Stream soprano Renée Fleming until Aug. 12
In a response to my positive review of the film "First Cow," a friend from the Washington, D.C., area revived a common complaint about the problems associated with watching slow, deliberate movies at home on a television screen.
"(T)he movie is an ideal example of theatre versus home viewing," he wrote. "(T)he constant long and medium shots, filled with abundant autumnal colours, made for a too languid a film when viewed on a TV. I was really looking forward to this, but it lost its artistic punch on the small screen."
I responded, in jest, that he needed to buy a bigger television. But I understand the problem: Some movies are simply better designed, at least visually, for a big-screen, theatrical experience.
And some broadcast experiences require better sound than what a TV screen can manage, too. That's the case, at any rate, with the Metropolitan Opera Stars Live in Concert Series. Making sure that your TV is connected to some sort of sound system can surely improve the listening experience.
And with the case of the series' Renée Fleming offering, which is available until Aug. 12, you want to make sure that you have the best sound possible. In her recital, which was live-streamed from Dumbarton Oaks — described as "a historic estate in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington D.C." — Fleming sings a far-ranging repertoire that includes “O mio babbino caro” from Puccini’s “Gianni Schicchi," Handel’s “Calm thou my soul … Convey me to some peaceful shore” from “Alexander Balus,” and even Harold Arlen’s “Over the Rainbow.”
As for the Puccini piece, Operawire.com described Fleming's performance this way: "It was a goosebump-inducing quarter of a minute, as was most of the hour and 15-minute program, the second of the Metropolitan Opera Stars Live in Concert Series."
It may be hard to feel goosebumps at home, especially during this quarantine. But one can always dream – though having a big-screen TV with a decent sound system should definitely help those dreams come true.