What is the German equivalent of "Bravo"?

Question

Shall I shout "Bravo" at an opera sung in German, or is there a German equivalent?

Answer 1

Yes, "bravo" is also very often used in German ...and you would definitely not shout "wunderbar".

Anyway, I ve been to the opera quite a couple of times in Germany (Nationaltheater, Munich) and I d say that it s rather not appropriate to shout, people generally just applaud.

I was told that you re not supposed to shout in an opera house as this is regarded as indecorous... and I ve recognized that at the Gärtnerplatz or the Gasteig (they re less reputed than the Nationaltheater), people shout more than they do in the Nationaltheater.

Furthermore, when I compare those experiences to the ones I ve made in London (Royal Albert) and Paris (Garnier), it leads me to the conclusion that the higher the reputation of the opera (Garnier as the Nationaltheater are known being particularly chic ones whilst Royal Albert still hast the reputation of the people s opera), the less people shout.

Answer 2

At the Vienna Opera House (in Austria) "Bravo" is precisely what people really do shout when applauding certain singers whose performance was outstanding. Most people in the audience just tend to applaud, but shouting "Bravo" is perfectly acceptable and definitely done a lot. And I'm sure the singers love it!

Answer 3

Opera was invented in Italy and Italian terms are still generally used, so "bravo" is just fine.
By the way, if you refer your "bravo" to just a female singer (without including any male performers) you should shout "bravA".

Answer 4

Wunderbar