything we wish someone had told us about going to performances
From years of sitting in concert halls, here is what to expect when enjoying a performance by one of the UK's many excellent ensembles. Every guide is checked against the live diary, so the performances it points you at are ones you can actually book.
Getting started
What to expect the first few times — dress, timings, applause and how to read a programme.
Your first classical concert: a complete, no-jargon guide
What actually happens, from arriving at the hall to the last bow — and why none of it is as intimidating as it looks.
Read the guide →What to wear to a classical concert (and the few places it matters)
Almost nowhere has a dress code any more — with a handful of famous exceptions worth knowing about.
Read the guide →When to clap: the only applause guide you need
Between movements, after arias, during a curtain call — the simple rules, and why nobody minds as much as you fear.
Read the guide →How long does a concert last? Runtimes, intervals and getting home
Symphony concerts, operas, ballets and lunchtime recitals all run to different clocks. Here is what to plan for.
Read the guide →How to read a concert programme (and a listing)
Opus numbers, K numbers, "Op. 67", conductors versus soloists — decoding the shorthand so a listing tells you something useful.
Read the guide →
Ready to book something?
The diary carries every upcoming performance we track — filter by city, date, ensemble or type, then book directly with the venue.
Open the diary →