Peter Gelb and the Metropolitan Opera keep ramping up the operasphere and the entire cultural community with groundbreaking initiatives. The latest of these is the new Met Player. On October 22, the Met will offer 170 full-length opera performances via this new online streaming service. The new player claims to be the best viewing experience online with “sharp video with stunning full-screen viewing, no stalling, and no buffering.” Offerings will include recent HD broadcasts, and dozens of historic performances captured live from the Met stage.

This single initiative has incredible potential to touch the lives of millions of people by offering Met performances to everyone. This breaks down access barriers that have been in place since the dawn of opera. Now, anyone with access to a computer with internet access and a pair of headphones has access to this unmatched digital opera library. How will this change things? Students will have unprecedented access to study many operas that are probably not available for viewing anywhere else, not to mention specific performances of many opera superstars. Potential audience members will be able to get a taste of the opera before committing to the expense of going to one in person.

From Broadway World:

The Met is the first performing arts organization in the world to present such a wide variety of performances in such high quality resolution, available whenever its users wish to see or hear them. The service will be available for a monthly charge of $14.99 or on a per view price ranging from $3.99 to $4.99.  The Met has been developing the new service over the past year, working with a consortium of new technology companies -Move Networks, mPoint, PermissionTV, and POP – adapting recently developed technologies to ensure superior picture and sound quality for the Met’s long-form programming.

Utilizing the technology of Met Player, users have the option of hooking up their computers to new HD TV sets and home-stereo sound systems, delivering the Met’s catalog in high quality. The cleanly-designed, simple, easy-to-navigate interface on the Met’s website will allow users to find their favorite performances quickly.

Subscription fees are priced at $14.99 per month or $149.99 for a yearly plan. As a special benefit for Met members who contribute at the $125 level or above, a six-month introductory package will be available for $49.99. Individual purchases will cost $4.99 for HD videos and $3.99 for an audio performance or non-HD video; these individual purchases may be played in a six-hour period within 30 days. Met Player will provide a free downloadable audio and video website player with any rental or subscription order.

In order to purchase video or audio streaming, users must register at the Metropolitan Opera’s website for Met Player, directly accessible at www.metplayer.org, and a one week free trial subscription will be available to anyone after registration.  For those who want to preview Met Player for free, there will be three select video clips to choose from for viewing at any time.

Get the word out about the October 22nd launch of the Met Player and while you’re at it, drop a thank you note to Peter Gelb at the Met.