Festival Etiquette
Dear festival visitors, it is our hope that you will come away from our festival with only positive experiences and that each visit will go smoothly. Please allow us to give you a few tips that will help you avoid any inconveniences and fully enjoy the festival programme.
Off to the Concert
Dress code
The word “festival” means an event, holiday, or celebration. A festival concert is therefore a formal event, and the dress code corresponds to this. Please follow the dress code out of respect for the artists who come to the festival in part to honour the greatest Czech composer, Antonín Dvořák, by giving superior performances of his works.
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Black Tie
At the opening and closing concerts, black tie is recommended. Men should wear a dinner jacket (tuxedo) with an evening waistcoat or cummerbund, a black bow tie, a pocket square, and a white dress shirt. Women should wear an evening gown (long dress). A dark suit is also acceptable at these concerts. At the debut concert, however, informal dress is permitted.
Dark Suit
Unless stated otherwise, the dress code for concerts is a dark suit, i.e. evening attire. For men, this means a dark suit with a collared shirt and a tie. Women should wear an appropriately long dress or evening attire.
Casual
However, there are concerts where wearing a suit or dress shoes is not required. At family day concerts and the debut concert, informal dress is permitted.
Are you still unsure about what to wear? Watch the videos we have prepared for you.
Black Tie and Dark Suit for Women
Dark Suit for Men
What to Expect at a Concert?
Concert venues will open one hour before the concert begins.
We recommend that you arrive sufficiently in advance, ideally at least 30 minutes before the concert begins.
When making your plans, please take traffic and difficulties with finding parking near the concert hall into consideration. By arriving on time, you will be able to enjoy the festival atmosphere and prepare for the concert. Please leave your coats, large belongings, and other items in the cloakroom – see the Security section. We always close the hall 5 minutes before the beginning of the programme. If you arrive late, ushers will seat you only during applause or at the interval. Please remember that under such circumstances, you will be given a currently available seat to avoid disturbing the other concertgoers. For the second half of the concert (after the official interval), you may take the seat that you have purchased.
We will seat audience members from the Youth Club in vacant seats after the third bell before the concert. When you arrive at the concert venue, please leave your belongings in the cloakroom and gather at the designated meeting point, usually in the foyer. Please present your valid ISIC ID card together with your ticket when it is checked.
In the case of concerts broadcast live on Czech Television, we close the hall 10 minutes before the concert begins.
Focus on Experiencing the Concert, Not on Recording It
Taking photographs and making audio or video recordings at concerts is forbidden. It is far more rewarding to focus on experiencing the concert rather than trying to record it. Cameras and video cameras are very disruptive to artists, so they are strictly forbidden during festival concerts.
Out of respect for the artists and other audience members, please avoid making disturbing noises, such as the ringing of mobile phones, speaking, whispering, shuffling, etc.
Intervals at Our Concerts Last 20 Minutes
Concerts usually have intervals, which are an opportunity for the artists and audience members to rest. The intervals at our concerts last 20 minutes, except for concerts that are broadcast live on Czech Television. At those concerts, the interval lasts only 15 minutes.
We will warn you that the interval is ending by ringing a bell. Please respect the instructions of the ushers, whose job is to ensure that the evening goes smoothly and to keep to the interval on schedule.
Applause is a sign of recognition and respect, so please do not overlook it
When reading your programme, you will notice whether the concert consists of separate compositions or of one large work. This is already an indication of when to begin to applaud.
But be careful – don’t rush! The magic of a quiet ending can be disturbed all too easily by insensitive audience members who rush to start clapping.
So when does one applaud? The best solution is to follow the conductor, who will show you when a piece is over. Just wait until the conductor lowers his or her hands and turns to face the public.
If you are still in doubt, you can always wait until the majority of the audience begins to clap. At every concert, there are always experienced concertgoers whose example you can follow.
Aftertalk is a traditional event at the Dvořák Prague Festival. After some concerts, selected artists meet with the public to answer their questions, reveal something about themselves, and possibly sign autographs. These encounters always take place in the concert hall.
Important
Please Be Considerate
We want every visitor to enjoy the concert in comfort and without disruption. That’s why we kindly ask you to follow a few simple rules. Please leave large bags in the cloakroom, do not bring dangerous items into the hall, do not take photographs, and respect the no-recording policy.
The organizers reserve the right to ensure a peaceful concert experience and may ask visitors to leave in case of inappropriate behavior. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation, which help create an enjoyable musical experience for everyone.
Baggage
Larger bags and items that could obstruct other visitors in the hall must be left in the cloakroom. For security reasons, such items will not be permitted inside the concert halls.
Other Items
Weapons, sharp or pointed objects, and any items considered dangerous or potentially used as weapons are strictly prohibited in concert halls—including selfie sticks.
Photos and Recording
Taking photographs, audio, or video recordings is strictly prohibited in the concert halls unless explicitly authorized by the organizer. Violating this rule infringes on the personal and copyright rights of both performers and the audience.
Proper Conduct
The organizer reserves the right to assess visitor behavior during performances. If instructions from the organizer are not followed, visitors may be asked to leave the hall without the right to a ticket refund.
Identification
Visitors are requested to carry valid identification and present it if necessary.
Security
Security has, unfortunately, become a global concern, and Dvořák Prague is also committed to ensuring safety measures at concert venues and events. Your safety, as well as the safety of performers and the entire team, is our top priority.
For security reasons, we kindly ask for your understanding regarding random checks of visitors and their baggage.