Can You Put A Price On This?
Elizabeth Taylor was once stopped by a fan outside a museum who, pointing to the Krupp on her finger, asked her why she didn't consider donating the diamond to the musuem so that many more people could enjoy it. Without blinking and missing a beat, Taylor replied that putting it in the museum would mean putting it behind glass, seen but not touched. When she wore it, people could come up close and see it, and if asked, she would actually let them try it on...
Exactly a year ago, I was in the throes of pleasure at having unearthed on Youtube vintage footage of the legendary Leontyne Price farewell Aida at the Metropolitan Opera on 3 January 1985.
Most moving was the "O patria mia" where the extended ovation halted the performance on end till Price was coaxed out of character to acknowledge the applause with a regal nod and bow before sinking to her knees while holding back the dam of tears welling in her eyes.
Even in its snippets and snatches (and limited to the pithy display on the computer monitor), this was something that I would never get to experience in my lifetime. By the time "O terra addio" came round, I was near creaming my pants.
Somewhere in the basement, they have this performance recorded for posterity but yet, the Met has steadfastly chosen not to release it on DVD, their token Aida a lesser one with Aprile Millo and Placido Domingo.
So it was some time ago, that the Met mailing list sent word that they would be introducing Met Player, on-demand superior streaming of audio and video performances from the archives.
I didn't think much of it, but after a reminder e-mail came today, I popped in for a look and was immediately drawn to the fact that the entire performance of the historic Aida was available. A free 7-day trial was available and before I knew it, I was in the hallowed house of the Met Opera and being transported to Egypt.
At a reasonable $14.99 subscription per month (and save 2 months off when you sign up for a year) or a very affordable $3.99 rental per video, this is truly a very tempting proposal worth considering (and taking up, which I probably will).
The latter is an interesting take on the concept, where "Upon purchasing an individual rental, you have 30 days to begin playback of that opera. Once you click play on a rented opera, you then have 6 hours to watch and/or listen."
Am now just wrapping up Act 1 after James McCracken's Radames has just been annointed as Supreme Commander of the army and we've already had Price's searing "Ritorna vincitor!" and there's more to come. Much more. Lots more!
And it is here that I am divided between loving and hating the Met. The former for sharing this gem and the latter for not green-lighting the DVD release.
Watching Aida parked in front of the computer isn't quite the same as putting on the Krupp, but one gives thanks for small mercies and counts one's blessings.
Exactly a year ago, I was in the throes of pleasure at having unearthed on Youtube vintage footage of the legendary Leontyne Price farewell Aida at the Metropolitan Opera on 3 January 1985.
Most moving was the "O patria mia" where the extended ovation halted the performance on end till Price was coaxed out of character to acknowledge the applause with a regal nod and bow before sinking to her knees while holding back the dam of tears welling in her eyes.
Even in its snippets and snatches (and limited to the pithy display on the computer monitor), this was something that I would never get to experience in my lifetime. By the time "O terra addio" came round, I was near creaming my pants.
Somewhere in the basement, they have this performance recorded for posterity but yet, the Met has steadfastly chosen not to release it on DVD, their token Aida a lesser one with Aprile Millo and Placido Domingo.
So it was some time ago, that the Met mailing list sent word that they would be introducing Met Player, on-demand superior streaming of audio and video performances from the archives.
I didn't think much of it, but after a reminder e-mail came today, I popped in for a look and was immediately drawn to the fact that the entire performance of the historic Aida was available. A free 7-day trial was available and before I knew it, I was in the hallowed house of the Met Opera and being transported to Egypt.
At a reasonable $14.99 subscription per month (and save 2 months off when you sign up for a year) or a very affordable $3.99 rental per video, this is truly a very tempting proposal worth considering (and taking up, which I probably will).
The latter is an interesting take on the concept, where "Upon purchasing an individual rental, you have 30 days to begin playback of that opera. Once you click play on a rented opera, you then have 6 hours to watch and/or listen."
Am now just wrapping up Act 1 after James McCracken's Radames has just been annointed as Supreme Commander of the army and we've already had Price's searing "Ritorna vincitor!" and there's more to come. Much more. Lots more!
And it is here that I am divided between loving and hating the Met. The former for sharing this gem and the latter for not green-lighting the DVD release.
Watching Aida parked in front of the computer isn't quite the same as putting on the Krupp, but one gives thanks for small mercies and counts one's blessings.