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.

This gala evening, hosted by mezzo-soprano Susan Graham in the opera house, included interviews with Met General Manager Peter Gelb, Met Music Director James Levine, Renée Fleming, Ramón Vargas, Thomas Hampson, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Martha Stewart, novelist Ann Patchett, and painter Francesco Clemente. Diva Deborah Voigt interviewed audience members at Times Square. I really enjoy these interviews as it adds another dimension to the whole experience.

From the perspective of someone who has been to more operas sitting in the orchestra pit, than on stage or in the audience, I truly enjoy seeing the magnitude of effort it requires to change the sets at the Met. The HD Live transmissions are the perfect medium for this sort of bonus feature.

I could give you a running account of the whole transmission, but you can get the full story on the Met’s website and see the opening night photos, instead, I will tell you a little bit about the movie theater experience.

I always purchase my ticket online from Fandango long before the day of the performance. In my neck of the woods, these shows have sold out and, luckily, they’ve added theaters as each show sells out. I believe last season’s La Boheme had three theaters at our cinema, and seating was fairly full.

We had a couple of local organizations set up with tables in the lobby immediately outside the theater for a local opera company, Opera Tampa, and our local public radio station WUSF. This is a great targeted marketing opportunity for these cultural outlets. They distributed program notes, their own program guides and schedules and also had personnel on hand to chat with audience members during the intermissions.

I saw a few familiar faces in the audience, too, as you might at any local opera performance. You will see the same people over and over in attendance.

As I was telling a colleague last night, these performances are so spectacular that I feel as if it’s my personal mission to tell as many people as I can about them. I am constantly inviting friends to these operas. Last year, I brought someone to her first opera, and she came back a few weeks later to enjoy her second! This was not someone I expected to like opera, but I keep inviting everyone!

How much did this wonderful evening cost? $22 for the ticket, $2 convenience fee for ticket purchase, and $11.75 for a medium drink and popcorn, for a total of $34.75. I frequently skip the concessions to cut down my expense, but it was the opening night gala, so I splurged a little. I had no wardrobe expense as I wore the clothes I had on all day and brought a sweatshirt in case it was cold. This was a long event, too, so you have to prepare for that.

The pre-show started at 6pm, and the credits were rolling around 10:30pm. You will get hungry and thirsty, so be prepared to spend a bundle at the concession, or bring a bottle of water with you and refill it at the water fountain in the lobby. I am not suggesting that you bring in a cooler full of snacks and drinks. Please be considerate of your fellow audience members and also be respectful of the theaters you frequent. I would hate for “those opera people” to be a negative connotation at the theater. Last season, I had the displeasure of sitting in close proximity to someone who brought a 1/2 gallon drink thermos in with her along with what must’ve been an enormous bag of pistachios IN THE SHELL! For the love of Donizetti, people! Please don’t do this! She was completely oblivious to all of the picking and popping of her own peeving pistachio habit. I have photos!! I’ve got my plan-to-avoid in place for this season.

The experience was one not to miss. If you missed any last season or the season before, you can pick up DVDs from the Popcorn Opera store here.

Enjoy!